Comprehensive energy, economic, and environmental analysis of a hybrid photovoltaic–thermal (PVT) heat pump system

Hugo Arnesson, Andreas V. Olympios, Asmaa A. Harraz and Jingyuan Xu

Energy, 2025, vol. 331, issue C

Abstract: This study investigates a parallel indirect-expansion solar-assisted heat pump (SAHP) system integrating photovoltaic–thermal (PVT) collectors to meet domestic space heating, hot water, and appliance electricity demands for a typical household in Germany. A transient mathematical model captures the interdependencies between heat and electricity flows, enabling evaluation of thermodynamic, economic, and environmental performance across 54 heat pump designs with 3 refrigerants. The SAHP is compared to standalone heat pumps and natural gas boilers under varying electricity and natural gas prices. Results indicate that the SAHP system can cover over one-third of annual heating demand and half of appliance electricity demand using solar energy, with Munich achieving the highest solar coverage (39 %). HFC-32 (R32) outperforms propane, which in turn outperforms R410A, with levelized costs of energy, in electricity equivalents, of 0.272, 0.276 and 0.283 Euro/kWh, respectively. The SAHP system proves more cost-effective than standalone heat pumps or natural gas boilers unless energy prices are exceptionally low. Optimizing water tank designs for lower-temperature operation could further enhance SAHP competitiveness against PV-driven heat pumps.

Keywords: Solar-assisted heat pump; Energy–economic–environmental (3E); Photovoltaic–thermal (PVT); Propane refrigerant; R32 refrigerant (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:energy:v:331:y:2025:i:c:s0360544225022054

DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2025.136563

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