A Review of Heat Pump Systems and Applications in Cold Climates: Evidence from Lithuania

Rokas Valancius, Rao Martand Singh, Andrius Jurelionis and Juozas Vaiciunas
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Rokas Valancius: Faculty of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Kaunas University of Technology, Studentų str. 48, LT-51367 Kaunas, Lithuania
Rao Martand Singh: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Surrey, Thomas Telford Building, Guildford GU2 7XH, Surrey, UK
Andrius Jurelionis: Faculty of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Kaunas University of Technology, Studentų str. 48, LT-51367 Kaunas, Lithuania
Juozas Vaiciunas: Faculty of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Kaunas University of Technology, Studentų str. 48, LT-51367 Kaunas, Lithuania

Energies, 2019, vol. 12, issue 22, 1-18

Abstract: Similar to other cold climate countries, space heating and domestic hot water (DHW) accounts form the largest share of household energy demand in Lithuania. Heat pump technology is considered to be one of the environmentally friendly solutions to increase energy efficiency and reduce the carbon footprint of buildings. Heat pumps have been finding their way into the Lithuanian market since 2002, and currently there are many good practice examples present in the country, especially in the residential and public sectors. Heat pump use is economically advantageous in the Baltic Region, and the market share of these systems is growing. Studies have reported seasonal performance factor (SPF) ranges within 1.8 and 5.6. The lower SPF values are typically attributable to air source heat pumps, whereas the higher efficiency is achieved by ground or water source heat pump applications. While the traditional heat pump techniques are well established in the region, there is a slow uptake of new technologies, such as solar-assisted heat pumps, absorption heat pumps and heat pumps integrated into foundations, tunnels or diaphragm walls. This paper provides a critical review of different heat pump technologies, using Lithuania as a cold climate case study to overview the market trends within the European context. Potential trends for the heat pump technology development in terms of application areas, cost-benefit predictions, as well as environmental aspects, are discussed.

Keywords: space heating; domestic hot water (DHW); air, ground and water source heat pump (ASHP, GSHP and WSHP); coefficient of performance (COP); seasonal performance factor (SPF); energy pile; energy tunnel (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (18)

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