A Comparative Analysis of Solar Thermal and Photovoltaic Systems with Heat-Pump Integration in a New-Build House Under Controlled Conditions
This study investigates the relative benefits of solar thermal (ST) and photovoltaic (PV) systems integrated with air-source heat pumps for domestic hot water production in newly built residential buildings. Using calibrated DesignBuilder simulations of “The Future Home” located in Energy House 2.0,...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-06-01
|
| Series: | Energies |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/11/2988 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1850129836230574080 |
|---|---|
| author | Christopher Tsang Ljubomir Jankovic William Swan Richard Fitton Grant Henshaw |
| author_facet | Christopher Tsang Ljubomir Jankovic William Swan Richard Fitton Grant Henshaw |
| author_sort | Christopher Tsang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study investigates the relative benefits of solar thermal (ST) and photovoltaic (PV) systems integrated with air-source heat pumps for domestic hot water production in newly built residential buildings. Using calibrated DesignBuilder simulations of “The Future Home” located in Energy House 2.0, an environmental chamber, the study analyzes energy performance and carbon emissions for eight scenarios: (1) baseline heat pump only, (2) heat pump with 4 m<sup>2</sup> PV panels, (3) heat pump with 4 m<sup>2</sup> ST panels, (4) heat pump with 2 m<sup>2</sup> PV + 2 m<sup>2</sup> ST panels, and (5–8) variants with increased hot water demand. While ST systems directly heat water through thermal energy transfer, PV systems contribute to water heating indirectly by providing electricity to power the heat pump. The results show that the ST system provides 964.6 kWh of thermal energy annually, increasing to 1528 kWh with enhanced hot water demand, while a similarly sized PV system generates 532.5 kWh of electricity. The research reveals that Standard Assessment Procedure methodology’s fixed hot water demand assumptions could significantly underpredict solar thermal benefits, potentially discouraging UK house builders from adopting this technology. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-247828149e514f8482d1a2f96fe533a9 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1996-1073 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Energies |
| spelling | doaj-art-247828149e514f8482d1a2f96fe533a92025-08-20T02:32:52ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732025-06-011811298810.3390/en18112988A Comparative Analysis of Solar Thermal and Photovoltaic Systems with Heat-Pump Integration in a New-Build House Under Controlled ConditionsChristopher Tsang0Ljubomir Jankovic1William Swan2Richard Fitton3Grant Henshaw4Energy House Labs, University of Salford, Manchester M5 4WT, UKEnergy House Labs, University of Salford, Manchester M5 4WT, UKEnergy House Labs, University of Salford, Manchester M5 4WT, UKEnergy House Labs, University of Salford, Manchester M5 4WT, UKEnergy House Labs, University of Salford, Manchester M5 4WT, UKThis study investigates the relative benefits of solar thermal (ST) and photovoltaic (PV) systems integrated with air-source heat pumps for domestic hot water production in newly built residential buildings. Using calibrated DesignBuilder simulations of “The Future Home” located in Energy House 2.0, an environmental chamber, the study analyzes energy performance and carbon emissions for eight scenarios: (1) baseline heat pump only, (2) heat pump with 4 m<sup>2</sup> PV panels, (3) heat pump with 4 m<sup>2</sup> ST panels, (4) heat pump with 2 m<sup>2</sup> PV + 2 m<sup>2</sup> ST panels, and (5–8) variants with increased hot water demand. While ST systems directly heat water through thermal energy transfer, PV systems contribute to water heating indirectly by providing electricity to power the heat pump. The results show that the ST system provides 964.6 kWh of thermal energy annually, increasing to 1528 kWh with enhanced hot water demand, while a similarly sized PV system generates 532.5 kWh of electricity. The research reveals that Standard Assessment Procedure methodology’s fixed hot water demand assumptions could significantly underpredict solar thermal benefits, potentially discouraging UK house builders from adopting this technology.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/11/2988solar thermalsolar photovoltaicdynamic thermal simulationheat pumpdomestic hot water heatingthe future home |
| spellingShingle | Christopher Tsang Ljubomir Jankovic William Swan Richard Fitton Grant Henshaw A Comparative Analysis of Solar Thermal and Photovoltaic Systems with Heat-Pump Integration in a New-Build House Under Controlled Conditions Energies solar thermal solar photovoltaic dynamic thermal simulation heat pump domestic hot water heating the future home |
| title | A Comparative Analysis of Solar Thermal and Photovoltaic Systems with Heat-Pump Integration in a New-Build House Under Controlled Conditions |
| title_full | A Comparative Analysis of Solar Thermal and Photovoltaic Systems with Heat-Pump Integration in a New-Build House Under Controlled Conditions |
| title_fullStr | A Comparative Analysis of Solar Thermal and Photovoltaic Systems with Heat-Pump Integration in a New-Build House Under Controlled Conditions |
| title_full_unstemmed | A Comparative Analysis of Solar Thermal and Photovoltaic Systems with Heat-Pump Integration in a New-Build House Under Controlled Conditions |
| title_short | A Comparative Analysis of Solar Thermal and Photovoltaic Systems with Heat-Pump Integration in a New-Build House Under Controlled Conditions |
| title_sort | comparative analysis of solar thermal and photovoltaic systems with heat pump integration in a new build house under controlled conditions |
| topic | solar thermal solar photovoltaic dynamic thermal simulation heat pump domestic hot water heating the future home |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/11/2988 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT christophertsang acomparativeanalysisofsolarthermalandphotovoltaicsystemswithheatpumpintegrationinanewbuildhouseundercontrolledconditions AT ljubomirjankovic acomparativeanalysisofsolarthermalandphotovoltaicsystemswithheatpumpintegrationinanewbuildhouseundercontrolledconditions AT williamswan acomparativeanalysisofsolarthermalandphotovoltaicsystemswithheatpumpintegrationinanewbuildhouseundercontrolledconditions AT richardfitton acomparativeanalysisofsolarthermalandphotovoltaicsystemswithheatpumpintegrationinanewbuildhouseundercontrolledconditions AT granthenshaw acomparativeanalysisofsolarthermalandphotovoltaicsystemswithheatpumpintegrationinanewbuildhouseundercontrolledconditions AT christophertsang comparativeanalysisofsolarthermalandphotovoltaicsystemswithheatpumpintegrationinanewbuildhouseundercontrolledconditions AT ljubomirjankovic comparativeanalysisofsolarthermalandphotovoltaicsystemswithheatpumpintegrationinanewbuildhouseundercontrolledconditions AT williamswan comparativeanalysisofsolarthermalandphotovoltaicsystemswithheatpumpintegrationinanewbuildhouseundercontrolledconditions AT richardfitton comparativeanalysisofsolarthermalandphotovoltaicsystemswithheatpumpintegrationinanewbuildhouseundercontrolledconditions AT granthenshaw comparativeanalysisofsolarthermalandphotovoltaicsystemswithheatpumpintegrationinanewbuildhouseundercontrolledconditions |