Heating systems

The use of solar heating systems and heat pumps is an important factor in enhancing sustainability and energy efficiency in European households.

What are solar heating systems?

These systems are installed on roofs to absorb solar radiation and convert it into heat. More specifically, solar energy is used to heat water or, more generally, a fluid for the purpose of heating or providing hot water. Solar heating is considered a green solution as it uses renewable energy and helps to reduce dependence on fossil fuels.

What are heat pumps?

An important solution to minimize the amount of energy required for heating or cooling is the use of heat pumps, devices for transferring heat from one place to another. A typical example is pumping heat from the air or ground to heat houses in the winter and vice versa to cool them in the summer. Their benefit in reducing emissions and energy consumption is very significant, as they do not produce heat but simply transfer it.

Can this be combined?

In Europe, the targets for reducing overall energy consumption and costs have been achieved by combining and using solar heating systems and heat pumps efficiently. Households in Germany, Italy, and Spain have seen significant reductions of between 62% and 84% in their energy bills. As a result, dependence on fossil fuels is being reduced, and progress is being made towards the European energy sustainability targets.

Further information:

New report: Solar PV + Heat Pump combos saved Europeans up to 84% on household energy bills in 2022

What economic and environmental incentives exist?

In order to implement the above technologies, it is necessary to incentivize both the environmental sector by using energy from renewable sources to reduce CO2 emissions and the economic sector with subsidies and low-interest loans to mitigate the high initial costs. Initial costs and space requirements, combined with low efficiency in harsh conditions and the absence of stable solar radiation, can be a challenge for their implementation. Despite these challenges, the integration of technologies is growing in Europe due to the significant environmental and economic benefits.