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Do you know how much it costs to run a heat pump in your house? According to U.S. electricity bills, a 4.5 kW heat pump costs $100 per month. You will be surprised to know that this is a bill for using only 5 hours a day. You may already be aware of these expenses and be seeking a solution. A solar heat pump would be your best option if you’re looking to save on your energy bills.

We have unlimited solar power. So, why not take advantage of it? You can store solar energy as electricity in a battery when the sun isn’t shining. During the day, you can harness the sun’s energy directly to power your heat pumps and other appliances. This whole setup is easy and environmentally friendly. Additionally, you can control usage through an intelligent energy management system.

This article provides an overview of solar energy heat pumps and their application. Additionally, you will learn relevant information about the amount of solar energy required for this setup.

 

What is a Solar-Powered Heat Pump?

As the name implies, it is a heat exchange system that runs on solar power. A solar heat pump typically controls the temperature in your place. It can either be air-source, ground-source, or water-source. However, air-source heat pumps are the most widely used devices.

A solar energy heat pump uses solar panels that convert sunlight into electricity. It typically consists of several components.

First, you will need a heat pump for heating and cooling.

Second, you will need several solar panels to collect sunlight. The number of solar panels typically depends on the amount of electricity you want to produce.

Third, you will need a high-quality inverter to convert the solar power into usable electricity. In this case, you must opt for a high-quality inverter. Note that the inverter is the heart of the whole setup.

Fourth, you will need a battery storage to save extra energy for later use. During the day, you can directly use the energy produced from the solar panels. But during the night, you can’t do that. So, you must depend on the storage systems. Or, you have to borrow the electricity from the grid.

Finally, you will need an intelligent energy management system. It helps you monitor and control the overall usage.

How to Use Solar Energy to Power Your Heat Pump?

From the previous section, you are familiar with the tools and equipment required for this setup. This section will explain how to utilize solar energy to power your heat pump. Before we begin the tutorial, let’s consider your setup requirements.

Heat pumps can be of various types. You can divide them based on their applications. A small apartment or room typically uses a heat pump with a capacity of 1.5 kW to 3 kW. On the other hand, medium-sized homes may use 4-10kW. The exact power range may go up to 20kW or more.

At this moment, you must create a clear vision of how much electricity your heat pump will consume. Depending on that, you must choose the appropriate size of your solar setup. You may also want to use other appliances, such as lights, computers, washing machines, or even kitchen appliances. Therefore, you must determine the total amount of energy you require. Most household solar setup ranges from 3kW to 10kW.

Step #1: Install Solar PV Panels

Once you have analyzed what you need for the entire setup, you must prepare all the necessary materials. And then, start by installing the solar PV panels.

You can either install PV panels on your roof or a ground mount system. The place typically depends on your location. You must determine the best area where you can receive the most sunlight during the day.

 

Step #2: Connect to an Inverter

Now, take the wires and install them correctly on the wall. You can decide the route of the wire based on your preferences. Place your solar inverter in a safe location free from heat and water.

The solar panels generate direct current, or DC. Since you need AC to run your heat pump, you must convert the DC into AC. Choose Luxpower Tek Hybrid inverters for efficiency up to 99%.

Cheaper inverters cannot offer you high efficiency, which ultimately gives you low ROI. Therefore, always pay attention to choosing the right one for your project. Additionally, ensure that the inverter is installed correctly.

Step #3: Add Battery Storage

In cold weather, you may need the heat pump at night when sunlight is unavailable. If you don’t want to use the grid, you can utilize rechargeable batteries to store the extra energy produced. You can use this extra energy at night.

Batteries can ensure that your solar heat pump continues to operate. Even when the solar generation is low, you can keep the heat pump on. However, you must focus on the amount of energy you consume per hour. To smoothly control such a thing and ensure a safe turn-off, you can use an intelligent energy management system. To learn more about the amount of battery you need, refer to a few articles.

Step #4: Integrate the Heat Pump

Finally, once your setup is ready, you can connect your solar heat pump to the inverter output port. In this case, you must ensure compatibility with the electrical specifications.

As you are aware, the air heat pump typically consists of an indoor and an outdoor unit. The power required may vary depending on the room temperature. Therefore, you must carefully check whether the power input from the inverter is compatible with it.

Step #5: Use a Smart Energy Management System

You now know how to use your heat pump and solar panels. Now, if you want to make this process even smoother and flexible, you can opt for an advanced solution. The intelligent energy management system can help monitor the production and usage of your solar setup.

You can set the safety to turn off each device connected to your solar setup. Additionally, you can also track the daily energy production and consumption. If you find that you are producing more than you need, consider net metering.

How Much Solar Do I Need to Run a Heat Pump?

As mentioned before, you need to know your daily energy use to power a solar heat pump. A 4.5 kW heat pump running for 5 hours a day typically consumes 22.5 kWh of energy daily. A high-quality 300W solar panel can produce approximately 1.5 kWh per day. Therefore, you will need around 15-20 panels only to run the heat pump.

You must also consider the climate in your area. To utilize solar energy at night, consider adding a battery with sufficient storage capacity. You can consider a 10-20kWh battery for it. However, if you are still unclear about the setup, feel free to contact us.