Entrepreneurs are increasingly deciding to heat their buildings with heat pumps. This solution allows them to significantly reduce their bills, and at the same time build the image of ecological and socially responsible companies. However, many entities are still hesitant to make a decision. The main reason for their doubts is the high investment costs associated with a heat pump. In our guide, we will try to answer the question of whether it is worth incurring them.
In this article you will learn:
- what are the main advantages and disadvantages of heat pumps,
- what do the investment and operating costs of heat pumps depend on,
- when is it worth investing in a heat pump?
How does a heat pump work?
A heat pump is an efficient device that collects heat energy from the building's surroundings. Then, with the help of electricity, it uses it to heat rooms or prepare domestic hot water. In the summer, it can be used for cooling. The pump itself is an element of a larger heating system, which also includes a lower source (air, ground or water) and an upper source, i.e. the heating installation in the building (usually surface heating).
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The main advantage of a heat pump is the savings on fuel. The device uses renewable energy sources, the processing of which requires only a relatively small amount of electrical energy. Its cost is practically the only expense for the investor at the stage of system operation. The biggest disadvantage of this solution, however, can be considered the high prices of purchasing and installing a heat pump.
It is no wonder that investors are trying to answer the question of how long it will take to pay off an investment in a heat pump. In this case, it all depends on how much a given company pays for traditional heating and what type of device it intends to install.
How much does a heat pump cost?
The cost of purchasing and installing a heat pump depends on several important factors. A wide range of different solutions allows you to adjust their selection to the individual needs and possibilities of investors. Among the aspects that have the greatest impact on the prices of heat pumps are:
- type of lower source (determining the type of heat pump),
- device parameters (mainly power and amount of electricity consumed),
- type of upper source (underfloor, wall or radiator heating),
- building area,
- heat pump manufacturer.
Taking into account the above criteria, it can be stated that the cost of investing in a heat pump ranges from:
- PLN 35-40 thousand for an air-to-water heat pump (for a building with an area of 150 m2 ),
- PLN 50,000 - 80,000 for a ground-source heat pump (for a building with an area of 150 m2 ).
A ground source heat pump will be much more expensive not so much because of the price of the device, but because of the costs of its installation. Due to its much lower susceptibility to fluctuations in ambient temperature, its operation will be noticeably cheaper than in the case of an air source heat pump. Considering the current prices of electricity, it is estimated that heating with a heat pump costs on average:
- PLN 2,940 for an air heat pump (for a building with an area of 150 m2 and demand of 100 kWh/ m2 /year),
- PLN 2,475 for a ground-source heat pump (for a building with an area of 150 m2 and demand of 100 kWh/ m2 /year).
These amounts are significantly lower than the costs of heating a building using traditional methods. Assuming the same variables regarding the specifics of the building, the prices are as follows:
- PLN 4,378 in the case of natural gas heating,
- PLN 4,714 in the case of coal heating,
- PLN 5,475 in the case of pellet heating,
- PLN 6,788 in the case of heating with fuel oil,
- PLN 10,000 for electric heating.
What's more, we are currently dealing with rapid price increases for all of the types of fuel mentioned above. It is therefore to be expected that the costs of heating a building will continue to rise. Investing in an air heat pump, and even more so in a ground heat pump, can significantly reduce the bills of any company. The more you spend on heating your company's headquarters at the moment, the faster you will pay off the investment in this modern heating system.
Advantages and disadvantages of a heat pump
Savings associated with a heat pump take various forms. The exceptionally low cost of operating the device is just one of them. You will notice others, even at the stage of building the facility. The investor may decide not to build a chimney or a place to store fuel, for example. It is also worth mentioning the safety of using heat pumps and their maintenance-free operation.
When planning an investment in a heat pump, however, it is impossible to ignore the disadvantages of such a solution. Of course, it is about the aforementioned installation costs, but not only that. Depending on the type of device chosen, you have to face challenges such as supplementing the heating system with an additional heat source or invasive installation. Air heat pumps cannot operate independently in our climate, and ground heat pumps take up a lot of space on the plot.
Every investor should therefore think carefully about investing in a heat pump before making such a decision. If in your case the benefits of this solution outweigh the potential losses, a heat pump may be a good idea. Otherwise, consider alternative ways of heating your company's headquarters.
Is a heat pump worth it?
Knowing your current heating costs for your building, as well as its thermal demand, you can easily calculate whether a heat pump will be a profitable investment in your case. Also, take into account that the cost of its operation can be further reduced by installing photovoltaic panels. They will provide you with free energy to power the pump. Also, take an interest in various RES subsidy programs designed for entrepreneurs. You may be able to take advantage of an attractive loan or subsidy.
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In order for the investment in a heat pump to be profitable for you, you must first of all choose its parameters appropriately to your needs and the specifics of the building. Start by deciding on the type of device. If your facility is located on a sufficiently large plot and you do not care about its development in any other way, the most advantageous solution will be to purchase and install a ground heat pump. However, if you are only planning a minimally invasive modernization of the current heating installation, the optimal choice will be an air-to-water heat pump.
When choosing a heat pump, also consider:
- thermal demand of the building (which is influenced by, among other things, the climate zone and the quality of the building insulation),
- bivalent temperature (at which the heat pump operation begins to be supported by an additional source),
- outdoor daily temperature,
- temperature of the upper heat source and parameters of the heating installation,
- device operation graph.