The hybrid heat pump. Also suitable for shops, a warehouse or office?
For some shops, industrial warehouses or offices, heating completely natural gas-free is not yet an option. A good interim solution is now available with the hybrid heat pump. Especially for buildings that already have solar panels and are well insulated.
Natural gas-free in the long term
In the long term, we will all have to get rid of the use of natural gas if we want to reach climate goals. However, not every company is located near a heating network. And many commercial buildings are not yet suitable for an all-electric heat pump. For most companies, heating completely natural gas-free is not yet an option. But with a hybrid heat pump there is now a good interim solution available.
The hybrid heat pump as an alternative
A hybrid heat pump works together with the central gas heated boiler. The traditional gas boiler only turns on when it’s very cold outside or when you need hot water. As a result, your building does not need to be as well insulated as with the all-electric heat pump that runs entirely on electricity. You also often do not need to replace your current heating system with low-temperature radiators or floor heating for a hybrid pump (which is usually the case with the all-electric variant). A (hybrid) heat pump is very suitable for even heating larger spaces at a constant temperature. This works in many business-spaces, such as an office, a warehouse, catering business or shop.
Save on energy costs
Because you mainly heat electrically with a hybrid pump, gas consumption drops with 80%. Electrical power consumption will increase, but energy costs will fall below the baseline. You save a lot extra if you generate a large part of the power consumption yourself with solar panels. This often requires an extension of the existing system.
Combine heat pump with solar panels
The number of solar panels that you have installed is probably tuned with the current power consumption. Because that way, you can make optimal use of the netting arrangement. With a hybrid heat pump you will use more electricity. Then it is often smart to expand your current solar panel installation or install a second set. This way you can compensate for the increased power consumption with your own generation. How you can approach that depends on several things. Such as the capacity of your current inverter and the space on your roof.
Insulation is always the first step
Good insulation of the workspace is also important with a hybrid heat pump. Think of floor insulation, cavity wall insulation, roof insulation and at least double glazing. For example, if you don’t have a cavity wall or floor insulation, your central gas heated boiler will have to come in too often. Insulation is therefore always the first step.