ᐅ Gas with solar thermal? Or heat pump with photovoltaic? Advice needed
Created on: 5 Feb 2020 08:57
M
Micha8589
Good morning to the forum,
I have been researching heating options for quite some time and have gathered a few opinions, which have only made me more uncertain about my decision. That’s why I thought I’d ask the forum.
My family (2 adults, 1 child) is planning to build the following single-family house at the end of this year or beginning of next year:
Single-family home with pitched roof
Approximately 115 m² (1,237 sq ft)
Solid construction (calcium silicate brick ground and upper floors, brick-clad)
No KFW standard
Building location: southern Mecklenburg
Unfortunately, I can’t provide an energy performance certificate or heating load calculation yet, as the preliminary offer is still being prepared. I am also aware that a general statement can’t really be made since every house and heating behavior is individual.
The construction company advised us to install a modern hybrid heating system consisting of a gas condensing boiler and two solar thermal panels on the roof for domestic hot water, as the initial costs are relatively low (plus installation of the central gas connection), and this technology has proven reliable. The entire house is planned to have underfloor heating. According to the company, they have had very positive experiences with this and consider the technology future-proof. (There is also the idea of a fireplace in the living room.)
On the other hand, I think gas prices will not get any cheaper in the future, and the topic of CO₂ taxes (especially concerning the fireplace) worries me somewhat.
In theory, I would prefer to install a geothermal heat pump combined with a suitable photovoltaic system because this would make me independent of fossil fuels and allow me to heat “off-grid” to a certain extent, depending on efficiency. However, I am hesitant because of the very high initial costs and don’t really know how these compare to operational costs. I also can no longer realistically assess which technology offers the best cost-performance ratio (except for air-source heat pumps).
As you can see, I am completely undecided and hope to get some feedback and expertise from the forum.
Thanks in advance for your replies.
I have been researching heating options for quite some time and have gathered a few opinions, which have only made me more uncertain about my decision. That’s why I thought I’d ask the forum.
My family (2 adults, 1 child) is planning to build the following single-family house at the end of this year or beginning of next year:
Single-family home with pitched roof
Approximately 115 m² (1,237 sq ft)
Solid construction (calcium silicate brick ground and upper floors, brick-clad)
No KFW standard
Building location: southern Mecklenburg
Unfortunately, I can’t provide an energy performance certificate or heating load calculation yet, as the preliminary offer is still being prepared. I am also aware that a general statement can’t really be made since every house and heating behavior is individual.
The construction company advised us to install a modern hybrid heating system consisting of a gas condensing boiler and two solar thermal panels on the roof for domestic hot water, as the initial costs are relatively low (plus installation of the central gas connection), and this technology has proven reliable. The entire house is planned to have underfloor heating. According to the company, they have had very positive experiences with this and consider the technology future-proof. (There is also the idea of a fireplace in the living room.)
On the other hand, I think gas prices will not get any cheaper in the future, and the topic of CO₂ taxes (especially concerning the fireplace) worries me somewhat.
In theory, I would prefer to install a geothermal heat pump combined with a suitable photovoltaic system because this would make me independent of fossil fuels and allow me to heat “off-grid” to a certain extent, depending on efficiency. However, I am hesitant because of the very high initial costs and don’t really know how these compare to operational costs. I also can no longer realistically assess which technology offers the best cost-performance ratio (except for air-source heat pumps).
As you can see, I am completely undecided and hope to get some feedback and expertise from the forum.
Thanks in advance for your replies.
This is ridiculous compared to the increase in electricity consumption! The heat pumps will end up costing us a lot of money to operate because of this incompetent government. And the Greens will drive prices even higher; they and their voters have the financial means to afford almost anything themselves. Oh well, I’m just complaining...
T
ttiggerin10 Feb 2020 23:14Mycraft schrieb:
Nevertheless, I have a heat pump for cooling in the summer.You wrote that you have a gas heating system and additionally a heat pump for cooling. Did I misunderstand something?
And the Renewable Energy Act surcharge is supposed to be eliminated soon.
So, it’s 2-0 in favor of heat pumps.
Electricity is already claimed by the government to be 100% CO2-free, as shown by the fleet emissions standards for electric cars...
Soon, we will have fleet emissions standards for heating systems as well.
So, it’s 2-0 in favor of heat pumps.
Electricity is already claimed by the government to be 100% CO2-free, as shown by the fleet emissions standards for electric cars...
Soon, we will have fleet emissions standards for heating systems as well.
T_im_Norden schrieb:
Well, an increase of up to 1.6 cents doesn’t make me nervous, that would be 6.5 instead of 5 cents. As I said, it’s a 35% increase, not just "6.5 instead of 5 cents."
Of course, for new builds it’s not a huge amount of money — gas costs would rise from about €60 to €80 per month.
But for Grandma Hilde in an older building, €150 would increase to €200.
By the way, the welfare recipient living in an inexpensive older home passes this on to the authorities.
Bookstar schrieb:
That’s ridiculous compared to the rise in electricity consumption! Heat pumps will still cost us a lot more to operate because of this incompetent government. And the Greens will make everything even more expensive; they and their voters clearly have the financial means to afford almost everything. Oh dear, I’m just complaining... Maybe some things aren’t happening fast enough. After all, politicians want to get re-elected.
But you can’t say nothing is happening. Heat pump technology has been heavily supported for years, either directly through BAFA or indirectly via KFW programs, where practically no one can avoid installing a heat pump when building to the KFW 55 energy standard. The primary energy factor was lowered to favor heat pumps over gas, and so on.
You can’t just double prices overnight or ban old technology like scrap metal.
So, I find a 35% price increase for gas over six years quite significant. In contrast, the Renewable Energy Act surcharge is supposed to be gradually reduced, which currently accounts for 6 cents or about 20% of electricity costs.
That will shift the balance even more clearly toward heat pumps compared to gas.
So, gas would go from €60 to €80, and electricity from €50 to €40 per month.
What previously seemed close—dismissed with "oh, only €10 difference"—would clearly mean: gas costs twice as much to use.
That might not be noticeable today, but in 6 to 7 years it certainly will be.
If it’s implemented as planned.
T
T_im_Norden11 Feb 2020 08:23At the moment, I am paying 5 cents; by 2026, this would be 6.6 cents.
That is a 32% increase compared to now.
Electricity will not get cheaper, that is certain.
Regular electricity prices here have now reached approximately 33 cents.
That is a 32% increase compared to now.
Electricity will not get cheaper, that is certain.
Regular electricity prices here have now reached approximately 33 cents.
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