ᐅ Geothermal Heating or Condensing Gas Boiler?

Hello,

I would like to give you the following advice.

There is no heating system more efficient than a gas condensing boiler. No other heating system can match these efficiency levels. Heat pumps do not either. Heat pumps have the significant drawback of being powered by electricity. A seasonal performance factor of, for example, 3.5 means the heat pump delivers 3.5 times as much heat energy as the electrical energy it consumes. At first glance, this seems positive, but when considering that only about one-third of the primary energy used for electricity generation (e.g., lignite) reaches the end user, this balance becomes less favorable. With a performance factor between 3 and 4, it effectively breaks even. To outperform a gas condensing boiler ecologically, the performance factor would need to be greater than 4, a value rarely achieved in practice.

In this context, it should also be noted that with a heat pump you are tied to the local grid operator. Unlike natural gas, where you can change suppliers, if the grid operator raises their prices, you cannot switch to a different provider.

Currently, it is advisable to install an efficient heating system combined with a solar thermal system. A heat pump does not qualify as such.

Best regards, Erik

ErikErdgas schrieb:

In this context, it should be noted that with a heat pump you are tied to the local grid operator. Unlike natural gas, for example, you cannot change your supplier. If the grid operator raises its prices, you cannot choose a different supplier.

That is not correct as stated.

ErikErdgas schrieb:

In this context, it should be noted that with a heat pump you are tied to the local grid operator. Unlike natural gas, for example, you cannot change the supplier. If the grid operator raises its prices, you cannot choose a different supplier.

However, I consider this to be a misconception.
In September last year, we switched our heat pump electricity from RWE/Westnetz to E-Wie Einfach.
This September, we switched again to Maingau-Energie.

I believe there are fewer suppliers for heat pump electricity than for regular electricity. You do have to search on comparison platforms (I didn’t find anything for heat pump electricity on Check24). But switching providers is possible at any time (apart from the usual contract commitment, which to my knowledge also exists with gas suppliers).

Good evening,

ErikErdgas schrieb:

Heat pumps have the significant drawback that they run on electricity.

And a gas condensing boiler runs without electricity?

ErikErdgas schrieb:

At the moment, it is required to install an efficient heating system combined with a solar thermal system. A heat pump does not count as such.

Considering the upcoming tightening of the energy saving regulations, it is rather unlikely that a gas condensing boiler will still be regarded as "affordable" by homebuilders. I’m curious how you will market it.

Regards, Bauexperte

ErikErdgas schrieb:
Hello,
With a coefficient of performance between 3 and 4, it is a break-even situation. To perform better environmentally compared to a gas condensing boiler, the coefficient of performance would need to be above 4, a value that is usually not reached in practice.

This applies to air-to-water heat pumps. Ground-source heat pumps (and similar types like well systems or even direct evaporators) easily achieve a coefficient of performance of 4. I have reached a value of 5 with a ground-source system (including hot water).