Solar Heat Pump Seasonal and Peak Demand Energy Analysis

Primary Author(s)

Florida Solar Energy Center
James Cummings, Florida Solar Energy Center

Report Number

FSEC-CR-1957-13

URL

https://publications.energyresearch.ucf.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/FSEC-CR-1957-13-ExecSum.pdf

Keywords

Energy Efficiency; Buildings; Heat Pumps; Retrofits; Solar heat pump; Energy savings; Peak demand reduction; Photovoltaic systems; Seasonal energy performance

Abstract

A proprietary research project was conducted to evaluate the potential annual and peak energy reduction resulting from the addition of a solar powered mini-split heat pump system to an existing home with central heat and cooling in the Florida Power and Light service territory. Experiments were performed to characterize the performance of a solar powered mini-split heat pump over a 12-month period and to determine seasonal and peak demand savings for both heating and cooling periods. The high efficiency 1.5-ton mini-split heat pump (19.2 SEER / 10.0 HSPF), along with 2 kW of photovoltaic (PV) panels, 8 deep discharge batteries, a charge controller, and an inverter were installed in a 2000 ft2 Building Science Lab building on the Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC) campus. The project measured high percentage energy savings with long economic payback periods.

Date Published

9-23-2013

Identifiers

200

Subjects

Heat pumps; Solar energy; Energy consumption; Buildings--Energy conservation; Photovoltaic power systems

Local Subjects

Buildings - Energy Efficiency; Heat Pumps; Buildings - Retrofits

Type

Text; Document

Collection

FSEC Energy Research Center® Collection

STARS Citation

Florida Solar Energy Center and Cummings, James, "Solar Heat Pump Seasonal and Peak Demand Energy Analysis" (2013). FSEC Energy Research Center®. 200.
https://stars.library.ucf.edu/fsec/200