ShareResidential heat pump optimised by solar radiation forecasts
A new heat pump system heats water mainly during the day based on solar radiation data, offering significant energy savings.
Panasonic has launched a new version of its Eco Cute CO2 heat pump, designed to optimise domestic hot water (DHW) production based on solar radiation forecasts. The Ohisama Eco Cute system uses a dedicated application to obtain the following day’s solar radiation data and schedule water heating hours accordingly.
The system adjusts DHW production during daylight hours to take advantage of peak solar radiation, using the surplus electricity generated by rooftop solar panels. Compared to the previous version, the Ohisama Eco Cute can reduce CO2 emissions by approximately 62% annually and electricity costs for hot water by 41%.
This new system, in contrast to the earlier Eco Cute model, allows the start time for heating water to be optimised based on expected solar radiation. The solution includes a storage feature that helps conserve energy by utilising excess solar power. It is a more efficient and sustainable alternative for homeowners looking to reduce their energy consumption.
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Did you know? The IIR recently published a Tecnical Brief about heat pumps: Domestic heat pumps using hydrocarbons : current status and market overview in Europe. 58th IIR Technical Brief on Refrigeration Technologies. You can download it in FRIDOC (the document is free of charge for IIR members)