Improving the Energy Performance of a Household Using Solar Energy: A Case Study

Abstract

In the global context of energy transition from fossil fuels to renewable sources of energy, solar energy plays a key role in electricity generation, having the highest annual growth in the last years. This case study focuses on improving the overall energy efficiency of a household through thermal retrofitting, harnessing solar energy with photovoltaic (PV) systems and using air-source (ASHP) or ground-source (GSHP) heat pumps. The electricity generated by the PV systems is used to power the heat pumps and all other electricals of the household. The simulations for the ASHP and GSHP systems were conducted with GeoT*SOL software, while for electricity generation by PV systems, PV*SOL Premium software was used. The comparative results show: a decrease in the heating load to about 51.56%; an annual heating requirement of 53.88% of the normed one; an energy consumption index of about 58.34 kWh/m2·year; an annual energy consumption reduction of 88% for ASHP and 91% for GSHP, compared with the current gas heating system; 34% of the household consumption was covered by the PV system in the case of using ASHP and 36% for GSHP; and lower operating costs by 47% for the PV system with ASHP and 53% for the PV system with GSHP.