Demand-side-management potentials for heat-pumps in residential buildings

Abstract

The rollout of volatile renewable energies, within the European Union creates a need for flexibility, which in turn can be solved with Demand-Side-Management. Heat pumps in single-family houses can contribute by adapting their consumption towards price signals, boosting the integration of renewable energies at the same time. Studies so far only focus on Nearly-Zero-Energy-Buildings neglecting the potential of buildings with lower energy standard. This paper illustrates the load shifting potential of two reference-building types by the means of thermal simulation. Therefore, a designed control unit adapts the operation times of the heat pump according to spot market price signals while simultaneously sustaining indoor comfort. The results show remarkable cost reductions achieved by load shifting for both cases. In addition, the approach of this study facilitates the projection of Demand-Side-Management potentials of whole regions.