Business Need
Scottish Power are investigating common ground loop heat pump systems as a net zero heating solution for high-density urban housing, particularly if these can be deployed without extensive retrofitting.
Heat pumps (BE001)
Key partners
- Scottish Power: Iain Ward
- University of Strathclyde: Nick Kelly (ESRU), Lori McElroy (Architecture), Stuart Galloway (EEE)
The solution
Performance simulations using an advanced dynamic simulation tool and archetype models of urban housing, indicated that
- Existing heating distribution systems can be run at the lower temperatures supplied by heat pumps, without a significant impact on comfort or the need for insulation retrofitting.
- At lower supply temperatures, a coefficient of performance (COP) of 3+ was achievable.
- With COPs of 3+ running costs were comparable with gas boilers.
- Degradation of ground temperatures over 20 years had a small impact on performance.
- Recharging of ground temperatures using solar heat may not be cost effective.
Business benefits
Scottish power will use the performance data generated from this project in the development of their net zero heating business case.
Industry quotes
Strathclyde’s rigorous approach to modelling and analysis has provided valuable insights into the feasibility and performance of ground source heat pumps with a common shared ground array. Comfort levels can be maintained without extensive insulation retrofitting and coefficients of performance (COP) above 3 are achievable with running costs equal to or less than gas. The findings underscore the transformative potential of retrofitting existing housing stock with renewable heat technologies, illustrating that heat pumps are a viable renewable technology across various housing types. The work advances our understanding of the potential for shared array ground source heating solutions and contributes meaningfully to the wider strategy for the mass affordable decarbonisation of heat.