The role of heat pumps in the smart energy systems.

Heat pumps are needed in the future energy system to save primary energy, increase the share of renewable energy and thus to reduce climate impact. This is manifested in most recent future scenarios for low carbon energy systems that acknowledge the importance of efficient and reliable heat pump system. The role of heat pumps will change and broaden as the energy system becomes smarter. Information and smart controls in heat pumps coupled to storage possibilities will stabilize the electric energy system when the amount of flowing energy sources such as wind and solar energy increases. A stronger focus on resource efficiency and reduction of primary energy will put pressure on required seasonal performance factors for heat pump system. Increased system efficiency and high energy coverage are thus important challenges for heat pump system design. Hybrid systems where heat pumps are coupled to solar thermal energy and solar PV systems are likely to emerge on the market.