Considerations for the use of heat pumps with combined thermal storage as a DSM tool in domestic retrofit setting.

The EU renewable energy directive (2009/28/EC) has set a range of national targets to collectively raise the average renewable share across Europe to 20% by 2020. Air source heat pumps have been identified as a major contributor towards reaching renewable heat targets and decarbonisation of heat. In order to maintain a working grid however system constraints result in limitations on wind generation often resulting in curtailment. Full electrification of heat also gives rise to the necessity to increase generation and reinforce the electricity grid. A more cost-effective solution would be a more sophisticated method which would balance energy production and demand through energy storage. Using high temperature heat pumps domestic retrofit application is possible and when combined with energy storage, demand side management (DSM) control strategies, and user incentives it could be possible to provide a deployable means of balancing non-dispatchable wind generation with heating demand.