Solar Heat Pumps and Self-Consumption Can (and should) electricity suppliers encourage thermal storage?

Abstract

Heat pumps and water tanks can be used to increase PV self-consumption in buildings without any additional equipment, but there is sometimes a lack of economic incentives to maximize it that limits economic gains. Therefore, pricing conditions need to change in order to make self-consumption strategies more interesting for prosumers. This study aims at determining what, if any, unsubsidized market conditions could lead to economically motivated self-consumption control strategies with solar heat pumps. A sensitivity analysis is used on multiple pricing models based on current market conditions for a solar PV and ground source heat pump system for a single-family house in Norrköping, Sweden. The results show that control strategies aimed at maximizing self-consumption have very little impact on net costs, regardless of pricing model or variation in price. Feed-in-bonus is the most important aspect when comparing different pricing schemes, and no other sensitivity comes close.