Techno-economical optimization sizing study for hybrid heat pumps in collective dwellings
Hybrid heat pumps (HHPs) are heating generators that combine a gas condensing boiler with a heat pump and smart control system to optimize energy efficiency and reduce operational costs by switching between two sources of energy based on demand and external conditions. This work focuses on comparing two sizes of HHPs, balancing technical performance and economic feasibility. The different HHPs sizes were experimentally tested in a hardware-in-the-loop approach for a single use case– a collective dwelling in the climatic region of Strasbourg. The total cost over a 20-year lifespan is computed. It was found that the 40% HHP offers an optimal configuration and a good balance between overall costs and long-term savings for an electricity to gas price ratio under 2.6, thanks to the higher heat cover ratio and better efficiency. The study also highlights that HHPs are a viable economical and energy efficient alternative.