You may be familiar with air-source heat pumps, which are heating systems that transfer heat from the air. The heating performance of air source heat pumps will decrease in colder climates. If you use a hybrid heat pump, you will still enjoy ultimate comfort when the temperatures are lower. What is a hybrid heat pump? Which heating system does it combine with? How does it work? Does it cost a lot? What are the advantages? I will answer these questions below.
As the name suggests, a hybrid heat pump is a combination of an electric heat pump, another heating system and a smart controller to provide heating, cooling and hot water to the home or building. Another heating system is usually a gas, oil or LPG boiler. A hybrid heat pump allows you to switch between two heat sources: an energy-saving heat pump and a quick-heating auxiliary heat source. This means you can enjoy year-round comfort no matter how cold the winter gets.
There are two common forms:
A hybrid heat pump intelligently switches between the two heat sources depending on outdoor temperature, energy costs and heating demand, ensuring optimal comfort and energy efficiency.
Heat Pump Mode: In mild or cool weather, the system uses the heat pump to warm or cool your home and water. It takes heat from the air outside and moves it indoors, just like a fridge in reverse. This method is very energy-efficient and uses much less electricity.
Boiler Support: When winter weather gets very cold, heat pumps work less efficiently. At this point, the system automatically switches to the boiler to keep your home warm. The boiler may also help produce hot water during busy times.
Smart Control System: The hybrid system includes a smart controller that constantly monitors: the outdoor temperature, energy prices (if a smart meter is connected), how much heating or hot water you need. It will choose the best option—heat pump, boiler, or both—to save energy and money while keeping your home comfortable.
Hybrid heat pumps are a solution for reducing carbon emissions and energy consumption. Hybrid heat pumps use a heat pump as the main heating source, minimizing CO2 emissions. They can reduce natural gas consumption by 60-90% compared to individual boilers. This makes them a highly energy-efficient heating solution and reduces environmental impact.
Hybrid heat pumps reduce CO2 emissions from heating a home by 38% compared to heating with a gas boiler alone. In addition, it reduces natural gas consumption for central heating and production of domestic hot water by nearly 90% compared to previous heating periods and calculations. This allows Europe to make a smoother transition from fossil fuels to a decarbonized energy system.
The main advantage of a hybrid heat pump is its ability to monitor and switch heat sources to ensure that the most appropriate heat source is used at any time, thus optimizing energy use and costs. This makes them ideal for large buildings or poorly insulated homes, where heat pumps alone may not be able to meet heating needs.
Poorly insulated buildings today account for the highest proportion of the existing building stock in the EU. This is a strong advantage for consumers, as it allows them to plan and afford the renovation of buildings in stages, such as by gradually adding or replacing insulation.
Hybrid heat pumps are generally more compact than stand-alone electric heat pumps and the boiler provides hot water without the need for a water tank, so they are a good solution in apartments or small homes with limited space.
The hybrid heating system minimizes the waiting time for heating in cold weather and quickly provides warmth to the indoor environment. Hybrid heat pumps are easy to use and anyone who knows how to use a heat pump and a boiler will know how to use a hybrid heat pump. Thanks to the controls and automatic settings, the convenience is greatly improved. The operating menu and thermostat work in a similar way to traditional systems, which facilitates the setup.
Since the system has two heat sources, there will be no interruption in heating and hot water in the event of a problem in the boiler or heat pump part, which reduces the pressure on customers and installers.
In addition, hybrid heat pumps are a relatively familiar technology for installers, as installation, commissioning and service are similar to traditional heat pumps and boilers.
In terms of purchase cost, hybrid heat pumps are more expensive than boilers, but cheaper than stand-alone heat pumps. The good news is that many European countries have policies, such as subsidies, to reduce investment purchase costs. The support of government policies makes it possible for many households to purchase at a favorable price.
In the Netherlands, since 2015, the government subsidy for sustainable energy and energy saving (ISDE) for residential buildings can be used to purchase hybrid heat pumps. It can reduce the purchase price by about 30%.
Compared with stand-alone boilers, the energy bills of hybrid heat pumps are reduced. It should be noted that this also depends on the price of the energy used and the share of the electric heat pump in the heat source.
Minimize energy bills by switching from boilers to electric heat pumps. With the introduction of variable electricity prices, the operating costs of hybrid heat pumps have the opportunity to be further reduced.
In addition, the installation cost of hybrid heat pumps is lower than that of stand-alone heat pumps, because hybrid heat pumps do not require a complete transformation of the building envelope or heat distribution system in advance. It can be transformed gradually after installation.
Hybrid heat pumps are a smart and flexible heating option for homes and buildings. They combine an energy-saving electric heat pump with a powerful boiler to keep you warm all year round—even in cold weather. Thanks to smart controls, the system adjusts based on outdoor temperature and energy prices, helping you save money and stay comfortable.
Whether you live in a large house or a small apartment, hybrid heat pumps are a practical choice. They make it easier to move away from gas heating without giving up comfort or reliability.
We are also developing a hybrid heat pump. It combines a JNOD electric boiler with a JNOD air source heat pump. Create a smart system that automatically chooses the most cost-effective way to heat your home and workplace at any time. Welcome to contact us to discuss in detail.
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