Absorption Heat Pumps Current deployement and potential 02/10/2014 Titre de la présentation 1
Energy efficiency and environmental requirements are the drivers of the GAHP developments Condensing boilers have reached the maximal energy efficiency possible out of the direct combustion of natural gas. Latest improvements of boilers tend to lower their environmental impact (CO and NOx emissions) and to increase their modulation capacities and efficiencies at part load. Gas Absorption Heat Pump Labelling As European regulations push for always higher efficiency in the building sector, heat pumps become the «next step» equipments : they turn the «free renewable heat» available in the surroundings (air, ground, solar, exhaust air, waste, etc.) into usefull heat. A wide range of electrical heat pumps (EHP) are being developed worldwide to recover heat from various sources for heating and/or domestic hot water applications in residential and commercial buildings. GDF SUEZ has laid out a technological roadmap for the residential sector, based on a consensus shared with UNICLIMA (French organization of HVAC manufacturers). Gas absorption heat pumps (GAHP) appears to be one of the natural gas products having the highest efficiency potential (along with combined heat and power systems a.k.a. CHP). GAHP also provide specific advantages : their thermosensitivity is much lower than that of EHP : therefore this gas technology can provide comfort (heat and hot water) during the coldest periods without constraints (no disruption of service during peak periods). 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% Primary energy savings compared to a standard boiler Coupling with renewable energy sources Low temperature Boiler Standard Boiler Condensing Boiler 1990 2000 2010 2020 Fuel Cell Absorption Heat pump Engine Gas Heat Pump Mini Cogeneration Stirling m-chp Hybrid Boiler 2
The current developments and commercialization of GAHP only occur in Europe GAHP systems are installed to supply heating, domestic hot water and eventually cooling. Ab-or ad-sorption chillers are also available on the market, but this TPP focus on the heating application, that is today the more efficient. Before 2005, absorption gas chillers were already commercialised in the 105 kw-5 MW range (by manufacturers like YAZAKI, KAWAZAKI, SANYO, CARRIER,...). The efficiency in cooling mode is maximum 1,1. However, these manufacturers did not developed heat pumps, as the working pair used (H 2 O/LiBr) is not appropriated for this application. Today, ROBUR GAHP are the only available product on the market. It is commercialised in Europe by local distributors, and since 2010 by BOSCH and BDR Thermea, mainly in Germany, Netherlands and France. In the 90s, ROBUR started to manufacture a small capacity absorption chiller (17 kw) with a technology based on US patents (US company : Arkla/Servel). In 2005, ROBUR launched in Italy the first absorption heat pump (for heating and DHW). By end of 2012, 8 000 units have been installed in Europe and the market is increasing (~300 MW thermal capacity). German market favours geothermal models while French market prefers air-source models. The typical applications are collective dwellings, and commercial buildings like hostels, hospitals...for heating and DHW. 3
Cumulative GAHP installed in France 3. Current deployment and potential So far, only ROBUR is commercializing GAHP, but the market is promising in Europe More than 8 000 units of 40 kw ROBUR heat pumps have been sold in Europe. Sales are increasing in Europe. ROBUR claims 3 000 sales in 2012. In France, GAHP is commercialized : France Air (since 2009) De Dietrich (BDR) and BOSCH (since 2011) 350 300 250 200 150 GAHP in France France About 144 sales in 2012: The French market is growing strongly. 82% are air/water (vs Geothermal) With conservative hypothesis, the potential market is expected 8% are reversible to be around (chiller/heat 18 000 units pump) in France including small and average capacity in 2015/2016. 100 50 0 2009 2010 2011 2012 (source:grdf) Because the product is competitive in term of price and efficiency, the potential market is interesting in Europe. ROBUR has already commercial partnerships with boiler manufacturers like BDR Thermea, BOSCH. As ROBUR stays a small company, we can reasonably assume that there is place for others manufacturers in Europe 4
Ongoing development projects open interesting perspectives for GAHP to diversify the commercial offer Several manufacturers pursue R&D projects targeting the residential market (individual housing). Market launch for France is expected between 2013 and 2015. The main constraint is the CAPEX of the system. In Germany, a large field tests program has been launched with the Initiative Gaswärmepumpe (IGWP). 100 units are being installed (shared between ROBUR units, Vaillant and Viessmann adsorption units). Most of them are ground source heat pumps. IGWP The European project HEAT4U (2011/2014) has the goal to design and test an 18 kw absorption heat pump. Project leader is ROBUR, and the main partners are GDF SUEZ (GrDF and CRIGEN), BRITISH GAS, EON Ruhrgas, BOSCH Thermotechnik. HEAT4U Viessmann is also developing a promising small absorption heat pump with an innovative refrigerant ; a geothermal prototype has been tested in 2012 in Germany. 5