Solar-Assisted Heat Pump

A solar-assisted heat pump combines a heat pump with thermal solar panels, photovoltaic solar panels, or both, in a single integrated system. Because a heat pump needs a low temperature heat source, a solar thermal panel can supply that source directly, feeding the heat it collects into the evaporator of the heat pump instead of running the two technologies separately to produce warm air or hot water. The aim is a higher coefficient of performance, so the combined system produces energy more efficiently and less expensively. Where the heat pump instead draws on outside air preheated by solar air collectors, it gains the added benefit of lower maintenance, since the outdoor fan unit is shielded from harsh winter conditions.