CO2 savings of ground source heat pump systems – A regional analysis

In the current study the savings of CO2 emissions due to the use of ground source heat pump (GSHP) systems was investigated in comparison to conventional heating systems. Based on a subsidy program for GSHP systems in southwest Germany, the regional, average, and total CO2 savings of 1105 installed GSHP systems were determined on a regional scale. The emitted CO2 per kWh of heating demand for the studied scenario resulted in 149gCO2/kWh for GSHP using the German electricity mix and 65gCO2/kWh using the regional electricity mix, which results in CO2 savings of 35% or 72%, respectively. Similar CO2 avoidances of GSHP systems were found in American and European studies ranging between 15% and 77% strongly depending on the supplied energy for the heat pumps and the efficiency of installation. The resulting CO2 savings for one installed GSHP unit in the present study therefore range between 1800 and 4000kg per year. Nevertheless, the minimum average total annual CO2 savings of all installed GSHP systems due to the subsidy program amounted to 2000 tons per year. The maximum regional avoided additional CO2 emissions are primarily associated with the affluent suburbs of the most densely populated area in the region. In 2006 the total contribution of CO2 savings due to GSHP systems in Germany was only about 3.4% of the total renewable energies. However, continuously rising numbers of installed GSHP units and the increasing use of renewable electricity demonstrate that there is a fine opportunity to substantially avoid additional CO2 emissions associated with the provision of heating (and cooling) of buildings and other facilities.

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