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Heating and cooling in the energy transition

The energy transition is changing the way heating and cooling systems are designed. It involves technologies, infrastructure, buildings and energy carriers, and calls for an approach that integrates different solutions, adapting them to the requirements of each application.

The European Union has set the target of achieving climate neutrality by 2050 and reducing net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030 compared with 1990 levels. The European Green Deal, the European Climate Law, the Fit for 55 package, the RED III Directive and the REPowerEU plan provide the policy framework guiding the development of the European energy system.

The path towards these targets has its roots in international climate agreements and continues through an evolving regulatory framework. For the heating and cooling sector, this means working with an increasingly diverse range of technologies and an energy system expected to integrate different energy sources and carriers. One example is the RED III Directive and its implications for buildings, systems and renewable energy sources.

Integrating energy sources around application requirements

Rather than asking which energy source is best, we believe it is more useful to ask how the different energy sources available can best be integrated.

This is the principle guiding ROBUR’s approach to developments in the sector, as also outlined in our reflections on the energy transition and the integration of available resources.

Every building has different characteristics. Every system meets specific needs. Every project requires a technical assessment that considers the required performance, available infrastructure, climatic conditions and project objectives.

For this reason, we believe that technology selection should start with the application rather than the energy carrier. This approach applies equally to heating and cooling public and private offices, choosing a heat pump for an apartment building, and selecting heat pumps for industrial applications.

The assessment must also consider the initial investment, operation and maintenance: factors that determine the cost of a heat pump over its lifetime and help users make informed choices that take account of environmental responsibility, savings and efficiency.

Energy carriers and infrastructure in the energy transition

Analyses produced by European institutions, research centres and industry associations describe scenarios in which different energy carriers coexist. The report Decarbonisation Speedways, published by Eurelectric on 20 June 2023, examines three decarbonisation pathways for the European Union and the United Kingdom, in which direct electrification plays a central role and accounts for a growing share of final energy consumption. Results vary according to the assumptions used in each scenario. As the report explains, these are modelled scenarios, not predictions of how the energy system will actually develop.

At the same time, research continues into the potential contribution of other energy carriers, including biomethane, hydrogen produced from renewable sources and other renewable fuels. Their use requires assessments of production processes, availability and end uses.

Existing energy infrastructure is another factor that designers and operators must consider when planning energy upgrades. This includes analyses of the potential use of hydrogen in European gas networks and the prospects for hydrogen as an energy carrier.

For existing buildings, these assessments translate into practical decisions: identifying which components to retain, which to replace and how to integrate new technologies. These are central considerations in heating system upgrades and retrofits, which require a comprehensive assessment of the building and its systems.

Hybrid systems and thermally driven heat pumps

In this context, hybrid systems, which integrate different technologies and energy carriers within a single installation, are of particular interest. The ability to manage more than one energy source allows system operation to be adapted to operating conditions and building requirements, making use of the characteristics of each technology.

One example is Robur Hybrid, which combines electric and gas absorption heat pumps with a dedicated control system to manage the heating units.

The technologies available today also include thermally driven heat pumps, which have been the subject of studies and technical publications by European industry associations. Their operation and potential applications have also been examined through technical contributions dedicated to Thermally Driven Heat Pumps.

ROBUR GAHP Plus gas absorption heat pumps operate using energy supplied by gas together with aerothermal, geothermal or hydrothermal energy recovered from the environment, depending on the model and in accordance with the operating principle of absorption technology. A comparison between gas and electric heat pumps provides further insight into the differences between the two technologies.

As with any heating and cooling technology, performance depends on the building’s characteristics, system configuration, climatic conditions and operating patterns. Each solution therefore requires a technical assessment specific to its application.

To interpret performance figures, it is useful to understand COP and GUE efficiency indicators and the factors that influence heat pump energy consumption, distinguishing between performance declared under test conditions and the results achievable in an actual installation.

The development of ROBUR solutions

From gas unit heaters to absorption heat pumps, from hybrid systems using two energy carriers to the new range of fully electric solutions, every development in our offering follows the same principle: identifying the most suitable solution for each application and making the best use of available energy.

This approach continues through the development of our technologies. GAHP Plus models and those ROBUR condensing boiler models for which H2Ready 20% compatibility is declared are designed to operate with natural gas blends containing up to 20% hydrogen by volume, in accordance with their respective technical specifications. This feature does not mean they can operate on pure hydrogen, nor does it, on its own, quantify a reduction in emissions. Understanding what H2Ready compatibility means is important when assessing its practical implications.

GAHP absorption heat pumps also use ammonia (NH3) as their refrigerant, with a GWP of 0. GWP, or Global Warming Potential, expresses the refrigerant’s potential contribution to global warming: this value relates to the fluid and does not mean that the appliance as a whole has no emissions or environmental impacts. It forms part of the broader discussion about the impact of greenhouse gases and F-gases.

These characteristics reflect the development of our research and design activities. Every technological advance stems from the aim of offering solutions suited to different applications, maintaining the approach that has guided ROBUR since 1956 and that we share through our 70 years of heart and passion.

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