Analysis of a photovoltaic system coupled with heat pump and energy storage for heating and cooling a typical residential block in Spain

TThis master thesis analyzes the feasibility and sizing criteria to maximize the utilization of photovoltaic energy in a residential system by incorporating heat pumps and water accumulation tanks. A building, which is a typical representation of the current Spanish building stock and uses natural gas and electricity to meet its demands, is taken into consideration. The study compares its energy, economic, and environmental impact before and after implementing renewable energy sources. Firstly, by maximizing the photovoltaic system installed on the rooftop area and implementing the heat pumps, we promote the transition to electrification in the residential building, resulting in reduced CO2 emissions compared to the base scenario. Additionally, the overproduction of the photovoltaic system is stored in thermal energy storage tank and/or in a battery. This stored energy is used solely for the purpose of air conditioning during hours when photovoltaic production is insufficient. The calculations are evaluated for the climatic conditions corresponding to the city of Valencia, and the analysis is later extended to other climatic areas of Spain. The obtained results from the analysis show great improvements compared to the base scenario. By implementing renewable energy sources, primary energy consumption is reduced, and an approximate 80 % reduction in CO2 emissions is achieved. Furthermore, evaluating the improved scenario in different climatic zones in Spain reveals similar results, leading to the conclusion that these measures effectively improve energy efficiency, environmental quality, and economic profitability. The economic analysis reveals that the payback time for these systems is around 7 years, and excess energy produced by the photovoltaic system can be sold back to the grid through feed-in tariffs, further improving economic benefits.