It’s a rumor that persists and is often used as a counterargument, especially when switching to renewable energy: heat pumps don’t work in cold weather. However, a new study has now established facts: even at very low temperatures, heat pumps still work significantly more effectively than their fossil fuel competitors.
Even at low temperatures, heat pumps work more than twice as efficiently as gas and oil heaters – this is evident from a new field study by scientists from the University of Oxford in the journal “Joule”.
Particularly suitable for extremely cold regions
The research team even comes to the conclusion that this form of heating is particularly suitable for extremely cold and mildly cold climate zones. While Austria is in the temperate climate zone with an average temperature of 3 °C, in extremely cold climate zones average temperatures of less than 10 °C are measured.
The tests from North America, Asia and Europe were carried out under real conditions. The standard air heat pumps achieve average CoP values (Coefficient of Performance) between two and three in mild, cold climates. The CoP is a measure of how well a heating or air conditioning system works. The higher the COP, the more efficiently the device works – good values are between three and six.
Researcher: “There was a campaign of false information”
“People don’t know much about heat pumps, so it’s very easy to scare them,” Jan Rosenow, co-author of the study, told the Guardian. “There was a campaign spreading false information about heat pumps,” which also raised questions about whether they worked in cold weather, he continues.
“Heat pumps have been proven to be highly efficient, even in sub-zero temperatures, and politicians can rely on them as a suitable replacement for fossil fuel heating systems,” says Rosenow.
Suitable for almost all European households
The research now concludes that heat pumps are suitable for almost all European households – as most countries on the continent have minimum temperatures above -10°C.
According to studies, heat pumps are not only the more environmentally friendly alternative to fossil heating systems, but also the cheaper alternative. As recently as August, a study by consultancy firm Prognos on behalf of the environmental association WWF showed that heat pumps become cheaper for consumers over the entire useful life.
Source: Krone
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