Heat pumps with solar PV
A heat pump is one of the largest electrical loads in a home, and heat is far cheaper to store than electricity. Pairing the two means running the heat pump harder while the panels produce a surplus.
The energy path
What the heat pump does with the signal
Through its SG Ready inputs, the RV DC inverter series can receive a "recommended" or "forced" run signal. Typical responses are charging the hot water cylinder, raising the buffer tank temperature within its limits, or raising the room setpoint slightly so the building itself stores heat. When the surplus ends, the unit returns to normal operation and uses the stored heat first.
What it does not do
The heat pump is not connected directly to the PV panels. It is supplied from the building's normal electrical installation; the PV system feeds that installation through its own inverter. The heat pump only reacts to the signal it receives, so an energy manager, a PV inverter with a switching output, or a home automation system has to decide when surplus exists.
Seasonal reality
PV output is highest in summer and at midday, while heating demand peaks in winter and at night. Solar integration therefore works best for domestic hot water all year, for cooling in summer, and for shifting some heating into the middle of the day in spring and autumn. It lowers running costs, but it does not make a winter heating system solar-powered.
Utility signals
The same inputs can receive a signal from a grid operator or tariff controller where such schemes exist. Compatibility with a particular utility programme has to be confirmed for each market.
Related: SG Ready explained · Domestic hot water · Smart Home Ready
Talk to an engineer about your project
Send the building details, location and the emitters you plan to use. We come back with a model proposal and a quotation.