Quantifying the benefits of various control schemes for residential heat pumps within energy communities

Abstract

This thesis examines the efficiency of various inverter control schemes in optimizing residential heat pumps within energy communities. With the shift towards renewable energy and a focus on energy efficiency, understanding the impact of advanced control technologies on heat pumps is benefitial. This study evaluates air-sourced (ASHP) and ground-sourced (GSHP) heat pumps using simulation models to analyze their performance under three control schemes: Baseline Inverter, PV-Optimized, and Price-Optimized. The findings reveal significant improvements in energy efficiency and operational cost reduction with advanced inverter controls compared to traditional ON-OFF controls. The PV-Optimized control effectively maximizes solar energy self-consumption, enhancing grid stability and reducing reliance on external power. The Price-Optimized control adapts heat pump operations to fluctuating electricity prices, optimizing cost-efficiency in dynamic pricing environments.