Installation of our first Solar assisted heat pump heating system has been completed. Uses the combination of solar thermal energy of 12 m² of Heat Pipe/Vacuum tubes, with the backup of an air/water heat pump, to provide house space heating (during Winter, Spring and Autumn seasons), hot water (100%, all year) and swimming pool heating (during Summer season).

The system was designed by Net Green Solar Ltd and installed by Net Green Developments Lda, in a private house in Galamares, Sintra, Portugal.

Competative with traditional Fossil fuel systems

The system cost €12,600 to install, with an estimated financial payback of under four years.

The installation is undergoing at present performance tests, from which we can understand what free heating capacities are available. During March the solar system has been generating 10 kW heat output, which was more than we had envisaged at the Design stage of the project. This has resulted in hot air being circulated, via the Fan Coil unit, in the North facing hallway at temperatures more than 40°C.

During April we will start to publish the performance results and analysis of the system.