residential PV

Researchers in Germany have modeled dozens of indirect-expansion solar-assisted heat pump systems using photovoltaic-thermal panels for single-family homes in Munich, Berlin, and Hamburg. Simulations accounted for local weather, electricity use, and thermal demand.

The UK-based heating solutions provider has developed a pre-engineered and ready-to-install unit compatible with most of the residential heat pumps available in the market. It can be placed underneath a standard hot water cylinder and transfer heat from the pump via a plate exchanger to the central heating indirectly.

SL Rack has launched SL Planner, a tool linked to Google Maps that analyzes roof surface area and automatically distributes the appropriate number of solar modules.

The U.S. heating specialist said its new heat pump system can operate “reliably” at -30 C and achieve 100% heating capacity at -17 C, with full cooling capacity being achievable at 50 C. 

The U.S. manufacturer said its new heat pump water heater can provide up to 60% more hot water than standard electric water heaters. The system is available in 240 V and 120 V options and with a capacity ranging from 160 L to 190 L.

Search4solar, a solar panel trading platform based in the Netherlands, is urging developers, installers and governments to reuse second-life modules, with more than 100,000 used panels currently in stock.

Chinese inverter maker Solavita says its new hybrid inverter series offers high PV oversizing, multi-port battery integration, and grid-smart controls to meet growing demand for scalable solar-plus-storage in commercial and industrial (C&I), and large residential markets.

The system is described by its creators as a cost-effective solution for water heating by storing thermal energy in fine sand. Techno-economic analysis indicated the system is economically viable for domestic water heating applications, with an initial capital cost of $278 and an expected lifespan of 25 years.

Researchers in Spain have developed a new method to estimated potential-induced degradation (PID) in solar modules used in PV-driven water pumping systems. The proposed approach can detect PID from the open-circuit voltage measurement of the system’s PV module strings.

Researchers in China have developed a new methodology to improve the performance of solar-powered air source heat pumps. The proposed approach reportedly increases the energy efficiency of optimized building systems by 18%, with solar energy potentially reducing their carbon content by 37.78%.