An innovative plant integrating PVT and geothermal reversible heat pump for heating and cooling in residential applications

Many new technologies and projects are currently being undertaken worldwide to assist in the reduction of fossil fuel consumption. Significant progress has been made so far, and one promising solution moving towards a low-carbon heating and cooling energy production in buildings is in the combined generation of renewable electricity and heat based on photovoltaic thermal collectors (PVT). In several European countries the PVT market is picking up speed. The possible applications for PVT-collectors are very varied and range from e.g. swimming pool heating to solar heat for industrial processes, but many of the already installed PVT systems have been applied to cover thermal and electrical energy demand at residential scale. The paper aims to show the results achieved in the power, heating and cooling production by a PVT plant integrated with geothermal reversible heat pump. The paper includes a description of the technology, the performance measured in a first installation and a preliminary economic assessment.