Profitability of small-scale cogeneration units coupled with heat pumps

Abstract

The distributed generation as the latest electricity production paradigm has also consistently broadened the possibility of adopting cogeneration systems for small-scale applications. Furthermore, the adoption of intrinsically efficient electro-energetic technologies, such as heat pumps, gives the energy system designer new opportunities to exploit in order to obtain higher energy saving and therefore economic benefits. In this work, the main aspects related to the modelling, characterization, planning and evaluation of cogeneration systems combined with electric heat pumps are shown. The profitability of adopting different configurations is explored from an energy saving standpoint, conside..