TRI-HP systems will reach an on-site direct renewable share (self-consumed) of at least 80%. This will be achieved using a net-zero energy concept with 20 % electricity exchanged with the grid due to lack of seasonal storage. TRI-HP systems will reduce the primary energy demand for electricity, heating and cooling by around 73% compared to systems using gas boilers, air chillers and grid purchased electricity.
One of the driving forces of TRI-HP is the cost reduction at system level. TRI-HP targets an installation cost reduction of 10-15 % compared to current heat pump technologies with the same energetic efficiency. Assuming that the technological challenges are solved within TRI-HP, the proposed solutions will be ready for market deployment during 2027.
The heat pump industry will be the most valuable replicator of the proposed solutions. The possibility of being able to use several renewable heat sources will increase the market share of heat pump based systems in Europe. The key developments of TRI-HP on heat exchangers will be available via ALFA LAVAL to the entire European heat pump industry.
For building owners TRI-HP poses a new option to replace carbon-intensive heating and cooling systems by newer ones in order to adapt their buildings to changing political and regulatory framework conditions. TRI-HP is also in line with the expectation of residents that consider solar and ground heat pumps for heating and cooling as appealing options to reduce their personal carbon footprint. The flexibility provided by TRI-HP systems adds another benefit, because residents tend to show acceptance of multiple options, rather than to prefer a single solution. Thus, TRI-HP has the potential to accelerate the adoption of renewable solutions in the building sector.
The proposed solutions are not combusting any fuel in order to provide heating, reducing thus significantly the carbon emmissions. TRI-HP has the potential to reduce the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions by 67% to 76% for the provision of electricity, heating and cooling compared to the conventional systems.
Most of the commercially available heat pumps use synthetic refrigerants that will be forbidden in the near future. Synthetic halocarbons used over the last 80 years were limited by the Montreal and Kyoto protocols and the related amendments due to their high ozone depletion potential and Global Warming Potential (GWP). The European F-gas regulation currently regulates the use of Hydrofluorocarbons (HFC) refrigerants because of their high GWP. Therefore, the implementation of natural refrigerants is urgently needed. The heat pumps developed in TRI-HP will be based on natural refrigerants with very low GWP, i.e. CO2 and propane.