China’s new hybrid heat pump slashes energy costs by 55% and grid reliance by 75%

Researchers from Shenyang Jianzhu University and Shanghai Jiao Tong University in China have developed a novel hybrid heat pump system that combines wind and solar power to significantly enhance residential energy efficiency. Tested on a low-energy residential building in Shenyang, the system integrates photovoltaic modules, wind turbines, battery storage, and thermal storage using phase-change materials. It employs both ground-source and air-source heat pumps alongside ground-source exchangers to optimize heating and cooling across seasons, supported by a seasonal energy-interaction framework that includes ground-source precooling in spring, cooling in summer, preheating in autumn, and heating in winter. The team implemented a two-stage optimization process using advanced algorithms to determine the ideal system configuration and manage battery charge levels dynamically. Their tests showed that the optimized hybrid system reduced the levelized cost of energy (LCOE) by at least 54.7%, improved overall performance by 4%, and decreased grid reliance by 75%. Soil temperature around the ground exchangers remained