The Latest Trend: Bivalent Industrial Heating Systems
Sustainable heating can require a significant financial investment. For example, installing a heat pump system can cost four to five times more than an efficient fossil-fuelled radiant heating system. For a 10,000-square-metre building, an investment of £60,000 for radiant heating could rise to £290,000 when using heat pumps.
At first glance, the advantages may not seem obvious. With high electricity prices, heat pumps can have similar running costs to traditional systems, and they tend to lose efficiency in sub-zero temperatures. In contrast, this is where radiant heating systems begin to demonstrate their strengths.
Bivalent heating systems offer a more cost-effective solution
By using hybrid systems, companies can significantly reduce their heating system investment costs. In fact, intelligent system integration can save around 50% of these costs. The concept is relatively simple: during the heating season, heat pumps handle the base load (about 40% of the total heating output). The peak load, approximately 60%, is then covered by other systems, such as industrial electric infrared radiators. While these systems may have higher running costs, their upfront investment is only a fraction of that required for a heat pump.
Higher Operating Costs, but Still More Affordable to Run
Ultimately, the ‘additional operating costs’ of electric infrared radiators, for instance, have minimal impact during an average winter. In most regions, only 3 to 7 days per year require the heating system to operate at full peak load to reach the maximum calculated temperature difference (△T).
Conclusion
Bivalent heating solutions require careful consideration of the building’s usage and the company’s priorities, such as investment capacity, energy policies, and energy costs. One thing is certain: businesses and investors need a heating system that remains affordable in the long term. That’s why hybrid solutions are more than just an alternative. They enable large buildings to be heated using renewable energy while also improving environmental sustainability in the sector.
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