Research project

ReWAX – Smaller heat pump dimensioning by X-to-Energy for peak load coverage

By using a peak load auxiliary heating system, oversizing of the heat pump can be avoided. Oil and gas peak load boilers are standard today but should be replaced in the future due to their CO2 emissions and measures to fight climate change. The utilization of biomass as an energy source is comparatively more complex and domestic biomass resources are already largely exhausted. Energy carriers X, which are produced based on renewable electricity (Power-to-X), could replace fossil-fueled peak load coverage in the future.

The project analyses which energy carrier X is suitable for this application, both for large residential as well as for district heating. It analyses how far the technology maturity level of the corresponding Power-to-X and X-to-Energy processes has progressed, and what costs can be expected for these solutions today and in the near future. Based on the assessments, an energy carrier X will be selected and peak load coverage using this energy carrier in combination with heat pumps will be tested in the laboratory.