Solar/electric heating systems in the future energy system

Different designs of the heating unit and the control system will be investigated. The heating unit can be an attractive alternative to oil burners and natural gas boilers, both from an economy and environmental point of view. The heat is produced by the solar heating system and by the electric heating element(s)/heat pump. The electric heating element(s)/heat pump must, if possible, only be in operation in periods where the solar heating system is not able to cover the heat demand 100% and where the electricity cost is low, for instance in windy periods with a high electricity production from wind turbines. The unit is equipped with a smart heat storage and a smart control system. The control of the electric heating element(s)/heat pump is based on prognosis for the electricity price, the heat demand ofthe house and the solar heat production ofthe solar heating system. The control system is based on weather forecasts. It is expected that the heating unit is more cost efficient than traditional solar heating systems, and that the unit, if used in high numbers, can improve the utilization of electricity produced by wind turbines in windy periods. The units can therefore contribute to facilitating introduction of large scale wind energy in our future energy system, and thereby contribute to increasing the part of our energy consumption covered by renewable energy sources