Air-energy heat pump technology has a strong appeal for entering the renewable energy market

Abstract: At the 2011 China Heat Pump Industry Association annual meeting, experts from the National Solar Energy Standardization Technical Committee introduced that the reason for the rapid development of air-source heat pumps is the ease of installation and use on the one hand, and the other The combination of solar energy is relatively easy. Water source heat pumps and ground source heat pumps have received widespread policy support, and air source heat pump water heaters have not been included in the renewable energy category.

According to the survey, there are two national standards for the combined use of air source heat pumps and solar energy: one is the national standard for the technical conditions of domestic solar water heaters assisted by air source heat pumps, and the other is the standard for engineering. There are market bottlenecks such as higher prices in the household sector, but if the industry is large, its potential is huge. Due to the large amount of heat in the engineering field, the combination of the two products can replace the traditional electric heating pipe, and the energy saving effect is very good.

Air energy technology has been in Europe and America for decades, but it has been less than 10 years since it was formed in China. In 2002, domestic air-source water heaters began to appear in small batches, with an annual output value of only 30 million yuan. By the end of 2011, the industry's total output value has reached nearly 4.5 billion yuan, and production companies have also grown from a dozen companies such as Tianyi, Tongshu, and Jinjiang Bailang to more than 400 companies at present, including Midea, Gree, Oaks, and Zhi. Higher appliance companies have stepped in, and the entire industry has ushered in growth.

According to the "Renewable Energy Law," renewable energy refers to non-fossil energy such as wind energy, solar energy, hydro energy, biomass energy, geothermal energy, and ocean energy. According to relevant experts, environmental heat sources, such as air heat sources, have not been included in the relevant provisions, nor have they been explicitly excluded from the scope of renewable energy. The current status is not very clear. Because of its unclear status, air can be excluded from the market and in most areas it cannot enjoy the government's policy support like solar energy. The China Heat Pump Industry Alliance recommends that the state should incorporate air energy into the scope of renewable energy; incorporate energy-efficient air source heat pumps into the “energy-saving and benefit-to-people” project; enjoy the same policies as solar water heaters; and let the construction sector in some areas where it can be realized. Reserve installation position for air source heat pump equipment.

According to industry insiders, compared with traditional electric water heaters, gas water heaters, and solar water heaters, air-source heat pump water heaters started relatively late, and product prices generally range from 4,000 yuan to 6,000 yuan, which is inconsistent with the expectations of ordinary consumers. In addition, heat pump products need dedicated compressors, environmentally friendly refrigerants, low-temperature heat pumps, and heating applications, and the overall technology level needs to be further improved. It is worth noting that countries such as the European Union and Australia have included air source heat pump water heater technology in the scope of renewable energy and provided corresponding policy support. According to report, in China, water source heat pumps and ground source heat pumps have received general policy support, and air source heat pump water heaters have not been included in the renewable energy category.