24.06.2024
Source: Energie & Management Powernews
Eon commissioned research from RWTH Aachen University to find out when new heating systems pay for themselves. This is relatively quick and the user also saves a lot afterwards.
So are the figures good, or are they rather thought-provoking? It depends, was the answer at an online event organized by Eon. "There is still a great deal of uncertainty among the population when it comes to energy solutions," said Filip Thon, CEO of Eon Energie Deutschland. He presented a study on the "financial viability of energy solutions" conducted by RWTH Aachen University.
One question was posed at the start of the event. How long does it take for the costs of purchasing and operating a heat pump including a PV system to be cheaper than a new gas heating system? This was based on a terraced house built in 1990.
20.5 percent of respondents were correct in their answer that the break-even point would be reached after 11 to 15 years. 21 percent thought the investments would pay off more quickly. 32.7 percent stated that amortization takes longer. Just over a quarter did not provide any information. All in all, 80 percent estimated the payback period incorrectly or had no idea.
Concrete benefits of heat pumps
The study by Eon and RWTH Aachen University, on the other hand, showed "the concrete benefits of energy solutions such as heat pumps, photovoltaic systems, battery storage and energy management systems", said Thon. Even if the conversion of heating from fossil fuels to sustainable energy sources is associated with corresponding initial investments, said the CEO.
The calculation also included the state subsidies that flow to the owner when heat pumps and the like are purchased. In this context, the CEO pointed out that reliability is a key factor in the subsidy regime. This is because: "In the heat pump sector, government subsidies are currently needed so that people opt for this form of heating."
Once a decision has been made in favor of a sustainable heating system, system operators quickly benefit financially from the new technology: the energy bill for electricity and heat in a terraced house from 1990 can be reduced by 69 percent compared to gas heating by purchasing a heat pump, solar system and battery storage: from an average of 2.870 to 904 euros per year, calculated Dirk Müller, university professor at the Chair of Building and Indoor Climate Technology at RWTH Aachen University.
Even more can be achieved in a detached house built in 2005, where the costs fall from an average of 2,947 euros to 815 euros per year. This corresponds to a reduction of 72 percent. Müller went on to say that the heating bills in the cities of Munich and Essen had been selected in order to reflect different consumption profiles and weather data. His conclusion: "In our view, the study makes an important contribution to the debate on the possibilities of modern energy solutions."
Not only heating saves costs
It turned out that there are still a variety of ways to operate a property in a climate-friendly and economical way. For example, a balcony PV system pays for itself after just three to six years, "i.e. the acquisition costs have been recouped". Thanks to the lower travel costs of an electric car, the user has saved so much money after around 32,000 kilometers compared to a combustion engine that it could pay for a wallbox including installation.
"And even smaller purchases such as energy-saving shower heads, smart thermostats and LEDs can pay for themselves within just a few months, as the calculations show," concludes the report.
The "Study by Eon and RWTH Aachen University on the financial profitability of energy solutions" is available to download from the Internet.
Author: Stefan Sagmeister
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