The role of gas heat pumps in electric DSM

Conference · Mon Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1993

OSTI ID:10134328

Fulmer, M. ^[1]; Hughes, P. J. ^[2]

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1. Tellus Inst., Inc., Boston, MA (United States)
2. Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (United States)

Natural gas-fired heat pumps (GHPs), an emerging technology, may offer environmental economic, and energy benefits relative to standard and advanced space conditioning equipment now on the market. This paper describes an analysis of GHPs for residential space heating, and cooling relative to major competing technologies under an Integrated Resource (IRP) framework. Our study models a hypothetical GHP rebate program using conditions typical of the Great Lakes region. The analysis is performed for a base scenario with sensitivity cases. In the base scenario, the GHP program is cost-effective according to the societal test, total resource cost test (TRC), and the participant test, but is not cost-effective according to the non-participant test. The sensitivity analyses indicate that the results for the TRC test are most sensitive to the season in which electric demand peaks and the technology against which the GHPs are competing, and are less sensitive to changes in the marginal administrative costs. The modelled GHP program would save 900 million kWh over the life of the program and reduce peak load by about 100 MW in winter and about 135 MW in summer. We estimate all of the GHPs in service (both GHPs of program participants and nonparticipants) in the case study region would save 1,900 million kWh and reduce summer peak load by over 350 MW.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-84OR21400
• OSTI ID: 10134328
• Report Number(s): CONF-930329--1; ON: DE93007858
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
320106
BUILDING EQUIPMENT
COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS
GAS HEAT PUMPS
RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS
SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS
SUPPLY AND DEMAND