Residential Heat Pump Study

Project overview

Lead Organisation
Climate-KIC Australia
Location
Blacktown, New South Wales
ARENA Program
Advancing Renewables Program
Start date
12 November 2018
End date
26 September 2022
Project Partners
Presync, Frasers, New South Wales Office of Environment and Heritage, University of Technology Sydney, Curtin University, Wattwatchers, Green Building Council of Australia
This renewables project was completed on 26 September 2022.

Summary

The Residential Heat Pump Study is a three-year study on the commercial-scale demonstration of renewable (thermal energy) ground source heat pumps (GSHPs). Based in the Fairwater master-planned residential community in Western Sydney, the project seeks to establish the business case for industry-wide adoption of using GSHPs to provide residential heating and cooling in greenfield developments.

Key results

The study demonstrated a number of benefits associated with the integration of ground source heat pumps, including:

reduced peak demand and total consumption for grid energy
improved energy performance
economic benefits to the developer, residents, and the distribution network service providers
improved urban heat island outcomes.
The project delivered a technical and commercial evidence base to show the potential for reduction in electricity network augmentation and the commercial merits of industry-wide adoption of GSHP technologies and systems approaches in residential precinct developments.
The study findings emphasise the importance of thermally efficient climate responsive building design, a better understanding of occupant behaviour and energy consequences, precinct-based approaches that encompass technology innovation for a decarbonised future as well as well-designed infrastructure to support the health, well-being and resilience of the residents.

This project consists of:

Geothermal energy (Primary)

Project Knowledge

Contact

Name: Christopher Lee, CEO of Climate-KIC Australia
Email: chris.lee@climate-kic.org.au

Last updated
11 November 2022

Learn more

Report: Fairwater Living Lab Residential Heat Pump Study

The Residential Heat Pump Study Final Report provides the findings of a three-year study on the demonstration of ground source heat pumps (GSHP) at a masterplanned residential establishment (Fairwater).

How the project works

The Residential Heat Pump Study by Climate-KIC recognises that heating and cooling forms the largest component of energy consumption in the average Australian home. Unfortunately, many developers and builders are incentivised to build a property that is as large as possible for the least cost with minimal consideration of operational efficiency or cost of living. Therefore, purchasers end up with homes that are expensive to run and dependent on energy-intensive heating and cooling systems to maintain a comfortable home environment. As land and energy costs increase, the impact of these inefficient systems become more apparent.

Area of innovation

Geothermal ground source heat pump systems are being installed for each unit in the entire greenfield residential development. This heating and cooling technology will be coupled with real time energy consumption monitoring and, in some instances, residential rooftop solar and eventually batteries.

Benefit

This Residential Heat Pump Study will collect real-time household energy consumption data to determine whether building energy efficient homes with advanced technology involves a substantial increase in price, while offering the occupants a more comfortable and less expensive place to call home.

The energy and carbon efficiency of the ground source heat pumps will also be tested. The network impact will be examined to quantify the effect on peak demand and overall electricity demand on local distribution infrastructure.

Climate-KIC Australia website