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OK, so I need to change the heating system in the house - as we're currently on an ancient oil boiler that is on its last legs.
I've got quotes of £23k for an air source heat pump and £42k for ground source (boreholes) - we'd get a £9k grant for either.
I know that the ground source heat pump will be "better" especially when it gets cold (we're NE Scotland) - but will it be £19k "better"?
£14K or £33k after the grant!? that buys a new oil boiler and a lot of oil in my world.
That also buys a lot of well installed insulation and a quite a lot less oil.
I’d consider the long term operating costs in that.
Will you get £19,000 less electricity usage from boreholes than air?
I suppose the CoP will be less variable than an ASHP. This could also mean more predictable electricity usage over each year.
Either sounds better than burning stuff at home to keep warm.
Stream power. Nice!
You’ve got running water?
ground source with energy blades?
or open loop if you get an extraction license?
Water source heat pump? Probably not a goer if the burn ever freezes, of course.
How well insulated and draft proofed?
How much nature based sheltering from wind and openess to solar gain?
How small a Pico turbine?
Can you fit solar panels?
Planning a battery?
Unfortunately the mill is listed, so no chance of getting permission for solar.
I'd hope for about a 1kW hydro scheme charging batteries.
I've briefly looked into water source heat pumps, but not sure if there’d be enough flow in the burn (especially in the summer) to make it a viable source.
Even with the prospect of “free” electricity, I’m struggling to justify the additional cost of ground source.
Solar can be placed free standing - I've seen it in large gardens locally (also in NE Scotland).
Return from ground source is quicker, but not as accessible if anything goes wrong. But if you've got space for GS, you've maybe got space for solar (and / or a shed that has solar on the roof).
Some way down route of ASHP, battery and solar PV here - to the stage of having specs drawn up for getting in put into (admittedly new build).
Unfortunately the mill is listed, so no chance of getting permission for solar.
Theres a specific permission for panels on a listed building oddly enough its called "listed building consent" / LBC -
most Listed buildings are EPC poor and so unless there is good historical reason they are generally not blocked - more so if the sunny aspect is not the main frontage aspect.
I’d hope for about a 1kW hydro scheme charging batteries.
Wont touch the sides on any form of electric heating. My folks have 4kW fixed 4 kW sun tracking array driving their heat pump in the middle of france and while it does help. it doesnt come close to covering the demand.
So the oil boiler will definitely be going soon in favour of ‘free’ electricity
As.already said, 1kW is very little TBH. If I were you I'd just buy another oil boiler and up your insulation.
I wouldn't have said that 24kWh per day, every day is very little... and I know that it wouldn't cover the demand - however that's £2,400 pounds of electricity that I wouldn't be buying from the grid each year.
more so if the sunny aspect is not the main frontage aspect
The main (listed) frontage is the sunny aspect. All other roof space and any usable portions of the garden are shaded for much of the day, so not viable for solar - and I'd need a fair sized array to get 24kWh every day.