Anyone who needs a new heating system is often faced with the choice between gas or a heat pump. RWTH Aachen University has now calculated which is cheaper in the long run.
According to a study by RWTH Aachen, the installation of a heat pump can pay for itself financially within 10 to 16 years. This was the result of calculations commissioned by the energy company Eon using example houses from 2005, 1990 and 1980, which were presented in Munich on Friday. The investment and operating costs for a heat pump, including subsidies, were compared with those for a new gas heating system.
Calculations for older houses were not initially available, but Eon assumes that the time period will be somewhat longer. However, according to the calculations, it will be quicker if the heat pump is combined with a separate photovoltaic system. Then, according to the calculations, it will only take 11 to 14 years until the advantage in operating costs compensates for the higher initial investment.
The study by RWTH professor Dirk Müller assumed acquisition costs of around 18,000 euros for the heat pump after deduction of the subsidy, while photovoltaics cost an additional 11,000 euros. Installation costs of 15,000 euros were estimated for the gas heating. However, the operating costs for the heat pump were significantly lower than for the gas heating. In the case of photovoltaics, they were even much lower.
The differences in profitability depended on the building and its use – including the question of how many people live in the house. The calculation was based on buildings without underfloor heating, as Müller explained. With underfloor heating, the situation is more favorable for the heat pump. In principle, there is no class of building for which a heat pump is not an option.
Müller said that heat pumps have an expected lifespan of at least 12 years. However, he stressed that this does not mean that the devices are broken after this time; rather, they may need to be repaired or parts replaced, which is much cheaper than installing a new device. The calculations were also based on the prices of branded devices, for which it can be assumed that spare parts will also be available in the future.
Source: Stern
