81 4 Overview of a (possible) ban on conventional heating technology The ban on conventional heating technologies (natural gas boilers) is, in many countries, part of the long-term pledge to achieve net zero emissions by 2050. European governments are progressing towards their net-zero emissions goals, with many countries committing to achieve this by setting measurable near-term milestones. One key milestone is the increase in zero-carbon-ready buildings, which means utilising renewable energy technologies like heat pumps and photovoltaic panels or depend on fully decarbonizable energy sources. As part of the REPowerEU plan, the European Commission aims to completely ban stand-alone fossil boilers by 2029 to enhance energy efficiency and accelerate the green transition. 5 Environmental impact of heat pumps Heat pumps are vital for achieving the EU's decarbonization goals. A case study shows that Daikin heat pumps can be 2 to 24 times less carbon-intensive than gas boilers, leading to annual CO2 savings of 0.2 to 2 tons, depending on the electricity grid. The EU Green Deal aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 55% by 2050. With buildings responsible for 40% of energy use and 36% of emissions, heat pumps provide a more efficient and eco-friendly solution. Benefits include high efficiency and reduced fossil fuel dependency, with projections indicating a reduction of 21 billion cubic meters in gas demand for heating by 2030. 6 Synergies among the usage of heat pumps with solar panel (PV) systems A heat pump can enhance the self-consumption rate of a residential photovoltaic (PV) installation by about 10%, yielding annual financial benefits of €80 to €120, depending on energy prices. This is based on a Daikin case study of a 5 kWp PV system and a heat pump with a 250 liter tank in Belgium. Combining heat pumps with PV panels allows households to use free solar electricity for heating and hot water, reducing reliance on gas. As feed-in tariffs decrease across Europe, maximizing self-consumption becomes increasingly important. The heat pump can utilize excess solar energy to heat domestic hot water, effectively acting as an "energy battery" by storing energy for later use. To read full articles with in-depth analysis scan QR code and visit our website:
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