Heat pump energy-storage uses cheaper surplus electricity to warm materials, including water, during low demand periods. This forward-thinking strategy avoids warming a material during peak demand when prices are higher. The biggest heat pumps in the world will soon be in Germany, according to a BBC report we link to below.
Biggest Heat Pumps With World Record Statistics
A utility in Germany is planning to install the biggest heat pumps in the world, on the banks of the River Rhine. They plan to circulate 2,600 gallons / 10,000 liters of water per second, to and from the river. You could walk upright through the primary 6.5-foot / 2-meter diameter pipes, but only before they install them!
When the water circulates through the giant heat pumps, internal refrigerants will evaporate as the river water warms them slightly. Advanced equipment will compress those refrigerants, boosting the heat gain further. If you have a heat pump in your home, it does something similar on a smaller scale.
There will be two giant heat pumps at the site on the bank of the River Rhine, in Mannheim, Germany. Their actual size will be limited by river-barge capacity, or alternatively what they can squeeze through Mannheim streets.
The utility imagines the two heat pumps should be able to warm around 40,000 homes, via existing water heating networks. The chosen site is a coal power plant that is converting to cleaner technologies, so this could be a thumbs-up all round.
Heat Pumps Responding to Community Pressure
There was a lot of pressure on us to change the heat generation to new sources, especially renewable energy storage, explains a utility spokesperson.
“The old power station site is right by the Rhine, and already has a hefty electricity grid connection. It is also plugged in to the district heating network, so it makes sense to install the heat pumps here.”
More Information
New Role for Heat Pumps as Energy Batteries
Heat Batteries and Time for Another Look
