Publication Details |
| Category | Text Publication |
| Reference Category | Journals |
| DOI | 10.1016/j.energy.2026.141304 |
Licence  |
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| Title (Primary) | Reversible heat pumps in municipal energy transitions: Cost-optimal heating and cooling pathways in temperate climates under rising temperatures |
| Author | Oberfeier, P.; Thomsen, J.; de Vries, C.; Kumar, R.
; Weidlich, A. |
| Source Titel | Energy |
| Year | 2026 |
| Department | CHS |
| Volume | 356 |
| Page From | art. 141304 |
| Language | englisch |
| Topic | T5 Future Landscapes |
| Supplements | Supplement 1 |
| Keywords | reversible heat pumps; regional energy system modeling; district heating and cooling; municipal energy transition; MILP optimization; climate adaptation |
| Abstract | The heating sector transition represents one of the most critical challenges for achieving climate neutrality, while rising temperatures simultaneously reduce heating demand and generate substantial cooling demand. This study examines the role of reversible heat pumps in municipal energy transitions under climate change conditions using the sector-coupled optimization model DISTRICT with temperature-dependent heat pump performance modeling. Two representative German municipalities are analyzed: a small city with decentralized heating supply and a large city with an existing district heating network, enabling comparative assessment of cost-optimal technology pathways for integrated heating–cooling systems. In decentralized supply areas, reversible heat pumps emerge as the dominant solution by 2040. The levelized costs of cooling and heating analysis is found to range between 0.08 and 0.13 €/kWh for reversible heat pumps, which represent one of the most economical heating and cooling supply technologies in the optimization model from 2035 onwards. In existing district heating areas, the combination of renewable district heating generation with dedicated air conditioning systems turns out to be cost-optimal, with no expansion of district heating networks to new regions. The findings demonstrate that reversible heat pumps can play a central role in simultaneously providing heating and cooling supply, while municipal heating transformation planning should recognize infrastructure-dependent optimal pathways rather than universal technology solutions. |
| Oberfeier, P., Thomsen, J., de Vries, C., Kumar, R., Weidlich, A. (2026): Reversible heat pumps in municipal energy transitions: Cost-optimal heating and cooling pathways in temperate climates under rising temperatures Energy 356 , art. 141304 10.1016/j.energy.2026.141304 |
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