How much you save with geothermal: how it is calculated
What SCOP is, how the saving over oil, gas or direct electric heating is calculated, and a real example of an estate in Segovia.
The saving from a heat pump depends on its performance and on what the energy it replaces used to cost.
Performance: SCOP
SCOP (seasonal performance) tells you how many kWh of heat you get for each kWh of electricity the machine uses in a typical year. With a SCOP of 4, each kWh of electricity gives 4 kWh of heat.
Compared with direct electric heating
The electricity saved is 1 − 1/SCOP. With a SCOP of 4 you use 75 % less electricity than with electric radiators. With a SCOP of 5 it is 80 % less.
Compared with oil or gas
Here the price of each energy also counts. You compare the energy you used (kWh of fuel, allowing for the boiler’s efficiency) with the kWh of electricity the heat pump will ask for. Those numbers vary with the price of electricity and of the fuel, and with your tariff.
A real example
On a 900 m² estate in La Solana (Segovia), a Thermia Mega XL with 8 probes of 140 m reaches a SCOP of 4.81. The installation needs about 20,149 kWh of electricity a year, against the 130,000 kWh of oil the boiler used.
What improves performance
- Lower water temperature: underfloor heating or low-temperature radiators.
- A well-sized ground loop, in geothermal.
- Good insulation of the home.
To calculate it for your property, request the feasibility study.
Tell us about your project and we will tell you which system fits
The feasibility study is free and carries no obligation. We analyse the building, the ground and the heating and cooling needs.