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Calculating the heat pump's electricity consumption with the SPF

How to enter the heat pump's electricity consumption in the simulation manually or calculate it from the seasonal performance factor (SPF).

Written by Simon Heuschkel

The simulation offers two ways to set the heat pump's electricity consumption: manually or from the seasonal performance factor (SPF).

Manual entry

If you work with standard values or need a quick simulation, enter the yearly electricity consumption under Heat pump electricity consumption (yearly, kWh). autarc spreads it over the year using the Usage pattern and bills it at the heat pump's tariff.

Calculating electricity consumption with the seasonal performance factor (SPF)

Switch on Use seasonal performance factor (SPF). autarc then calculates the electricity consumption from the heat load, the full load hours and the SPF:

Heat demand = heat load × full load hours  Heat pump electricity consumption = heat demand / SPF
  • Heat load: you edit the heat load in the Heating planner under Technical Parameters: Directly enter, Consumption-based from previous consumption data, or Room-based using method B. The Heating planner link in the simulation takes you straight there. In the UK, the link is called Heat pump details.

  • Full load hours: autarc determines them automatically from the postcode of the project address and the design outside temperature.

  • SPF: enter the SPF under Seasonal performance factor (SPF). If a heat pump is selected under Heat pump model, autarc prefills the field with its COP at A2/W35. The COP is often close to the SPF but doesn't replace an SPF calculation. For projects in Germany, the SPF calculator link opens the SPF calculator of the German Heat Pump Association.

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