Lessons learned after one-year of use of a highly efficient neighbourhood in Norway

Abstract

2020Park is an innovative installation in Stavanger, Norway. This installation provides heating and cooling via a ground source heat pump (GSHP). The system combines eight 220m deep boreholes, with an air to brine heat exchanger and the heat from cooling 15 square meters of thermal photovoltaic cells (PVT). The GSHP has a rated coefficient of performance ranging from 2.8 to over 4 and can deliver 120kW of water-based heating at temperatures 50-60°C.The system is designed to deliver heating and, in reverse operation, cooling to offices, a playing ground, a supermarket and some shops.

Analysing measured data of one year of operation, this system shows a clear discrepancy between available heat for ground storage and required heating during cold periods. Due to the imbalance between needs, one would expect the temperature in the ground to drop and thus the temperature of the brine at the inlet of the heat pump. By using the extra heat sources, the inlet temperature to the GSHP is relatively constant and thus the system operates mostly in constant conditions yielding constant system COP. This solution is very interesting for highly efficient buildings and neighbourhood with unbalanced demands.