How does the Triple Solar®-system work?
What is a PVT-heat pump panel?
What systems are there and what are the differences?
What are the advantages of the Triple Solar® PVT-System?
Can I also cool with the Triple Solar® system?
I am interested, who can help me?
TNO-certification, equivalence statement EPC-calculation, BENG
What does the Triple Solar®-system cost?
What is the payback period and Total Cost of Ownership?
How does the Triple Solar®-system work?
What is a PVT-heat pump paneel?
What systems are there and what are the differences?
What are the advantages of the Triple Solar® PVT-Systeem?
Can I also cool with the Triple Solar® system?
I am interested in the systeem, who can help me further?
TNO-certification, equivalence statement EPC-calculation, BENG
The Triple Solar® system consists of Triple Solar® PVT-heat pump panels combined with a PVT-heat pump. The panels work as a source for the heat pump. The panels draw energy from the outside air, from sunlight and daylight. Watch the video for more information.
The Triple Solar® system consists of Triple Solar® PVT-heat pump panels combined with a PVT-heat pump. The panels work as a source for the heat pump. The panels draw energy from the outside air, from sunlight and daylight. Watch the video for more information.
The Triple Solar® PVT-heat pump panel has a heat exchanger on the back that consists of aluminum fins with a copper pipe. A coolant, glycol (a type of antifreeze), flows through the copper pipe of the exchanger. It absorbs the ambient heat and transfers it to the heat pump in the house. The heat pump converts this heat into usable heat for heating and hot water.
Because the heat pump panel is also equipped with a solar panel on top, it is possible to supply a building with electricity from a single surface, in addition to heat and hot tap water.
Watch the video and see how a house becomes all-electric with the Triple Solar® PVT-system and the NIBE heat pump.
When heating with a heat pump, Triple Solar® differentiates between completely gasless (all-electric) and a hybrid setup.
All-electric
In the all-electric system, the central heating gas boiler is replaced by a water-to-water heat pump in combination with a calculated number of Triple Solar® PVT heat pump panels on the roof. This works with “low-temperature” heating. For this you need a low-temperature heating system, such as floor heating or low-temperature radiators/convectors. In addition, your house must be sufficiently insulated and you must have space for PVT panels on your roof. The number of panels depends on the size of the heat pump.
Hybrid
Many homes in The Netherlands are not directly suitable for gasless / all-electric heating. For example, because of an old-fashioned delivery system or poor insulation. That’s why we at Triple Solar® have developed a hybrid PVT-heat pump to save gas. This heat pump works together with your current gas boiler. As soon as the heat pump’s power is not enough to heat your home, the gas boiler kicks in. With this system, you can save 60 to 80% on your gas consumption. The hybrid heat pump is also supplied with a calculated number of PVT-heat pump panels for your roof.
‘No regret’-solution
We also call our hybrid system the ‘no regret’ solution. Should the house be suitable for gasless / all-electric heating at some point, the hybrid Triple Solar® PVT-heat pump is always expandable to an all-electric system. The investment in the hybrid PVT-heat pump is therefore not wasted.
When heating with a heat pump, Triple Solar® differentiates between completely gasless (all-electric) and a hybrid setup.
All-electric
In the all-electric system, the central heating gas boiler is replaced by a water-to-water heat pump in combination with a calculated number of Triple Solar® PVT heat pump panels on the roof. This works with “low-temperature” heating. For this you need a low-temperature heating system, such as floor heating or low-temperature radiators/convectors. In addition, your house must be sufficiently insulated and you must have space for PVT panels on your roof. The number of panels depends on the size of the heat pump.
Hybrid
Many homes in The Netherlands are not directly suitable for gasless / all-electric heating. For example, because of an old-fashioned delivery system or poor insulation. That’s why we at Triple Solar® have developed a hybrid PVT-heat pump to save gas. This heat pump works together with your current gas boiler. As soon as the heat pump’s power is not enough to heat your home, the gas boiler kicks in. With this system, you can save 60 to 80% on your gas consumption. The hybrid heat pump is also supplied with a calculated number of PVT-heat pump panels for your roof.
‘No regret’-solution
We also call our hybrid system the ‘no regret’ solution. Should the house be suitable for gasless / all-electric heating at some point, the hybrid Triple Solar® PVT-heat pump is always expandable to an all-electric system. The investment in the hybrid PVT-heat pump is therefore not wasted.
Triple Solar® has developed a cooling module to be able to actively cool together with the NIBE water-to-water heat pump. In doing so, the delivery system (home heating system) and the PVT-source are reversed. Now the heat from the home is released to the outside air.
The cooling experience depends on your delivery system. Convectors absorb heat from the air, causing the air in the room to drop in temperature. Underfloor heating does not directly cool the air, but the mass of the home is cooled down.
Want to know more about the technology and cooling experience per delivery system? Check out the cooling module brochure.
Triple Solar® has developed a cooling module to be able to actively cool together with the NIBE water-to-water heat pump. In doing so, the delivery system (home heating system) and the PVT-source are reversed. Now the heat from the home is released to the outside air.
The cooling experience depends on your delivery system. Convectors absorb heat from the air, causing the air in the room to drop in temperature. Underfloor heating does not directly cool the air, but the mass of the home is cooled down.
Want to know more about the technology and cooling experience per delivery system? Check out the cooling module brochure.
If you are interested in the Triple Solar® system you need to contact an installer. Fill out the “intake form” and mail it to the installer. He can assess the situation and prepare a quote for you. If you don’t have an installer yet, you can use our contact form to ask for an installer with experience with the Triple Solar® system in your area.
Of course it is also possible that you have or know an installer who has no experience with the Triple Solar® system. In that case we invite the installer for a free training.
If you would like to see the PVT-heat pump solar panels, it is best to contact your installer. Most installers have a demo PVT-heat pump panel and will be happy to tell you more about how it works. In addition, there are currently several thousand homes in the Netherlands that are equipped with the Triple Solar® system. Also in neighbouring countries like Germany, United Kingdom and Belgium we have more and more installations. Many of our users are happy to show you how the system works in their homes. Also, if you would like to take a look at a home with the Triple Solar® PVT system, please contact your installer.
Don’t have an installer yet? See here how to get in touch with an installer who has experience with the Triple Solar® system.If you would like to see the PVT-heat pump solar panels, it is best to contact your installer. Most installers have a demo PVT-heat pump panel and will be happy to tell you more about how it works. In addition, there are currently several thousand homes in the Netherlands that are equipped with the Triple Solar® system. Also in neighbouring countries like Germany, United Kingdom and Belgium we have more and more installations. Many of our users are happy to show you how the system works in their homes. Also, if you would like to take a look at a home with the Triple Solar® PVT system, please contact your installer.
Don’t have an installer yet? See here how to get in touch with an installer who has experience with the Triple Solar® system.TNO
In 2009, 2016 and 2017, the Triple Solar® heat pump panel was tested by TNO and certified as the panel with the best properties to act as an energy source for the PVT heat pump.
EPC calculation
Thanks to this declaration, the Triple Solar® system can be included in an EPC calculation and thus be used in new construction. As an example: for a house built according to the current building code, with heat recovery (WTW) through the Triple Solar® system, you get an EPC of -0.19 (entered at Uniec2). The statement was prepared using the applicable testing framework NEN 7120 – Energy Performance of Buildings (EPG).
A house is suitable for an all-electric heat pump system if it has a low-temperature heating system and sufficient insulation. This is necessary because a heat pump heats the central heating water to a lower temperature than regular gas central heating systems. Examples of low-temperature delivery systems are: wall and/or floor heating and special low-temperature radiators/convectors.
Do the heating test
There is also a simple test to check if your home is suitable for an all-electric or hybrid system. Lower the temperature of your current central heating gas boiler system to 45-50°C. Keep a close eye on the temperature in your home during this time, especially in the morning after a cold night. If your home warms up quickly enough in the morning, chances are your home can be heated with an all-electric heat pump. If your house doesn’t warm up fast enough, then it’s best to choose a hybrid system. This is always suitable and provides a gas saving of 60 to 80%.
A house is suitable for an all-electric heat pump system if it has a low-temperature heating system and sufficient insulation. This is necessary because a heat pump heats the central heating water to a lower temperature than regular gas central heating systems. Examples of low-temperature delivery systems are: wall and/or floor heating and special low-temperature radiators/convectors.
Do the heating test
There is also a simple test to check if your home is suitable for an all-electric or hybrid system. Lower the temperature of your current central heating gas boiler system to 45-50°C. Keep a close eye on the temperature in your home during this time, especially in the morning after a cold night. If your home warms up quickly enough in the morning, chances are your home can be heated with an all-electric heat pump. If your house doesn’t warm up fast enough, then it’s best to choose a hybrid system. This is always suitable and provides a gas saving of 60 to 80%. You can read more about the hybrid system here.
For both systems, all-electric and hybrid, the following applies: the best efficiency is achieved if the house meets current insulation standards. For newly build houses, this is of course automatically the case. For existing buildings, the house must have at least energy label C. A house with energy label C may not yet be called ‘green’, but the most important energy saving measures have been taken. Think of cavity, floor and roof insulation and the use of at least HR++ glass. There are several companies that specialize in insulating your home, but if you’re a bit handy, you can also do a lot yourself to insulate your home.
It is possible to heat your home with existing (older) radiators with the Triple Solar® PVT-hybrid heat pump. The heat pump can heat up to 70 °C and the gas boiler can, if necessary on cold days, assist.
With the all-electric set-up it is not recommended to heat with existing radiators. The heat transfer from the radiators is not sufficient to heat your home with the low-temperature heating.
If you want to know if your house is suitable for an all-electric system, please check the answer to the question: Is my house suitable for the PVT-system with heat pump?
It is possible to heat your home with existing (older) radiators with the Triple Solar® PVT-hybrid heat pump. The heat pump can heat up to 70 °C and the gas boiler can, if necessary on cold days, assist.
With the all-electric set-up it is not recommended to heat with existing radiators. The heat transfer from the radiators is not sufficient to heat your home with the low-temperature heating.
If you want to know if your house is suitable for an all-electric system, please check the answer to the question: Is my house suitable for the PVT-system with heat pump?
The Triple Solar® system is not dependent on the sun for heat. The PVT-heat pump panels extract heat from the outside air (80%) and from daylight (20%). Of course, the system does benefit from sunlight. The sun creates a higher source temperature, so the heat pump needs less electricity to provide usable heat. So during the day and in summer, the heat pump works more efficiently than at night and in winter. And although the system also works well on the north side, it is even more economical when the panels are placed on the south side. As for the electricity yield, the rule is still: more sun means more electricity.
The price of the system depends on the situation. Would you like to know what it costs to install a Triple Solar® system in your home? Contact an installer. Click here if you want to know how to find an installer.
The price of the system depends on the situation. Would you like to know what it costs to install a Triple Solar® system in your home? Contact an installer. Click here if you want to know how to find an installer.
The payback time depends on the size of the system and the gas price. On average, we see a payback period of 6 to 9 years on our systems. This is calculated using the installation prices of April 2022, a gas price of €1.50 per cubic meter and annual standing charges of €280.
Total cost of ownershipIn many cases, the investment in the high-quality and sustainable Triple Solar® installation is a bit higher than in an air-to-water heat pump (with a similar amount of PV panels), but the TCO is lower. The differences:
Making your home more sustainable is highly encouraged in the Netherlands. There are therefore a number of financing possibilities available. Check the possibilities in your country!
Firstly, in The Netherlands it is possible to apply for an additional mortgage from the mortgage provider of your home. From the savings on your energy bill, for example, you can pay part of the costs of the extra mortgage. The conditions vary from bank to bank, and country per country.
Secondly, in the Netherlands it is possible to apply for “The Energy Savings Loan”. Homeowners can take out a loan at a favorable interest rate for energy-saving measures.
In addition to these options, there are other possibilities in The Netherlands. Check the website of Milieu Centraal and fill in the “Energy Subsidy Guide” “Energiesubsidiewijzer” . This will give you an overview of the possibilities in the field of subsidies and financing in your municipality.
Making your home more sustainable is highly encouraged in the Netherlands. There are therefore a number of financing possibilities available. Check the possibilities in your country!
Firstly, in The Netherlands it is possible to apply for an additional mortgage from the mortgage provider of your home. From the savings on your energy bill, for example, you can pay part of the costs of the extra mortgage. The conditions vary from bank to bank, and country per country.
Secondly, in the Netherlands it is possible to apply for “The Energy Savings Loan”. Homeowners can take out a loan at a favorable interest rate for energy-saving measures.
In addition to these options, there are other possibilities in The Netherlands. Check the website of Milieu Centraal and fill in the “Energy Subsidy Guide” “Energiesubsidiewijzer” . This will give you an overview of the possibilities in the field of subsidies and financing in your municipality.
A number of subsidies are available when purchasing a Triple Solar® heat pump with PVT-heat pump panels in The Netherlands. Firstly, for existing buildings you can claim the ISDE subsidy. The subsidy amount for a 3 or 6 kW heat pump is € 4.200. This subsidy runs at least until December 31, 2022. In addition, it is possible to reclaim the VAT paid on the panels, assembly materials, inverter and installation through your tax returns.
Sometimes there are also municipal subsidies available. Check the website of Milieu Centraal and fill in the “Energy subsidy guide”. This will give you an overview of the subsidy and financing options in your municipality. Please note that this applies to inhabitants of The Netherlands. Please check the options in your local country yourself.
When the temperature drops to freezing point, it is realistic that ice formation will occur on the PVT-heat pump panels. This phenomenon is similar to frozen dew. This is never harmful to the installation. The thermal performance will possibly decrease slightly (maximum 10%), but there will still be enough delivered to heat your home and tap water. That is what the system is dimensioned at. The chance of ice forming is greatest around freezing point with moist air and little wind. For a few hours each year, conditions are such that the electrical element supplies the heat demand. On an annual basis this happens on average only 43 hours during the night (NEN5060) in The Netherlands. New build houses are so well insulated that the indoor temperature barely drops at all in such cases. Even if the heat pump is switched off for a while.
When the temperature drops to freezing point, it is realistic that ice formation will occur on the PVT-heat pump panels. This phenomenon is similar to frozen dew. This is never harmful to the installation. The thermal performance will possibly decrease slightly (maximum 10%), but there will still be enough delivered to heat your home and tap water. That is what the system is dimensioned at. The chance of ice forming is greatest around freezing point with moist air and little wind. For a few hours each year, conditions are such that the electrical element fills the heat demand. On an annual basis this happens on average only 43 hours during the night (NEN5060) in The Netherlands. New build houses are so well insulated that the indoor temperature barely drops at all in such cases. Even if the heat pump is switched off for a while.
First of all, the system is certainly suitable for a buffer tank. We also offer a buffer tank or boiler in our package. In an all-electric system, a buffer tank or boiler is a requirement. In a hybrid setup, the buffer tank or boiler will result in higher efficiency and gas savings, because the tap water can also be heated by the heat pump.
We do not recommend installing the Triple Solar® system in combination with a solar water heater. Not because it is not possible, but because it is cost-prohibitive. If you already have an existing system with solar boilers and you would like to add our PVT panels with heat pump, it is possible. Discuss this with your installer, they can help you best with this.
If your installer does not know, have him contact us via the contactform.
Our PVT-heat pump panels cannot be installed under the roof. The reason: to achieve the highest possible efficiency of the PVT-panels. In order to get the best possible temperature exchange, it is important that the thermal part at the bottom of the panels gets enough air flow. However, a lot of attention is paid to the design of the PVT-heat pump panels. Would you like to see what the Triple Solar PVT-panels look like? Then you should take a look at the website under the heading ‘projects’. There you can see different projects that have been done with the PVT-system.
Our PVT-heat pump panels cannot be installed under the roof. The reason: to achieve the highest possible efficiency of the PVT-panels. In order to get the best possible temperature exchange, it is important that the thermal part at the bottom of the panels gets enough air flow. However, a lot of attention is paid to the design of the PVT-heat pump panels. Would you like to see what the Triple Solar PVT-panels look like? Then you should take a look at the website under the heading ‘projects’. There you can see different projects that have been done with the PVT-system.
The system as we offer it with the NIBE, Triple Solar® or Alpha Innotec heat pump is from our point of view the most optimal. First, because we consider these brands to be the best on the market. In addition, NIBE’s software is tailored to our PVT-panels. If you do want to buy another brand heat pump, it is possible, as long as it is a water-to-water heat pump. If you want more information about this, it is best to contact your installer and the seller of the heat pump.
Triple Solar® PVT-heat pump panels, just like regular PV panels, are installed over the roof tiles as standard using a mounting system. We make the necessary pipes in stainless steel, so they never have to be replaced. Of course, a good roof penetration is essential. Often it is possible to use the existing transit pipe from the old gas heated boiler.
Triple Solar® PVT-heat pump panels, just like regular PV panels, are installed over the roof tiles as standard using a mounting system. We make the necessary pipes in stainless steel, so they never have to be replaced. Of course, a good roof penetration is essential. Often it is possible to use the existing transit pipe from the old gas heated boiler.
Watch the video for an explanation.
What is a heat pump?
The heat pump we work with is an electric compression heat pump (brine/water). The operating principle of this type of heat pump is most easily explained by its components – the evaporator, compressor and condenser – linked to three phases:
Phase 1: Extracting the heat.
Inside the heat pump is an evaporator. This evaporator contains a so-called transport fluid that evaporates already at low temperature. The ambient heat from the source (the heat pump panels) heats the fluid in the evaporator and evaporates as a result.
Phase 2: Compressing
The electric compressor in the heat pump then compresses the released vapor. This process causes the pressure in the heat pump to rise and the temperature to increase.
Phase 3: Release of heat
In the condenser, the vapor is given space again thanks to the expansion valve. As a result, the pressure decreases and the vapor turns back into (transport) fluid. This process releases heat. This heat is then transferred to the delivery circuit – the heating installation or the boiler. The temperature of the heat released is considerably higher than the temperature of the heat originally absorbed and can now be used for heating and hot water. The transport fluid then flows back to the evaporator, after which the process begins again.
The COP (Coefficient of Performance) is the ratio between the amount of heat delivered and the electricity consumption. The SCOP (Seasonal Coefficient of Performance) is the average ratio of heat output to electricity consumption, measured over an entire year in a specific country.
At Triple Solar®, we generally talk about the SCOP because it is more truthful than the COP. The COP can give a distorted picture, because the circumstances (e.g. type of source and outside temperature) are of great importance. The SCOP is more reliable because it includes the influences of the seasons to arrive at a weighted average. In addition, the SCOP makes comparing heat pumps easier, because the conditions should always be the same, regardless of the type of system.
For the Triple Solar® PVT-heat pump panels combined with a NIBE heat pump, a SCOP of 5.6* is achievable. This means that for every kW of electrical energy you put into the system, you get back 5.6 kW of heat.
*The SCOP is established in the equivalence statement gelijkwaardigheidsverklaring prepared by BCRG.
The COP (Coefficient of Performance) is the ratio between the amount of heat delivered and the electricity consumption. The SCOP (Seasonal Coefficient of Performance) is the average ratio of heat output to electricity consumption, measured over an entire year in a specific country.
At Triple Solar®, we generally talk about the SCOP because it is more truthful than the COP. The COP can give a distorted picture, because the circumstances (e.g. type of source and outside temperature) are of great importance. The SCOP is more reliable because it includes the influences of the seasons to arrive at a weighted average. In addition, the SCOP makes comparing heat pumps easier, because the conditions should always be the same, regardless of the type of system.
For the Triple Solar® PVT-heat pump panels combined with a NIBE heat pump, a SCOP of 5.6* is achievable. This means that for every kW of electrical energy you put into the system, you get back 5.6 kW of heat.
*The SCOP is established in the equivalence statement gelijkwaardigheidsverklaring prepared by BCRG.