Harnessing renewable energy through heat pumps: Features and uses

Ambient heat is a renewable, natural source of energy that is present everywhere. Heat from solar radiation is stored every day in the air, the ground, groundwater, and lake and river water; it is constantly replenished there if it is not used directly. Furthermore, the ground, down to a depth of 300 metres beneath our feet, is also continuously charged with energy by the heat flow from the Earth's core. However, this energy has a relatively low temperature. It can only be utilised efficiently with the aid of heat pumps. Only a heat pump can harness this energy. By compressing the heat from the environment - captured from the air, the ground or water - the heat pump raises it to a temperature suitable for heating buildings and domestic hot water. It also enables the recovery of heat from exhaust air and waste water from buildings.