<div><p>Contributing to the development of better hardware and (self-regulating) control systems through testing, benchmarking, and optimising innovations (heat pump, buffer tank, or delivery system). Additionally, we investigate how <a itemtype="1" pagetype="news" class="siteLink ptnews" resolved="true" href="https://www.tno.nl/en/newsroom/2023/11/tno-kiwa-draw-up-test-protocol-heat-pump/">heat pumps</a> can be installed more quickly, for example by applying smart algorithms that allow the system to self-regulate.</p></div>

Sustainable heating and cooling systems accelerate energy transition built environment

Thema:: Heating and cooling systems

TNO Sustainable Heating and Cooling Systems (SHCS) contributes to the accelerated adoption of sustainable heating and cooling systems in the built environment. We achieve this by making these systems and their installation more efficient and affordable. With our facilities, we are a strong R&D partner for manufacturers, installers, building owners, and governments, who work with us to make heating and cooling systems even better and cheaper.

Efficiency, comfort and circularity

How can we significantly improve the performance of sustainable heating and cooling installations in buildings, with a focus on affordability, energy efficiency, comfort, and circularity? To meet the sustainability goals for 2030 and 2050, innovative, much more efficient, and sustainable heating and cooling installations are crucial.

TNO SHCS aims to promote the scaling up of these systems by making them as efficient as possible, reducing power consumption, and lowering operational costs. At the same time, we aim to minimise installation costs while maintaining high quality. The focus lies on existing buildings because they present the greatest challenges in making the built environment more sustainable.

Technology Lines

TNO SHCS focuses on three core activities:

Improving the affordability and quality of sustainable heating and cooling systems by optimising actual performance and ease of installation. Knowledge of the entire installation and optimal interaction between the various components enables manufacturers and installers to deliver better-performing products and systems. In a tight labour market, where there is a shortage of practically trained personnel, increasingly complex systems must also be installed more quickly.

Contributing to the development of better hardware and (self-regulating) control systems through testing, benchmarking, and optimising innovations (heat pump, buffer tank, or delivery system). Additionally, we investigate how heat pumps can be installed more quickly, for example by applying smart algorithms that allow the system to self-regulate.

Improving interaction with the energy system through better smart control of sustainable heating and cooling systems, with the aim of reducing grid congestion and better aligning consumption with supply during energy fluctuations. The heat pump, as a significant power consumer, has great potential for savings by using energy more intelligently. We focus on defining conditions for modulation and algorithms that optimally utilise the flex potential of heat pump installations.

Unique facilities: Heat Pump Application Centre

For the development of affordable, efficient, and better heating and cooling systems, TNO has a unique knowledge and innovation centre. The Heat Pump Application Centre (HPAC) is an important part of the Building Innovation Lab, where TNO researches the future of energy-neutral building.

The HPAC offers test facilities with climate chambers that are unique in Europe, where heat pumps, heat pump systems, and ventilation systems with heat recovery can be tested under realistic conditions, with control over all variables. One of the core facilities is our Emulator set-up or hardware-in-the-loop facility.

Accelerating R&D, shortening time to market

The HPAC helps bridge the gap between theoretical and practical performance of heat pump systems. Through hardware-in-the-loop, climate systems are connected to a virtual building, allowing us to investigate how a physical heat pump interacts with other installations and delivery systems in the home.

These facilities enable virtual field tests, which are less time- and cost-intensive than standard field tests. Together with the partner, a customised test setup is created based on specific system properties, housing types, and heating situations:

Manufacturers can test various heat pump settings and climate scenarios in a short time under realistic conditions;
In a climate chamber, we can simulate a complete heating season throughout the year with just a limited number of test days with various scenarios;
By conducting different tests under equivalent conditions where one parameter is adjusted, differences in results become clearer, allowing targeted optimisation research;
These virtual tests help make real field tests more effective by identifying teething problems early on.

Interested in collaborating?

Installers, manufacturers, and governments can easily access the expertise of TNO SHCS and the test facilities of the HPAC:

Installers: TNO leads the consortium Team Duurzaam Installeren 500 (TDI500), in collaboration with Stichting Team Duurzaam Installeren. The goal of TDI500 is to install an additional 500 heat pumps per day within four years. Installers can benefit from our knowledge and facilities by closing the knowledge gap in heat pump and delivery systems and reducing installation time.
Manufacturers: TNO assists OEMs of heat pumps and suppliers in accelerating their R&D process, thereby shortening the time to market.
Governments: To support the sustainability of the Dutch housing stock, TNO HPAC offers unique knowledge of housing types and installed heating and cooling systems.