Heat pump with solar panels tops study for savings and low emissions over gas and biomass boilers

A study from the Technical University of Munich compared 13 residential heating systems for cost, energy use, maintenance, and CO2 emissions. The clear winner was an air-to-water heat pump paired with photovoltaic panels, offering the best balance of savings and environmental impact. Biomass boilers also performed well on emissions, while traditional gas boilers ranked worst for greenhouse gases. The researchers used a typical two-story German home as the model, but the findings apply broadly to UK and other cold-climate households. The study highlights that electricity supply accounts for over 90% of a heat pump's environmental impact during use, so pairing it with on-site solar drastically reduces that burden. For homeowners looking to cut both bills and carbon, the combination is the most effective option available today.