A preliminary analysis of the potential reduction of CO2 emissions by using high temperature heat pumps in residential buildings in Italy

The present research aims to provide an innovative contribution to the reduction of fossil fuels and the consequent reduction of CO2eq emissions for each Italian region. Simulations have been carried out to replace space heating boilers supplied with fossil fuels with air to water heat pumps, when the environmental conditions (external temperature, temperature of the water in the emission systems, etc. ) allow it. In order to estimate the potential covering of high temperature heat pumps in Italy energy profiles of buildings have been considered together with the potential COP of heat pumps working with variable climatic control supply temperature. The potential electrification for buildings’ space heating has been estimated subdividing Italy into 21 territorial units. The work has shown that 83% of heating energy which can be covered by the heat pumps in Milan and almost 100% in Lecce. Overall, in Italy 146 TWh of current energy consumed by fossil fuels could be covered by heat pumps; at the same time 45 TWh of electric energy has to be generated to drive the heat pumps.