Some areas of Spain have just seen the first snow of the season and the time to turn on the heating is approaching. Although the prices of electricity and gas are far from those paid a year ago. The latest European Directive on energy efficiency in new constructions and its recommendation to install heat pumps has opened the debate. Which is better, gas boiler or heat pump?
The boiler has occupied a place in our homes for years and almost no one has a doubt about what it is. The same does not happen with heat pumps, at least those referred to by the EU. “It is not the inverter air conditioning device that can be used to heat in winter. Physically it looks similar but while these devices use air, the heat pump uses water to generate both heat and cold,” explains Miguel Valdivia, director of the energy solutions installation company, Avenir Energía. A versatility that also works in favor of this installation compared to the gas boiler that only serves to generate heat.
At a more conceptual level, it would be about choosing between clean energy, which is provided by the heat pump powered by electricity, or continuing with the more polluting gas boiler. “But that debate should not even be raised. There are different ways to decarbonize heating in homes without the need to make any modifications to home installations or infrastructure and much faster with electricity from renewable energies, renewable gases such as biomethane are already here,” explains Joan Batalla, president of Sedigas, the association of Spanish gas companies.
At the moment, only 2% of biomethane runs through the gas pipelines installed in depending on the sector, there are many projects underway that will make this alternative an alternative for decarbonization that “may even be faster than the one that relies on electricity.” says Batalla.
In general terms, replacing all current gas boilers with heat pumps would cost 201,314 million euros, “this is twice the annual public spending on Health and 15 times more than replacing the current old boilers with new, high-efficiency ones. according to a study on the impact of changing both heating systems, prepared by the consulting firm Arthur D. Little.
“The equipment is not renewable per se. What has to be renewable is the fuel that the gas or electricity comes from the network. Both can be more or less polluting, if biogas arrives it will be a more sustainable solution than if the home’s electricity is produced by non-renewable energy,” explains Luis del Barrio, energy expert at Arthur D. Little and author of the study.
But beyond the conceptual discussions, the question that arises for end consumers does lie in the choice of thermal equipment: gas condensation boiler or heat pump? “Both have their pros and cons. It all depends on what the consumer needs. It is a matter of comparing,” advises Javier Martínez, Energy spokesperson for the Kelisto price comparator.
“The most efficient heating system, by far, is the heat pump, which generally works with aerothermal energy,” says Martínez. Kelisto studies estimate that for average consumption and taking into account the fixed price rates of the marking in a cold month, a heat pump can be about 37 euros per month in cold months, while radiators fed with a condensing boiler would mean a cost of 60 euros which would increase to 71.40 euros if the boiler is not condensing.
Miguel Valdivia, director of the energy solutions installation company, Avenir Energía, also recommends an energy pump to almost all of his clients. Of course, he points out. “To achieve the thermal comfort offered by gas heating, more energy needs to be injected into the heat pump installation. And underfloor heating is also more efficient than if the heat pump is combined with radiators.”
For this reason, as he explains, 70% of the national demand for this heating system comes from single-family homes and of these, more than half have an area greater than 120 square meters. That is, a customer profile that also determines the final choice.
The economic issue is another of the key points when opting for one solution or another. In this case, the winner is without a doubt the gas condensing boiler. A new boiler costs between 1,500 euros (Sedigas estimate) and the 3,000 euros suggested by the director of Avenir Energía, Miguel Valdivia.
The installation of the heat pump has a more complicated calculation. “If only the equipment is taken into account, we would be talking about between 10,000 or 12,000 euros,” says Valdivia. In Kelisto they have valuations that even go down to 7,000 euros, while Arthur D Little’s report sets it at around 18,000 euros and assures that the complete change of the installation to a heat pump reaches 50% of the average annual income of a Spanish household, calculated based on the data available from the Tax Agency.
In any case, the three sources agree that the cost of installing the heat pump is higher in all cases “Even including that the heat pump has a subsidy from the European Union that can reach 6,000 euros at best.” of the cases and only some autonomous communities such as Madrid or Castilla La Mancha subsidize the change of gas boilers,” says Luis del Barrio of Arthur D Little.
The place where these devices are installed is almost the main driver of the decision. In this case size matters a lot. The gas boiler is the size of one of the kitchen cabinets and is already located in most homes. To replace it with a heat pump, you need an outdoor unit similar to the one installed for air conditioners and another indoor unit similar in size to a refrigerator. “How many kitchens in Spain have space for two refrigerators?” asks Joan Batalla.
“We recommend the heat pump especially in single-family homes that until now had heating with diesel and that also install solar panels. In those cases there are no doubts. In vertical homes without a comprehensive renovation of the home it is complicated,” explains Valdivia.
