Nulite launches PV-driven residential heat pump

<p class="p1"><span class="s1">The Chinese manufacturer has unveiled a hybrid photovoltaic–geothermal heat pump system that uses solar electricity to directly power the unit, boosting efficiency and self-consumption. The 8–112 kW ground- and water-source system delivers heating, cooling, and domestic hot water with coefficients of performance often exceeding 4–5, while smart controls and the ground loop act as a thermal battery to optimize year-round performance.</span></p><p>Chinese heat pump manufacturer <span class="hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline"><span class="whitespace-normal">Nulite New Energy</span></span> has introduced a hybrid photovoltaic and geothermal heat pump solution for residential and commercial settings.</p>
<p>&#8220;When paired with a standard electric resistance system or an air-source heat pump, solar panels can offset a portion of the energy bill. But when paired with a Nulite geothermal system, the synergy becomes exponential,&#8221; the manufacturer said in a statement. &#8220;The geothermal system’s ultra-low electricity consumption means that a modest PV array can cover nearly 100% of the system’s operational energy needs.&#8221;</p>
<p>In the proposed system configuration, solar electricity is fed to directly power the heat pump, which reduces operating costs by using self-generated power instead of grid electricity, while increasing PV self-consumption and overall system efficiency.</p>
<p>In summer, peak solar generation drives highly efficient cooling by transferring heat into the cooler ground. In winter, the system extracts stable heat from the ground.</p>
<p>&#8220;While the PV array may not cover 100% of the energy needs during the darkest months, net metering credits accumulated during the summer months often offset the winter deficit. For off-grid applications or areas without net metering, Nulite’s variable-speed drives allow the system to “load-shift,” running primarily during sunny daytime hours and relying on minimal battery storage for the night.</p>
<p>Smart controls allow operation to align with daytime solar availability, reducing reliance on storage. Additionally, the ground acts as a natural “thermal battery,” storing excess energy to improve long-term system performance, according to the manufacturer.</p>
<p>The 8 kW–112 kW geothermal heat pump is a ground- and water-source system designed for heating, cooling, and domestic hot water applications. It features a Mitsubishi inverter compressor and operates on 220–240V single-phase or 380–400V three-phase power supplies.</p>
<p>The unit offers rated heating capacities from 2 kW to 36 kW and cooling capacities from 10 kW to 33 kW, ensuring flexible performance across varying load requirements, according to the company. &#8220;By circulating fluid through ground loops, these systems utilize the earth as a heat sink in the summer and a heat source in the winter,&#8221; it also explained. The result is a coefficient of performance (COP) often exceeding 4.0 or 5.0, meaning for every unit of electricity consumed, four to five units of heating or cooling are produced.&#8221;</p>
<p>The system reportedly offers a maximum outlet water temperature of 60 C. The smallest system of the series measures 670 mm × 454 mm × 830 mm, while the largest has a size of 800 mm x 572 mm x 1,070 mm.</p>
<p>Founded in 2003 and headquartered in Guangzhou, <span class="hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline"><span class="whitespace-normal">Nulite New Energy</span></span> produces a range of heat pump technologies, including air-source heat pumps. The company reports exporting products to more than 100 countries, including several European markets.</p>
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