CO₂ technology was re-applied in refrigeration applications in the late 1980s, and the technology has evolved significantly since then. This now allows the supply capacity of 600 kW up to 1.8 MW in a single heat pump. In the first 24 months, the company has delivered 38 projects in six countries.

Decarbonization

CO₂ heat pumps play a crucial role in reducing the carbon footprint of district heat networks. By using a natural refrigerant, they avoid negative environmental impacts and further support decarbonization efforts.

High grade heat

Due to the nature of a CO₂ heat pump cycle, CO₂ heat pumps behave differently than heat pumps using synthetic refrigerants such as CFCs, HCFCs, HFCs, and HFOs. For example, the COP factor drops only 0.1 when increasing the flow temperature from 70°C to 80°C. For heat pumps with other refrigerants COP factor drops 0.3 to 0.6. This ability to deliver high-grade heat helps optimize thermal storage because more energy can be stored.

Balancing the grid

One of the key characteristics of modern district heating systems is fluctuating electricity prices and the need to balance the electrical grid with flexible consumption. For this reason, district heating operators want fast-acting heat pumps. Otherwise, operators might miss the opportunity to exploit sudden low electricity prices effectively.

A FENAGY CO₂ heat pump can start within 7 minutes and stops within 3.5 minutes.