Abstract Heat pumps (HP) represent an attractive option as a heat source, since they utilise “free” ambient heat. However, as they need to be driven by electric energy, their ecological efficiency depends not only on their performance, but also on the energy mix used for electricity generation. Effectiveness of HP can be improved by applying renewable energy sources (RES) providing electricity to drive the system. In order to properly assess such a system, it should be evaluated within a global balance boundary reaching the level of primary resources. The authors propose the use of thermo-ecological cost (TEC) indices for exergo-ecological assessment. TEC is defined as cumulative consumption of non-renewable exergy connected with the fabrication of a particular product. TEC also includes additional consumption of non-renewable natural resources which results from the necessity of compensating environmental losses caused by rejection of harmful substances to the environment. Within the paper, a HP system has been analysed from the ecological point of view. The system consists of a heat pump driven by electricity, and photovoltaic panels or wind turbines as a basic source of electricity. The balance of electricity demand for HP is complemented by electricity from grid. To evaluate this system, real environmental data on solar radiation, wind and ambient temperature deciding on heat demand have been taken into account. The authors present the ecological benefits resulting from supporting heat pumps by electricity generated in RES. It has been demonstrated by comparing results obtained within local and global balance boundaries, that the second approach should be consequently applied when systems based on a mix of renewable and non-renewable energy are analysed, since the first approach may lead to misleading conclusions.

中文翻译：

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可再生能源电力支持的热泵的热能和热生态评估

摘要 热泵 (HP) 作为热源是一种有吸引力的选择，因为它们利用“自由”环境热量。然而，由于它们需要由电能驱动，因此它们的生态效率不仅取决于它们的性能，还取决于用于发电的能源组合。通过应用可再生能源 (RES) 提供电力来驱动系统，可以提高 HP 的效率。为了正确评估这样的系统，应该在达到初级资源水平的全球平衡边界内对其进行评估。作者建议使用热生态成本 (TEC) 指数进行运动生态评估。TEC 被定义为与特定产品的制造相关的不可再生火用的累积消耗。TEC 还包括对不可再生自然资源的额外消耗，这是由于必须补偿因拒绝对环境有害物质而造成的环境损失。在本文中，从生态的角度分析了 HP 系统。该系统由电力驱动的热泵和作为基本电力来源的光伏板或风力涡轮机组成。HP 的电力需求平衡由电网电力补充。为了评估这个系统，太阳辐射、风和环境温度等决定热量需求的真实环境数据已被考虑在内。作者介绍了通过可再生能源发电支持热泵所产生的生态效益。