How will Air Source Heat Pumps affect Electricity Load Profiles in Buildings in Ireland? A Data Logger Used to Model Electrical Energy Profiles

There are many global factors that are challenging the colossal transition to Zero Carbon Economy, ranging from regional conflicts, possible new cold wars, inflation to rising interest rates. The climate challenge is, de facto, an energy transition challenge, which historically takes generations. Governments all over the world are working to implement policy that encourages society to foster clean energy and low-carbon technologies. It is a fine balance between supply and demand of energy networks, whilst maintaining energy security. This was evident in Ireland during the winter of 2022 which witnessed several Systems Alerts, from the Transmission System Operator (TSO), EirGrid, mainly due to sub-zero temperatures, low wind, and system capacity. In line with the European Union, member states are moving towards the decarbonisation of energy systems. This will require a holistic behavioural change in the way society provide, transport and consume energy. The large scale expansion of low-carbon technologies, namely Air Source Heat Pumps (ASHPs) and the electrification of buildings, using a low-carbon intensity electricity grid is generally accepted and predominantly uncontroversial. This paper aims to analyse datasets produced from a Power and Energy Data Logger which consisted of time series data recorded at ten minute intervals from two different load sources. The first dataset monitored an ASHP's electrical energy and the second dataset monitored a residential building's electrical energy over a period in winter 2022. This data allowed the author undertake comparative analysis between different scenarios, such as the ASHP's electrical consumption load profile and the Outside Air Temperature (OAT). Furthermore, comparisons were made between the TSO's demand profile and the building's new electrical consumption load profile incorporating an ASHP. This paper's main findings are that ASHP's electrical energy profile fluctuates considerably throughout the day, due to continuously changing OAT. Finally, the comparative analysis between the actual heat pump data collected and the previously predicted profile shows clear variations between the two models.