Solar Community Heating and Cooling System with Central Heat Pump and Geo-Exchange System for Cold Climates

For a hypothetical solar community located in Toronto, the viability of geo-exchange heat pump system with solar thermal was investigated. Two models were developed. The first model was based on the central heat pump system with borehole thermal storage, using a PV system as the heat pumps power. The second was a system with a solar thermal system added to the first model. Simulation results showed that for the communities with the annual heating and cooling ratio of more than 75%, by adding the solar thermal system, the heat pumps’ performance, in the heating mode, will improve by 26%.