Which heating system and how to combine it with photovoltaic / solar thermal?

Hello!

I have been researching the topic of heating for the new build of our single-family house for weeks and cannot find a conclusive opinion on the subject.

We are building a "normal" house, probably something like a KFW55 house but without any subsidies or anything like that, since that is off the table. The single-family house will be built on a hillside with the roof facing south, and photovoltaic / solar thermal is explicitly desired in the development plan (own roof surface is possible).

A gas connection has been laid directly to the property. I actually didn’t want a gas heating system, but now I am somewhat uncertain. My two immediate neighbors, who are also building in this new development, are opting for gas + solar thermal.

I was actually interested in geothermal energy. According to the local heating installer, however, in the city you are only allowed to drill up to 50 meters, so it is not worth it.

Then I inquired about trench collectors and surface collectors. That is now off the table again because many say that you can hardly plant anything afterwards (and we are really big garden fans).

So, basically, only a) gas (but I’m actually not a fan of fossil fuels) or --> and this is currently the favorite b) air heat pump remain. My previously favored local heating installer installs Wolf CHA Monoblock, but I can’t find many reviews about it; it seems quite new but also quite quiet.

Would you also go for an air-to-water heat pump in this situation?

And then the next question arises: how to combine? With solar thermal or photovoltaic? Or even both? There are hundreds of forums and articles here as well, and I read a lot but in the end, I’m just more confused because everyone says something different again.

What do you think?

Regards!
Elias

What is making you uncertain? Just the neighbors? Who told you that you can’t plant anything over a ring trench collector? How big is the property? I’m not a brand expert but Wolf does not have a bad reputation. Much more important, however, is the correct planning and design. How is your heating installer in that regard? Does he plan the design etc. or is there a separate planner? Solar thermal? The investment is not proportional to the benefit unless you have an exorbitantly high hot water consumption (pool or similar). Photovoltaics is generally always better, especially combined with a heat pump.

What unsettles you? Just the neighbors? Who told you that you can't plant anything above a ring trench collector? How big is the property? I'm no brand expert but Wolf doesn't have a bad reputation. Much more important, however, is the proper planning and design. How is your heating installer? Does he plan the design etc. or is there a separate planner? Solar thermal? The investment is not proportional to the benefit unless you have an exorbitantly high hot water consumption (pool or similar). Photovoltaics is generally always better, especially with a heat pump.

Cool, thanks! That was really helpful already, especially the tip that photovoltaics is better than ST :) No, it's not the neighbors who unsettle me. Well, maybe a little, because everyone is relying on gas (which I personally don't understand). The property is 479 m², the planner said a 150-200 m trench must be dug for the ring trench collector... which would be okay, but he also says that then nothing will grow anymore. Isn't that not correct?

The planner said that a 150-200 m trench must be dug for the ring trench collector... which would be okay, but he also says that then nothing will grow anymore. Isn't that correct?

I don't have a ring trench collector. I wanted one, but it wasn't possible for us. But I read up on it a bit back then. Try searching for a forum that deals with building technology via a search engine. They specialize in that. The concern that nothing grows there was mentioned there quite often. I rather remember it being not the case.

For new buildings, you don't need a brine heat pump or a trench collector. A regular air-to-water heat pump will suffice. I would never rely on gas in new constructions. Although the electricity price is not fixed either, it has not fluctuated as much as the gas price recently. If costs are a problem, it is better to switch from KFW55 to the Energy Saving Ordinance. Then add photovoltaic panels. You can also use the electricity to heat water in the summer, so you don't need extra [ST].

Okay thanks to both of you! Then the case is pretty clear: air-water heat pump with photovoltaic.

With or without storage?