HPT Magazine - Using heat pumps to stabilize power grids

How can heat pumps help stabilizing power grids? Researchers from the DLR Institute of Low-Carbon Industrial Processes and KU Leuven illustrate the importance of flexible heat pumps in an article for HPT Magazine. Heat pumps can provide control reserve by changing their electric power consumption. Control reserves are activated to restore nominal grid frequency in case of disturbances. Simulations of the test heat pump Pilot-Cobra show that the heat pump can change its power consumption within 30 seconds af nearly constant temperatures and COP by adjusting the mass of contained air. This enables the heat pump to provide primary control reserve which is the first response to deviations from the nominal grid frequency.