Editing Solar energy (section)

==== Solar-assisted heat pump ====
{{main|Solar-assisted heat pump}}
A [[heat pump]] is a device that provides heat energy from a source of heat to a destination called a "heat sink". Heat pumps are designed to move [[thermal energy]] opposite to the direction of spontaneous heat flow by absorbing heat from a cold space and releasing it to a warmer one. A solar-assisted heat pump represents the integration of a heat pump and [[Solar thermal collector|thermal solar panels]] in a single integrated system. Typically these two technologies are used separately (or only placing them in parallel) to produce [[Water heating|hot water]].<ref name="ref1">{{cite web |title=Solar-assisted heat pumps |url=http://www.bine.info/en/publications/themeninfos/publikation/elektrisch-angetriebene-waermepumpen/waermepumpen-plus-solar/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200228222214/http://www.bine.info/en/publications/themeninfos/publikation/elektrisch-angetriebene-waermepumpen/waermepumpen-plus-solar/ |archive-date=28 February 2020 |access-date=21 June 2016}}</ref> In this system the solar thermal panel performs the function of the low temperature heat source and the heat produced is used to feed the heat pump's evaporator.<ref name="ref2">{{cite web |title=Pompe di calore elio-assistite |url=http://www.climatizzazioneconfontirinnovabili.enea.it/index.php/pompe-di-calore-elioassistite |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120107065814/http://climatizzazioneconfontirinnovabili.enea.it/index.php/pompe-di-calore-elioassistite |archive-date=7 January 2012 |access-date=21 June 2016 |language=it}}</ref> The goal of this system is to get high [[Coefficient of performance|COP]] and then produce energy in a more [[Energy conversion efficiency|efficient]] and less expensive way.

It is possible to use any type of solar thermal panel (sheet and tubes, roll-bond, heat pipe, thermal plates) or [[Photovoltaic thermal hybrid solar collector|hybrid]] ([[Mono-crystalline silicon|mono]]/[[Polycrystalline silicon|polycrystalline]], [[Thin-film solar cell|thin film]]) in combination with the heat pump. The use of a hybrid panel is preferable because it allows covering a part of the electricity demand of the heat pump and reduces the power consumption and consequently the [[Variable cost|variable costs]] of the system.