This page is collecting information for a potential future heat pump for warming homes in Hartlepool which uses seawater as a heat source. If you have additional information or proposals please message me.
Why using a seawater heat pump in Hartlepool?
- Heat pumps can heat homes using electricity and a heat source. That means they can potentially run on renewable energy.
- Using a heat pump needs far less electricity than directly using electricity in a heater. (source needed)
- The warmer the heat source the less energy is needed to raise the temperature. In winter the sea is often warmer than the air so seawater is a better heat source than air in winter. (source needed, gov.uk rivers as heat source pdf ca. 60 pages).
- Hartlepool is near the sea so we have a big heat source nearby.
- The Steetley Pier could be reused to get the seawater and discharge it back again at a lower temperature
- heat can be stored more easily than electricity, so it can be stored for hours when the power grid is under heavy load or with a big storage even for days with low renewable energy production
- the heat can operate in reverse in order to cool homes on hot days
- if the central heat pump produces hot water (60 to 70°C) then homes can reuse most of their heating installation and only install a heat exchanger to transfer the heat from the central distribution into the existing home pipework.
Potential challenges
- seawater is corrosive
- a large network of pipes is needed to get the water to the houses
- big investment and ongoing costs
- potential local monopoly for heating
- get planning permissions
- make people switch from their current heating method (mostly gas boilers)
Links to documents
