Heat Pump and Solar Panels Together: Efficient Heating and Cooling

When a heat pump is used with solar panels, part of the electricity drawn for heating and cooling can be met by rooftop production. Because a heat pump can move several kWh of heat with 1 kWh of electricity, it is a good partner for solar energy. However, because production in Antalya is low in winter and high in summer, this match varies with the season. This article is general engineering information; for heat pump selection and installation you should consult the relevant specialist companies. Solar Nexo's service area is the solar energy system side.

COP and SCOP: how to read heat pump efficiency

COP (Coefficient of Performance) is the ratio of the heat energy a heat pump delivers to the electrical energy it draws. A unit with a COP of 3 delivers about 3 kWh of heat for 1 kWh of electricity. SCOP is the seasonal average calculated over a heating season and is more realistic than a single measurement point. For cooling mode the equivalents are EER and SEER.

COP is not a fixed number. It falls as outdoor air temperature drops and as the target water temperature rises. So instead of the highest COP in the manufacturer's catalogue, you need to look at the SCOP that suits your own operating conditions. Antalya's mild winter is an advantageous condition for a heat pump compared with cold-climate regions.

Antalya's climate: more cooling than heating

Winter in Antalya is mild and the number of snowy days is very small. According to MGM (the Turkish State Meteorological Service) records, the highest snow depth is 5 cm (1993). Most of the rain falls between November and February. Summer is long and hot; the average maximum temperature in July is 34.2 °C. In homes in Antalya, a heat pump therefore often works more for cooling than for heating over the year.

This is favourable from a solar standpoint. The cooling load occurs in the months when production is highest. For the air-conditioning side, you can look at the examples in our article on the solar panel calculation for air conditioning.

The seasonal gap in pairing a heat pump with solar panels

According to PVGIS, annual production in central Antalya is 1,656 kWh/kWp. But the distribution of this production is not even:

The sum of December, January and February is 306 kWh/kWp, and this is about 18.5% of annual production (calculation). That is, in the heating season the sun provides less than a fifth of its annual output. We also covered how production behaves in winter months in our article on solar panel performance in winter months.

A sample calculation: how many kWp for heating electricity?

The calculation below is hypothetical for a home with an annual heating need of 6,000 kWh of heat. This value may not fit your home; the real need varies with insulation, floor area and use. The electricity required is found by dividing the heat need by SCOP. The theoretical power is calculated by dividing that electricity by 1,656.

This table shows the annual energy balance. Reaching an annual balance does not mean the sun is there at the hour of heating. Production is mostly at midday, while the heating need rises in the morning and evening. The gap is closed by the grid (and net metering) or by a battery. To find the annual power needed with your own consumption data, see our article on how many kW of solar panels you need.

Domestic hot water: the easiest match

Even though production is low in the heating season, domestic hot water is needed all year. Heat pump water heaters can be programmed to heat the tank during daytime hours. The heat pump, running in the hours when the sun is strongest, then consumes production directly. The evening shower and kitchen need is met from the tank heated during the day.

Tank volume and insulation are decisive here. A well-insulated tank can hold heat through the night. In this way, without a battery investment, you capture a part of solar energy shifted into the evening. This approach can make sense in villas and holiday homes in Antalya, but product selection is the job of the relevant specialist.

Summer operation in cooling mode

Reversible heat pumps cool in summer. In this mode efficiency is shown by EER or SEER. The cooling season in Antalya runs from May to October. In the same period PVGIS production is above 150 kWh/kWp (May 157, June 159, July 168, August 167, September 155). That is, cooling operation is the period when a heat pump and solar panel system is strongest.

In these months the self-consumption ratio is high and surplus is lower. This is a factor that favours the payback of the investment. This is because the cost avoided through self-consumption is the unit charge with all components on the bill, while only the active energy unit price is paid for surplus. This is an interpretation, and the rule it rests on is the payment principles of Decision 14531.

Net metering: daytime production, evening heating

For installations connected to a residential subscription, net metering (mahsuplaşma) is monthly. Surplus energy you produce in the daytime is netted against what you draw in the evening within the same month. Surplus is valued at the single-rate active energy unit price, which is lower than the total unit charge on the bill. For non-residential installations, net metering has been hourly from 1 May 2026. This information is valid as of October 2026; regulations may change.

It is therefore valuable to shift the heat pump's operating hours into sunny hours as far as possible. One way is to heat the hot-water tank in the daytime and store the hot water. A tank is a cheap and simple thermal store. On the heating side, high-mass systems such as underfloor heating provide similar flexibility.

Battery or thermal store?

There are two ways to carry the daytime surplus into the evening: an electric battery or a heat store. A battery is flexible but costly. No payment is made for energy fed from the battery to the grid; the battery is therefore for meeting your own consumption. Batteries too must have been manufactured within the last five years. A thermal store is cheaper but can only be used for heat. For most homes, a thermal store and timing are considered first, and a battery afterwards. For information on the hybrid structure, see our hybrid systems page.

Technical points in system design

A heat pump's compressor draws a high starting current when it starts. This must be taken into account when choosing inverter power. Especially in off-grid or backup systems, a compressor start can trip an incorrectly sized inverter. If there is a three-phase unit, the inverter's phase structure must also be compatible.

Other important points are as follows:

• Separate design should be done for the heat pump and the solar system, but a joint load analysis should be made.
• Roof area should be planned for both panels and the outdoor unit.
• Main equipment such as panels and inverters must have been manufactured within the last five years.
• The system application should include the heat pump's effect on contract power.

When a heat pump is added, the home's consumption rises. It is also useful to ask the distribution company and your supplier how this increase affects contract power and annual consumption thresholds.

In what order should you proceed?

1. First clarify insulation and the existing heating and cooling need.
2. Choose the heat pump with the relevant specialist and get the SCOP value in writing.
3. Estimate the new state of electricity consumption (heat pump included).
4. Size the solar energy system to this new load.
5. Plan the acceptance and connection process before the heat pump is commissioned.

This order keeps you from building a solar system that is too small or needlessly large. For general guidance, see our Antalya solar energy guide.

Conclusion

Pairing a heat pump with solar panels makes sense in Antalya especially on the cooling and hot-water side. Low production in winter months makes it hard to meet the whole heating load from the sun. An annual energy balance can be achieved, but for hourly matching, timing, a thermal store or a battery may be needed. To size the solar side correctly, you can request a free survey together with your consumption data.

#Cost and Investment#Heat Pump#Cop#Hybrid Planning#Antalya Solar