Photovoltaic-Assisted Clean Heating System Comparative Study for Rural Northeast China

This study addresses the clean heating demands in rural Northeast China, systematically analyzing the technical characteristics, application performance, and economic and environmental benefits of five photovoltaic (PV)-assisted electricity-driven heating systems. Comprehensive comparisons were conducted on the working principles, real-world applications, economic viability, and carbon emissions of the following systems: PV-assisted air source heat pumps, PV-assisted ground source heat pumps, PV-PH combined with hot water storage tanks and electric kang(heated bed), PV-assisted thermal-storage electric boilers, and PV-assisted thermal-storage electric heaters. The results indicate significant variations among the systems in terms of initial investment, operating costs, and carbon emission intensity. Specifically, the PV-assisted thermal-storage electric heater exhibits the lowest initial investment. The PV-assisted air source heat pump demonstrates superior comprehensive performance for single-household and mall-to-medium-scale heating applications. The PV-PH combined with hot water storage tank and electric kangsystem is best suited for retrofitting dispersed farmhouses. The PV-assisted ground source heat pump is suitable for centralized heating in newly built residential clusters with significant long-term benefits. Lastly, the PV plus thermal-storage electric boiler system is appropriate for public buildings such as schools.