Abstract

District heating and cooling networks can support renewable energy source integration by converting surplus electricity through distributed power-to-heat & cold technologies. In this respect, end-users will be active participants (i.e., prosumers) capable of both consuming and producing heat or cold, which is eventually sold to the district network. This study presents an integrated energy and economic assessment of a photovoltaic-driven air-to-water heat pump system operating as a thermal prosumer in a Mediterranean office building connected to a district heating and cooling network. Building energy demand is simulated in TRNSYS, heat pump performance is modelled using IMST-ART, and PV generation is evaluated through a Python-based optimization framework. Annual results show a PV generation of 363 MWh, with 60.7% self-consumption and 39.3% surplus. In the thermal prosumer configuration, 47.03 MWh y⁻¹ of heat and 168.52 MWh y⁻¹ of cooling are supplied to the network, while 72.19 MWh y⁻¹ of electricity is exported to the grid. Economic analysis indicates that exporting electricity yields an internal rate of return of 16.2%, whereas the thermal prosumer scenario achieves an internal rate of return of 11.9%, increasing to 15.5% when heat and cold are sold at 11 c€ kWh⁻¹. Results highlight the strong dependence of profitability on thermal energy remuneration. Finally, the study shows the potential of photovoltaic-driven heat pump integration with district heating and cooling networks in Mediterranean contexts, provided that adequate market mechanisms are in place to valorize thermal energy.