South Korean firms Qcells and Samsung aim to tackle the EU energy crisis with solar-powered heat pumps and the Q.Ommand smart energy platform.

Hanwha subsidiary Qcells has announced a major upgrade to its digitalised Q.Ommand energy management platform, incorporating Samsung Electronics’ heat pumps into solar panels (PVs) and energy storage systems (ESSs).

With soaring energy prices in Europe increasing demand for non-fossil fuel-based heating systems, Qcells’ smart energy offering could provide a cleaner, more affordable way to heat houses.

Connecting Qcells’ PVs and ESSs to Samsung heat pumps, the Q. Ommand mobile apps enable users to optimise their power consumption by controlling the alternative heating system run by affordable, clean electricity.

Consumers can install Qcells solar modules to generate clean PV electricity, and store it with the Q. Home Core smart battery system. The electricity produced with this Qcells PV and ESS offering is then used to power heat pumps and Q. Ommand provides real-time monitoring and year-to-year analysis.

Consumers can also reduce electricity bills for other home appliances with Samsung’s Smart Things Energy IoT platform. Using its Net Zero Home, households can automatically switch home appliances to energy-saving mode at night or on cloudy days.

Amid soaring energy prices in Europe, solar-powered heat pumps are fast emerging as an alternative to fossil fuel-based heating systems. Incorporating this technology into Qcells’ smart energy management system can offer households a viable way to tackle energy security.

The worsening energy crisis in Europe is accelerating demand for renewable-based heat pumps to reduce reliance on fossil gas for heating homes. According to the REPower EU Plan, the European Commission aims to install 20 million heat pumps by 2026 and nearly 60 million by 2030.

“Heating bills are poised to soar for this winter, and powering heat pumps with solar energy can reduce the burden,” said a Qcells spokesperson. “With our innovative PV and ESS technology, we will continue to work with our partners to provide comprehensive clean energy.”

Qcells is headquartered in Seoul, South Korea, and Thalheim, Germany, with manufacturing facilities in the USA, Malaysia, China and South Korea.