Stefan de Lange
@langestefan.bsky.social
Heat pumps, solar energy and everything energy transition. I am particularly interested in mathematical topics and modelling within the energy transition.
You can get really decent second hand hybrids or EVs these days. I'm coming from a family which has never bought a new car, even though I would have the funds for it now I still don't see a reason to. You avoid the bulk of the depreciation that way.
October 22, 2025 at 5:34 PM
You can get really decent second hand hybrids or EVs these days. I'm coming from a family which has never bought a new car, even though I would have the funds for it now I still don't see a reason to. You avoid the bulk of the depreciation that way.
I think the point is that for total energy consumption to go down, electric consumption has to go up. This is a process driven by electrification and renewable deployment
September 27, 2025 at 12:30 AM
I think the point is that for total energy consumption to go down, electric consumption has to go up. This is a process driven by electrification and renewable deployment
Going to be disappointed unfortunately. In the real cold/dark periods in the months november-february the output of solar doesn't produce enough power to run a heat pump. My 4kWp array doesn't even produce enough to power the baseload of my house. Last December only 26 kWh was produced
September 22, 2025 at 10:09 AM
Going to be disappointed unfortunately. In the real cold/dark periods in the months november-february the output of solar doesn't produce enough power to run a heat pump. My 4kWp array doesn't even produce enough to power the baseload of my house. Last December only 26 kWh was produced
Whatever approach you choose. I think you will always find that electricity always wins any fair well-to-wheel comparison, simply because it is the highest quality form of energy we have available.
September 21, 2025 at 1:21 PM
Whatever approach you choose. I think you will always find that electricity always wins any fair well-to-wheel comparison, simply because it is the highest quality form of energy we have available.
nobody is claiming it is. That was not the point of the post. In fact if you want to compare supply chain losses of fossil fuels and solar where do you even stop?
September 21, 2025 at 11:30 AM
nobody is claiming it is. That was not the point of the post. In fact if you want to compare supply chain losses of fossil fuels and solar where do you even stop?
It's a strange thing to consider the efficiency of solar panels in this equation. They have no fuel input that we pay for or have to transport. So there's nothing lost by charging an EV from solar. Same story for wind.
September 21, 2025 at 10:31 AM
It's a strange thing to consider the efficiency of solar panels in this equation. They have no fuel input that we pay for or have to transport. So there's nothing lost by charging an EV from solar. Same story for wind.
Let's follow Denmark and abolish all taxes on electricity, today.
September 12, 2025 at 10:57 AM
Let's follow Denmark and abolish all taxes on electricity, today.
there is, I just explained it to you. But you don't seem to want to hear it. So I think that concludes this discussion.
September 8, 2025 at 6:27 PM
there is, I just explained it to you. But you don't seem to want to hear it. So I think that concludes this discussion.
Another simple truth. Many people CAN afford the upgrade out of pocket, but still don't do it because of lies they have been told about heat pumps. Such as they are noisy, don't work in cold weather, can't heat old homes etc. Total bollocks.
September 8, 2025 at 6:24 PM
Another simple truth. Many people CAN afford the upgrade out of pocket, but still don't do it because of lies they have been told about heat pumps. Such as they are noisy, don't work in cold weather, can't heat old homes etc. Total bollocks.
wipe out? I find this wording really bizarre. It is an investment in your home. The place you live. It even increases the value of your property.
The typical payback period of a heatpump, even in the UK, is up to 6 years: www.greentechrenewables.co.uk/ashp/what-is...
The typical payback period of a heatpump, even in the UK, is up to 6 years: www.greentechrenewables.co.uk/ashp/what-is...
What Is the Payback Period for a Heat Pump? | Greentech Renewables Ltd
The payback period for a heat pump usually spans 3 to 20 years, influenced by installation costs, energy savings, and government incentives. Air source pumps often yield faster returns, between 5 to 1...
www.greentechrenewables.co.uk
September 8, 2025 at 6:22 PM
wipe out? I find this wording really bizarre. It is an investment in your home. The place you live. It even increases the value of your property.
The typical payback period of a heatpump, even in the UK, is up to 6 years: www.greentechrenewables.co.uk/ashp/what-is...
The typical payback period of a heatpump, even in the UK, is up to 6 years: www.greentechrenewables.co.uk/ashp/what-is...
Landlords tend to have more spending power, and a heat pump gives them a better return on their investment. How many are willing to make the change again comes down to the spark gap.
September 8, 2025 at 5:33 PM
Landlords tend to have more spending power, and a heat pump gives them a better return on their investment. How many are willing to make the change again comes down to the spark gap.
So these people you know can spend 3k on a boiler refit, but they can't save a bit longer to do a heat pump install? That doesn't make sense to me.
September 8, 2025 at 5:29 PM
So these people you know can spend 3k on a boiler refit, but they can't save a bit longer to do a heat pump install? That doesn't make sense to me.
I don't think it is a fact. It is a point of view. If the only factor you consider is initial cost, then yes a heat pump is the more expensive choice. If you consider the lifetime running costs, it will be cheaper. Even in the UK. I hope the UK will address the spark gap issue.
September 8, 2025 at 5:06 PM
I don't think it is a fact. It is a point of view. If the only factor you consider is initial cost, then yes a heat pump is the more expensive choice. If you consider the lifetime running costs, it will be cheaper. Even in the UK. I hope the UK will address the spark gap issue.
Cost is an issue yes. I don't know about the UK, but here there are support grants and low interest sustainability loans you can make use of. The main problem in the UK is still the spark gap though. Tax on electricity is way too high, tax on gas is probably too low. But flipping that is politics
September 8, 2025 at 3:32 PM
Cost is an issue yes. I don't know about the UK, but here there are support grants and low interest sustainability loans you can make use of. The main problem in the UK is still the spark gap though. Tax on electricity is way too high, tax on gas is probably too low. But flipping that is politics
Heat pumps are quiet, I can't even hear mine. Heat pumps can modulate much lower and maintain more stable temperatures than a gas boiler. This leads to less cycling and less overshoots, which people tend to notice immediately.
September 8, 2025 at 3:27 PM
Heat pumps are quiet, I can't even hear mine. Heat pumps can modulate much lower and maintain more stable temperatures than a gas boiler. This leads to less cycling and less overshoots, which people tend to notice immediately.
The major problem in the UK is the sparkgap. If that goes down, a heat pump suddenly becomes a no brainer because the lifetime costs will be substantially lower compared to a gas boiler.
September 8, 2025 at 2:49 PM
The major problem in the UK is the sparkgap. If that goes down, a heat pump suddenly becomes a no brainer because the lifetime costs will be substantially lower compared to a gas boiler.
What is reasonably priced? You can't equate a heatpump to a boiler, because you get an objectively better system which has lower running costs and provides a higher level of comfort.
September 8, 2025 at 2:48 PM
What is reasonably priced? You can't equate a heatpump to a boiler, because you get an objectively better system which has lower running costs and provides a higher level of comfort.
Whether cost recovery is slow depends largely on the spark gap. Countries where the spark gap is low see 90% heat pump adoption. Countries like the UK where the spark is extreme see very low heat pump adoption. One thing is sure, gas is only going to become more expensive.
September 8, 2025 at 11:56 AM
Whether cost recovery is slow depends largely on the spark gap. Countries where the spark gap is low see 90% heat pump adoption. Countries like the UK where the spark is extreme see very low heat pump adoption. One thing is sure, gas is only going to become more expensive.
I am saying that the price difference is too much to justify buying it over the AC variant.
September 7, 2025 at 6:39 PM
I am saying that the price difference is too much to justify buying it over the AC variant.
It's more than 3x as much. I don't think that's a good deal at all. In fact at that price I'd just get the regular version. Victron sells a 22kW charger for less than €500
September 7, 2025 at 11:11 AM
It's more than 3x as much. I don't think that's a good deal at all. In fact at that price I'd just get the regular version. Victron sells a 22kW charger for less than €500
would you prefer waiting at a traffic light while breathing in the gas fumes of cars?
September 6, 2025 at 12:09 PM
would you prefer waiting at a traffic light while breathing in the gas fumes of cars?