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Split AC With Solar Cuts Cooling Costs, Nears Gas Parity for Heat

New calculations outline real-world savings for German homes under typical power prices.

Overview

  • Using a coefficient of performance near 3, the analysis shows one kilowatt-hour of electricity delivers about three kilowatt-hours of heat, which puts heating at roughly €0.12 per kWh when power costs €0.35.
  • A 10 kWp rooftop system is pegged to yield about 8 kWh per day in winter but roughly 50–60 kWh per day in summer, so summer cooling can often run for many hours on self‑generated power.
  • In a sample setup, a 12,000 BTU split unit running 3.5 hours for cooling draws about 4.0 kWh per day, and that load can drop to €0 on days when PV output fully covers consumption.
  • Homeowners can mount indoor and outdoor units and route pipes and cables, yet a certified refrigeration technician must evacuate the lines, check for leaks, and commission the refrigerant circuit.
  • Shoppers see wide price tiers, from budget mobile monoblocks under €200 with basic features to a TCL BreezeIn P5 split unit at about €530 or €899 with Quick‑Connect, plus DIY PV kits from ACTEC starting near €2,000 with a reported Trusted Shops rating.