This project in photos!
“Solarothermal represents a more economical solution compared to installing a heat pump combined with conventional photovoltaic panels.” – Qin Yu, Dualsun’s first solar thermal customer and a pioneering installer of this technology.
| Category | Details |
| Heat loss | 8,7 kW |
| Financial aid | 12,725 (CEE, MPR PAC, self-consumption bonus) |
| Cost (hybrid solar panels + heat pump) | 30,000 € INCL. TAX – 12,725 € = 17,275 € INCL. TAX |
| Cost (PV system + air/water heat pump) | 26.000 € – 6.500 € = 19.500 € |
| Return on investment | 5 years |
| Annual energy bills before installation | 5.000 € |
| Annual energy bills after installation | Electricity: €2,100 (incl. DHW and heating) Gas: 0 € (instead of 3.100 €) Surplus resale: -300 €. Total: €1,800 |
| Annual savings | 3.200 € |
| Savings over 30 years | 130,000 (including installation costs) |
| Reducing carbon footprint | 2 tonnes of CO2 avoided per year, per person |
Solar heating for energy efficiency
Dualsun solar thermal systems represent a major step forward in the energy transition. It combines a water-to-water heat pump with SPRING hybrid panels. The system is thus able to capture heat from both the ambient air and the sun. Unlike traditional geothermal systems, this technology requires no outdoor unit, reducing noise pollution and the visual impact on building facades.
➕ Find out more about heating with heat pump
SPRING panels deliver impressive performance: 10% more electricity and up to four times more thermal energy than a conventional photovoltaic panel. Better still, the solar thermal system continues to produce even at night or in bad weather, by recovering residual heat from the ambient air.
A cost-effective, high-performance solution
The aim of this project, carried out on a rented house in Mâcon in 2024, was to replace an old gas-fired boiler. Qin Yu was looking for a more efficient, sustainable alternative with a heat pump and solar panels.
Solarthermal energy proved to be the ideal solution: a single installation to produce both electricity and heat, while also being eligible for public subsidies such as MaPrimeRénov’, which are not available for conventional photovoltaic installations. A major advantage for a profitable investment.
According to Qin Yu, this combined system with 12 SPRING4 hybrid panels is not only more efficient, but also much more economical than a traditional configuration with separate heat pump and photovoltaic panels. Thanks to this technology, energy savings are estimated at between 65% and 70%, according to pre-project simulations carried out on MyDualsun.
A site made easier thanks to Dualsun’s support
The installation went off without a hitch, thanks to Dualsun’s technical support. Once the SPRING hybrid panels had been installed on the roof, the hydraulic connections and control systems were quickly installed. Dualsun also played a key role in providing support during commissioning and in the administrative procedures for obtaining financial aid.
A promising technology for a sustainable energy future
This first solar thermal installation demonstrates that this technology is not only accessible, but also extremely efficient.
Qin Yu highly recommends the Dualsun solution for residential projects, especially those wishing to combine energy efficiency with a sustainable economy.
This benchmark project was even the subject of an article in Génie Climatique in September 2024:
“In addition to its energy performance, solar thermal energy offers several financial advantages for customers. Thanks to subsidies, the price of a solarothermal installation is comparable to that of a conventional photovoltaic system, but with the added benefits of a heat pump,” comments journalist Pierre Pichère.
