Chinese hotel slashes energy costs with CO₂ heat pumps

Demonstrating the business case for CO₂ heat pumps in commercial hot water applications, one hotel in China saved 1.1 million Chinese Yuan (~€138,927) in energy consumption costs in the first year following the replacement of its two gas boilers with two CO₂ heat pumps.

Last month, this website visited the Economic Trade Hotel located in Kunming City, China, where the two CO₂ heat pumps, supplied by Chinese OEM Kunming Dongqi Technology (Dongqi), were installed on the hotel's rooftop.

"Since the renovation, the energy consumption cost has dropped drastically," Peijian Du, chairman of Dongqi, told this website in August.

"The average daily energy consumption cost has dropped from the original 3,525 Chinese Yuan (around €445) to 564 Chinese Yuan (around €71), and the energy saving ratio has reached 84%. The annual energy saving amount is about 1.1 million Chinese Yuan (around €138,927), and the unit's water temperature and water output are both stable."

Installed in April 2016, the CO₂ heat pumps achieve a COP of 4.5 at a heating capacity of 120 kW.

Gongmin Xu, marketing representative for Dongqi, said that the hotel owner was extremely happy with their decision to install the CO₂ heat pumps as they were able to achieve a payback on the system in only one year.

In addition, Xu said that the system was installed without the support of any subsidies from the government.

Two Dongqi "CkYRS-120II" CO₂ heat pumps

The units, specified to operate in ambient temperatures from -25°C through +45°C, supply 58 tons of hot water per day at a temperature of 55°C through 85°C.

"The coldest Kunming gets during the winter is around 0°C," said Xu, "so the heat pumps have no trouble running."

The 252-room, four-star hotel serves mainly business travelers and is located in the central financial and business district of Kunming, City.

Kunming Dongqi Technology is one of China's leading manufacturers of CO₂ heat pumps, having developed its first CO₂ system in 2009, and now boasts more than 700 units installed in the market as of the end of 2017.