On the occasion of the start of the 2023-2024 winter season, the Steam Engines and Boilers Laboratory
of NTUA in collaboration with the Laboratory of Thermal Processes jointly proceeded to a
a series of calculations based on which the heating costs for an average Greek were derived
household, depending on the energy carrier and the corresponding technology that was to
used.
During the research carried out, it was collected and afterwards
a wide range of financial data (commercial charges, retail prices
of solid heating fuels, government subsidies, etc.) that are currently available and concern the
period from October to December 2023, i.e. in the first three of them
a total of six months that make up the 2023-2024 winter season.
It is worth emphasizing that the NTUA and EKETA scientists carry out the comparative research on heating costs every year.
So according to the study, the lower heating costs offer again this year heat pumps, in every condition of use
Also, this winter the gas heating is on up to about 35% cheaper relative to motor oil, reversing last year's figures. In relation to heating oil, the use of a closed chamber fireplace costs approximately the same as a biomass boiler. On the contrary, the ones that burn the most are the open fireplaces and devices with electrical resistances.
In more detail, the conclusions of the study are as follows:
Epilogue - Conclusions
The small increase of 10-15% observed, compared to last year, in the price of oil
heating combined with the de-escalation of TTF prices throughout 2023, has as
result in the cost of heating through natural gas systems (condensing boiler F.A.) to
it is cheaper than what characterizes oil systems (ordinary oil boiler).
In addition, condensing boilers F.A., in the specific time period, are considered as the most
cost-effective investment to replace conventional heating systems with conventional ones
oil boiler, regardless of the annual heating needs of an average household.
Then and despite the maintenance of electricity prices at high levels (similar to
last year), the heating systems with medium and high temperature heat pumps
of heating technologies F.A. in terms of the cost of useful thermal energy (€/kWhth).
At the same time, medium temperature heat pumps (LWmax = 60°C) seem to be an equally economical
efficient proposal, to replace the existing oil boiler, which competes
worthy of the corresponding F.A. systems. in terms of depreciation years.
As for high temperature heat pumps (LW > 70°C) they appear as economically advantageous solutions mainly for annual thermal needs that exceed 9.000 kWhth. However, the element of risk also exists in heating technologies that use electricity since from 01/01/2024 new electricity tariffs (blue, green and orange) are expected along with the reinstatement of the readjustment clause which will now be called "Mechanism Variation".
Finally, as regards conventional solid fuels, such as firewood and wood pellets, the
their selling prices may show a reduction of between 10% and 25%, compared to
season 2022-2023, but remain at high levels compared to pre-outbreak prices
the energy crisis.
