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School of Business | Department of Management and International Business | SME Business Management | 2011
Thesis number: 12703
Analyzing a ground source heat pump investment in Finland
Author: Stenberg, Tom
Title: Analyzing a ground source heat pump investment in Finland
Year: 2011  Language: eng
Department: Department of Management and International Business
Academic subject: SME Business Management
Index terms: yrittäjyys; entrepreneurship; investoinnit; investment; arviointi; evaluation; koneet; machinery; energiatalous; energy economy; lämmitys; central heating
Pages: 156
Full text:
» hse_ethesis_12703.pdf pdf  size:7 MB (6893990)
Key terms: Ground source heat pump, heating system, energy, investment analysis, NPV, Monte Carlo simulation.
Abstract:
AALTO UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF ECONOMICS ABSTRACT Master’s Thesis, Entrepreneurship 19.12.2011 Tom Stenberg

ANALYZING A GROUND SOURCE HEAT PUMP INVESTMENT IN FINLAND

Research objectives

The main objective of the study was to analyze a ground source heat pump (GSHP) investment in Finland. In addition the goal was to determine which investment appraisal methods are most suitable for analyzing a ground source heat pump investment. In order to reach these objectives the both the heating systems and investment theory were reviewed in detail.

Sources

The theoretical part of the study was compiled out of a wide range of academic and non-academic literature. These included articles, reports and industry brochures related to investment analysis, energy and heating systems. In the empirical part historical energy price data was used. Heating system data was attained from heating system companies, expert organization and other relevant sources.

Research method

After the necessary data collection exercise and selection the suitable investment analysis method, the actual investment simulations calculations were completed and analyzed. The chosen methods are widely used and considered reliable in academic research.

Results

Analysis of the results showed that investing in a ground source heat pump heating system would be the most economical investment in the cases studied and under the selected settings. After 10 years the GSHP had the lowest NPV (most economical) in all cases except for one; in the old 240 m2 building the wood-pellet had a lower NVP mean in the 10 year scenario. However the probability distributions of the GSHP and the wood-pellet system suggest that the GSHP system has less risk as the probability distribution is more triangular. The wood-pellet system and the CHP district heating systems were the next economical choices. Direct electricity and oil heating were found to be uneconomical investment when using similar risk variables.

Keywords

Ground source heat pump, heating system, energy, investment analysis, NPV, Monte Carlo simulation.
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