Samsung Electronics' heat pump uses 1 kilowatt (kW) of electrical energy to produce 4.9 kW of heat. Compared with a gas boiler that burns 1 kW to deliver 0.9 kW of energy, the gap is big. We ran a six-month test in a typical household in Yangpyeong, Gyeonggi, that uses an oil boiler, and heating costs fell by about 53%.
Song Byong-ha, head of the Air Solution Team in the DA (Digital Appliances) Division at Samsung Electronics, said this at a "heat pump technology media briefing" held at Taepyeongno Building in Jung-gu, Seoul, on the 29th. Samsung Electronics, which has focused on selling the "EHS heat pump boiler" mainly in the European market, launched it in the domestic market on the 20th. In his presentation, Song explained Samsung Electronics' proprietary technologies applied to the product, its high efficiency, and its carbon reduction effects.
A heat pump is a solution that absorbs heat energy from outside and makes it available inside dwellings. It operates based on the "vapor compression cycle," which leverages the property of a refrigerant that absorbs and releases heat as it shifts between liquid and gas states. Song said, "A heat pump is a device that gathers small amounts of heat from a place with a lower temperature and sends that heat to a place with a higher temperature," adding, "An air conditioner provides cooling when it extracts heat from indoors and expels it outside, and conversely, when it extracts heat from outdoors and sends it indoors, it becomes a heat pump."
A heat pump absorbs heat from outside and stores it in a refrigerant. The refrigerant passes through a compressor and becomes a high-temperature, high-pressure gas. The heat generated in this process is transferred to indoor air or water via a heat exchanger, serving the same role as a boiler. After releasing heat, the refrigerant expands again, its temperature drops, and it converts to a liquid state capable of absorbing heat from outside. As this cycle repeats, a relatively small energy input secures a high level of thermal energy.
The seasonal coefficient of performance (SCOP) of Samsung Electronics' EHS heat pump boiler is 4.9. Under a 35-degree outlet-water condition, it means the amount of heat energy supplied is about five times the input power. Under a 55-degree outlet-water condition, it is 3.78. Song said, "Research findings show that using a product with a SCOP of 4.9 reduces carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions by an average of more than 60% in Korea," adding, "We applied the refrigerant (R32) with a global warming potential (GWP) 68% lower than the widely used refrigerant (R410A) in household air conditioners and other heating and cooling products."
Samsung Electronics applied a large-capacity heat exchanger to maximize the heat pump's efficiency. It also designed the internal valve of the compressor with an efficient structure to minimize energy loss during compression. A technology that optimally controls the system according to outside air temperature and operating conditions was also applied.
In Korea's Gangwon Province mountains, there are many winter days when temperatures fall below minus 30 degrees. The company says the EHS heat pump boiler delivers stable heating performance even in such conditions. By combining high-efficiency refrigerant compression technology with an anti-freeze function, it can operate even at minus 25 degrees. It also supplies high-temperature water up to 70 degrees under minus 15-degree conditions.
Samsung Electronics operates heat pump research centers and test labs in about 20 regions, including North America, Europe, and Japan. Song said, "We completed testing not only in Korea but also in Europe's cold regions and in Hokkaido, Japan, where there is heavy snowfall," adding, "We designed it to work well in cold regions, and even though during the Yangpyeong demonstration period there were about 20 days in January when temperatures fell below minus 15 degrees or stayed around minus 15 degrees, it operated normally."
However, it cannot be applied to apartments, which account for most domestic housing. Song said, "Apartments face challenges under current standards in terms of load and power capacity, so we are researching the most suitable solution with Samsung C&T."
Before its domestic launch, Samsung Electronics had focused on targeting the European market, which accounts for about 50% of the heat pump market. The domestic release of the EHS heat pump boiler was timed with the government's announcement of a distribution program. The government recently announced a plan to distribute 3.5 million heat pump units by 2035 with a goal of reducing greenhouse gases by 5.18 million tons (t). This year, it will inject a budget of 14.4 billion won and provide subsidies covering up to 70% of installation costs per household to push the electrification transition of fossil-fuel boilers.
Specifically, starting this month, the government will implement a heat pump boiler support program in key local governments such as Jeju, South Jeolla, and South Gyeongsang, targeting households that use coal briquette or kerosene boilers and areas not served by city gas. Applicants can check their eligibility through local government notices and apply in person. Eligible households can receive subsidies as a refund after product installation is completed and on-site verification by the local government.
Song said, "Heat pumps are a core solution for the transition to electric heating and carbon neutrality," adding, "Based on our proven technological capabilities and global research infrastructure, we will continue to innovate so domestic consumers can enjoy both stable heating performance and energy efficiency value."