Term
SCOP: what the term means
A measure of how efficiently a heat pump turns electricity into heat over a whole heating season, rather than at a single test point.
A measure of how efficiently a heat pump turns electricity into heat over a whole heating season, rather than at a single test point.
SCOP in practice
SCOP is defined in the ecodesign rules retained in UK law as the overall coefficient of performance of a heat pump space heater, representative of the designated heating season, calculated as the reference annual heating demand divided by the annual energy consumption. In plain terms, it compares the heat delivered across a typical year with the electricity used to deliver it.
A higher SCOP means lower running costs for the same heat. The figure a heat pump achieves in your home depends heavily on the flow temperature the system needs, which is why installers size radiators and design the system around low temperatures. Compare SCOP values at the same flow temperature, since manufacturers publish several.
Source: legislation.gov.uk