Techno-Economic Analysis of an Air–Water Heat Pump Assisted by a Photovoltaic System for Rural Medical Centers: An Ecuadorian Case Study

Air–water heat pumps are gaining interest in modern architectures, and they are a suitable option as a replacement for fossil fuel-based heating systems. These systems consume less electricity by combining solar panels, a heat pump, thermal storage, and a smart control system. This study was applied to a completely ecological rural health sub-center built on the basis of recycled bottles, and that, for its regular operation, requires an energy system according to the needs of the patients in the rural community. Detailed analyses were performed for heating and hot water preparation in two scenarios with different conditions (standard and fully integrated). From a technical perspective, different strategies were analyzed to ensure its functionality. If the photovoltaic system is sized to achieve advanced control, the system can even operate autonomously. However, due to the need to guarantee the energy efficiency of the center, the analyses were performed with a grid connection, and it was determined that the photovoltaic system guarantees at least two-thirds of the energy required for its autonomous operation. The results show that the system can operate normally thanks to the optimal size of the photovoltaic system, which positively influences the rural population in the case under analysis.