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COP, SCOP, EER, and SEER

If you are about to have your cooling or heating system tested, you may have encountered a range of unfamiliar terms such as SCOP. What are SCOP, COP, SEER, and EER, and what are these values used for? You will find the answers in this article, which delves into the terminology used to measure the energy efficiency of heating and cooling systems.

SCOP

SCOP is an abbreviation for Seasonal Coefficient of Performance. SCOP is a parameter that indicates how efficiently a heat pump delivers heat over an entire year. Stated differently, a heat pump's efficiency is expressed as SCOP, and the higher the SCOP value, the more efficient the heat pump. If you are looking to invest in a heat pump, you should look for models with a high SCOP.

Even though heat pumps are among the most efficient forms of heating, it is still sensible to compare the SCOP of different units, as there can be money saved on electricity consumption relative to heat output. In addition, the SCOP value serves as the baseline for European minimum requirements and the mandatory energy labeling that heat pumps must carry by law.

When SCOP is calculated, the heating season is divided into a number of hours at different temperatures, referred to as bins. Together, these reflect the temperature variations across the heating season. Testing is conducted according to the standard EN 14825, which applies to air conditioners, liquid chilling packages, and heat pumps with electrically driven compressors for space heating and cooling.

SCOP can be calculated across three different climate zones, as temperatures vary across Europe and directly affect heat pump performance. The three climate zones are: colder, warmer, and average (Denmark is located in the average zone). There is also a difference in the SCOP value depending on whether you have underfloor heating or radiators. With underfloor heating, the heat pump is typically slightly more efficient.

A SCOP value of 4 = production of 4 kWh of heat for every 1 kWh of electricity consumed.

COP

COP is an abbreviation for Coefficient of Performance. COP indicates the ratio between the heat the heat pump delivers and the amount of power it uses. Here, too, a higher COP means higher efficiency. COP and SCOP share the same foundation, but the difference is that SCOP represents an annual average calculation, while COP provides a snapshot of the heat pump's efficiency at a specific moment. Testing is carried out according to the standard EN 14511.

SCOP provides a far better indication of the heat pump’s efficiency over a full year than COP does, as the SCOP value is based on multiple tests and a series of calculations. The COP value is based on only a single test at a specific outdoor temperature or liquid temperature (e.g. an outdoor temperature of 7 °C delivering water at 35 °C to an underfloor heating system). Therefore, the COP value alone does not provide a realistic indication of the heat pump's overall annual seasonal performance.

SEER

SEER is an abbreviation for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio. SCOP and SEER both indicate a heat pump’s energy efficiency, but they refer to different functions: SCOP measures the ratio between heat output and power consumption, whereas SEER measures how much cooling a system produces relative to its power consumption over an entire year.

To calculate a SEER value, tests are conducted that make it possible to evaluate performance over an entire year. This helps the end user understand the operational economics of the heat pump. Because SEER is calculated across a season based on a predefined set of seasonal conditions, the process is more complex than calculating EER, as far more factors come into play. When calculating EER values, just like with COP, you only get a momentary snapshot of the system's efficiency.

SEER is tested in accordance with standard EN 14825, which applies to air conditioners, liquid chilling packages, and heat pumps with electrically driven compressors for space heating and cooling. Testing a heat pump for SEER makes it possible to simulate seasonal temperature fluctuations under controlled conditions. This ensures that heat pump efficiency is measured under identical conditions, providing a reliable basis for comparison.

EER

EER is an abbreviation for Energy Efficiency Ratio. EER is a value used in connection with cooling, indicating how effectively an air conditioning system performs. The higher the value, the better the efficiency and the lower the energy bill.

While the SEER value shows a heat pump’s cooling efficiency over an entire year, the EER value is a snapshot based on a single test at a specific temperature. Calculating the SEER value is therefore more complex because it relies on multiple test points; however, SEER also provides a much clearer picture of the unit’s overall efficiency and annual performance factor than EER does.