HEAT PUMPS
Why the price will be right for heat pumps
Haier Europe managing director Bob Cowlard explains how the shift towards low carbon heating and cooling will see a change in the domestic market.
I
t’s claimed by some in our industry that the big challenge facing the heat pump market in the UK and across Europe is price. These purveyors of doom and gloom say that with fossil-fuel boilers costing as little as £500 to buy, and installation costs equally as cheap, it would seem that heat pumps will never be able to compete. If you believe that you are barking up the wrong tree.
I have no doubt that this will change and there will be a role reversal on price with heat pumps getting cheaper to buy and install and traditional boilers going in the opposite direction. Why? Well, the days of fossil-fuelled boilers are
numbered. The installation of gas and oil boilers in new builds is outlawed from 2025. The Government has made no secret of the fact that it wants to be ahead of Europe in the race to be carbon neutral. It wants big changes low carbon wise from us all by 2030, while the European Union is setting 2050 as a benchmark. Once the ban on traditional boilers kicks in builders will have no other option than to look for a low carbon alternative. Heat pumps are an easy answer, especially as the likes of district heating can be complex to manage once installed and hydrogen still has many question marks hanging over it. Running on low GWP refrigerant R32 – like the Haier Super Aqua heat pump range – and coupled with superb energy efficiencies, the heat pump will find itself in pole position as it’s easy to install and run. Economies of scale production wise will push down the price of heat pumps as their popularity with installers and end users grows. In contrast, boilers will only be bought for the retrofit market where demand will eventually dwindle as low carbon technologies gain favour. Fewer boilers will be manufactured year on year and their price will only go up as the cost of the heat pump comes down.
20 May 2021 Haier Super Aqua air-to-water heat pumps use free
renewable energy from outside as a heat source for cooling, heating and hot water. This reduces energy consumption, running costs and CO2
emissions compared to conventional
oil and gas boilers. What’s not to like about this? The domestic air-to-water heat pump market is growing.
Don’t just take my word for it. There are existing parallels elsewhere as we make the shift to a low carbon lifestyle. Who would have thought five years ago that the move to electric cars would gather such pace? With major manufacturers like Ford and Jaguar Land
Rover now firmly heading in the direction of EVs there is little doubt that in five to ten years the petrol or diesel- powered vehicle won’t be the first choice for car buyers. I expect the expansion in the air to water heat pump market to follow along similar lines. We will overcome obstacles along the way installation wise with low temperature radiators helping us to move in the right direction. I do though accept that the domestic retro market will be slower to change. We need greater help from Government and there is a demand for more green-based financial incentives to persuade householders with older properties to buy low carbon equipment to help halt climate change. Culture and habits will have a say here but we also need tougher legislation from the Government to encourage householders to change their mindsets. Old fossil fuel boilers in retrofits will eventually have to be outlawed to protect the planet. We are beginning to get there message wise with the public and this drip-drip of information can only help turn the tide. I firmly believe the future is looking rosy for the air- to-water heat pump. We just need that extra help from Government on the financial and legislation front to make it happen more quickly.
www.acr-news.com
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48
