NEWS
New heating system set to turbocharge switch to heat pumps
The design for a new heating system which could turbocharge the uptake of heat pumps in the UK has been revealed. Nusku’s patent-pending concept combines a water cylinder with a heat pump all in one unit, to sit outside a home, meaning it’s significantly quicker and easier to install than traditional heat pumps.
By moving the water cylinder outside, people will no longer face losing valuable storage space and disruption during installation is minimal.
Another major benefit is that the system is able to deliver heat at a high temperature, meaning people are less likely to need to replace their radiators, making the switch from a gas boiler to a heat pump cheaper and easier than at present. Russell Murchie, chief executive and co-founder of Nusku, said the goal from the outset was to remove many of the barriers to adoption currently faced by homeowners, landlords and housing associations. He said: “We know many people are deterred by the fact they need to find space inside their home for a water cylinder as it means losing valuable storage space. The prospect of installing new radiators and a lengthy and disruptive installation process is also a major barrier, along with the potential noise generated by the heat pump and misconceptions around cost and performance. “Our design overcomes all these issues, which will make it quicker and easier for people to replace their gas boilers and switch to renewable energy with a heat pump that meets all their needs. “It felt like a watershed moment showing our product to those working in the heating industry for the first time at the Heat Pump Show and to get such a positive response, reinforcing our belief that there’s a huge gap in the market for an innovative heating system like ours.”
A key selling point will be the fact it’s cheaper and quicker to install – taking a few days rather than over a week. This will specifically appeal to those whose existing gas boiler has broken and they want a hassle-free and environmentally friendly replacement.
Another key ambition is for the Nusku heating system to be smart, connected, and easy to use. Built-in smart
controls will allow the system to be monitored and controlled remotely, helping to optimise settings and reduce energy bills. Targeting two and three-bedroom homes, Nusku’s product aims to support the Government’s ambition for 450,000 heat pumps to be installed per year by 2030, supported by the £7,500 grant available through the Boiler Upgrade Scheme.
The first Nusku heating system was tested at the University of Salford’s Energy House – a research and testing laboratory which comprises an early 20th-century two-bedroom terraced house within an environmental chamber allowing an accurate and rapid assessment of energy efficient retro fit technologies. Now prototypes are being trialled in homes across Bristol, with more widespread trials due to start in other cities soon before the product is officially launched next year.
White Paper warns UK ‘importing energy it doesn’t need’ due to industrial heat loss
The UK is missing a major opportunity to cut emissions and reduce reliance on energy imports by failing to tackle industrial heat loss, according to a new White Paper published by the Thermal Insulation Contractors Association (TICA).
At a time when national policy is focused on energy security, affordability and the transition to Net Zero, the trade body argues that thermal insulation is an immediate and cost-effective solution. Across manufacturing plants and processing facilities, significant amounts of heat are lost every day from uninsulated or poorly insulated pipes, ducting, valves and equipment – wasted energy that drives up costs and emissions, while increasing reliance on imported supply. Chris Ridge, TICA’s technical director, said: “The heat lost from one single uninsulated valve can equal the energy needed to power an electric car for 12,000 miles. Multiply that across many thousands of industrial and commercial sites, and it’s impossible to ignore the scale of the problem in the UK.” Meanwhile, analysis from the European Industrial Insulation Foundation (EiiF) has identified potential emission reductions of 3,480 kilotonnes of CO2 and energy savings of 1,183 kilotonnes of oil equivalent across Europe –
comparable to an annual energy use of more than 863,000 households or 1.7 million cars. The White Paper positions thermal insulation as a “no-regrets” solution, with many projects paying for themselves within months and most within two years. In addition, TICA is urging the introduction of minimum thermal insulation performance standards, including BS EN 17956 Energy Efficiency Class C for new industrial installations and, where feasible, for existing assets, to create a consistent baseline for energy efficiency across industry.
Mr Ridge added: “We are locking in inefficiency by failing to act. “This is one of the simplest, fastest and most cost-effective ways to cut energy use and emissions. It must be treated as a first-line solution, rather than an afterthought.” TICA, which produced the White Paper in collaboration with EiiF and Kaizen Energy Consultancy, is encouraging its members and interested parties to engage with their local MPs to build awareness and support for change, warning that the UK risks falling behind European countries already moving to capture energy savings. To view the White Paper or to receive a campaign pack visit:
https://tica-acad.co.uk/tica-white-paper/
‘ 6 BUILDING SERVICES & ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER MAY 2026
Heat Pump Association UK, chief executive, Charlotte Lee, said: “The Boiler Upgrade Scheme plays a vital role in supporting households and small businesses to adopt heat pumps. Many who rely on heating oil have faced significant price uncertainty in recent months and lack the protection of the energy price cap.
The £1,500 uplift for oil users will make the transition to heat pumps more affordable, helping to shield families and small businesses from volatile fossil fuel costs in the years ahead.
’ Read the latest at:
www.bsee.co.uk ‘ Quote, unquote
The industry has been reacting to the government’s decision to increase the Boiler Upgrade Scheme from £7,500 to £9,000. Here is what has been said…
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Paul Rose, chief executive of OFTEC, and Ken Cronin, chief executive of, UKIFDA, said: “We welcome the government’s recognition that off-grid households using heating oil face unique challenges and higher costs to transition to heat pumps. Increasing the Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant to £9,000 is a positive step. “However, the fact remains that, even with this additional funding, oil heated households still face a significant financial shortfall. The government’s own estimates put the switching cost at nearly £20,000. Most oil heated households simply do not have the disposable income available. Unfortunately, it will therefore often be wealthier households who will most benefit from this increase in grant funding. “That’s not to say these households should remain on
kerosene. Far from it, we want the government to support a wider range of low carbon technologies to ensure households have a choice that suits their current circumstances. Importantly, we need options that do not include the high upfront costs associated with heat pumps. “Renewable liquid fuels, such as Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO), therefore need to be part of the mix. There is a clear public appetite for this approach, demonstrated by 16,000 oil heated households responding to the government’s recent consultation in support of these fuels. We now need to see a formal government response which incorporates these fuels into the wider decarbonisation strategy. “These decisions matter. Building Regulations in England
prohibit installing a heating appliance with the potential to produce more CO2 than the appliance being replaced. What this means is that if, for any reason, a heat pump turns out not to be suitable, households will not have an option to return to an oil boiler. When households are trying to play their part in cutting their carbon emissions, we must ensure any changes they make to their home heating leads to a positive outcome.”
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Martyn Bridges, director of external affairs at Worcester Bosch said: We believe this is really good for a number of oil and LPG users in the UK. There are a few reasons why we’ve seen this announcement. First, it is driven by the volatility of oil prices since the crisis in the Middle East, which has seen domestic heating oil prices double.
Secondly, it is also likely down to the estimated underspend (as of 31 March) of the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) of around £65m, which signals that growth in retrofit heat pumps is starting to flatline and further action is required to make this government policy look like it’s succeeding. While finance is a big motivator, I think it’s not the only factor in people’s reluctance to change from a boiler system to a heat pump system. There are many thousands of homes with an externally sited oil-fired combination boiler, and whilst a heat pump sits outside the property, the required hot water storage cylinder is mostly installed inside, where space is precious – meaning it’s not a good fit for households that simply don’t have the internal room to spare.
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