www.heatingandventilating.net
more than comparable gas boilers and, despite their efficiency, running costs are not low due to the price of electricity compared to gas in this country. On the plus side, heat pumps have a long lifespan and have minimal moving parts that need to be replaced or maintained. However, these costs remain a real stumbling block for many. In such a scenario, a compromise can be achieved that makes considerable
steps towards decarbonised heating, but with a more affordable price tag: the hybrid heating system.
Hybrid heating systems explained
A hybrid system essentially has heat pumps as the primary heating system, with gas boilers as the ‘top up’ at times when there is high demand or external temperatures are particularly low. Cascading wall hung commercial condensing boilers, such as our Evomax 2 or the floor standing Imax Xtra 2, are ideal for a hybrid system as a higher modulation ratio is achieved, so gas usage is far more efficient. With a large single boiler, it would cycle on and off, using considerably more fuel than strictly necessary. This hybrid approach is receiving a lot of interest from customers and is one of the reasons we designed our ECOMOD heat pumps with the capability to be installed alongside other Ideal Heating solutions. When it comes to system design and installation, the same principles are
followed as with a standard commercial heating system and the boilers and heat pumps have all the connectivity required to interface with the building management system on site that will need to be programmed to allow for the switch between the systems. That switch from one system to the other could even be based upon energy pricing, so when electricity is too expensive the system switches over to the gas boilers.
Hybrid heating systems: the benefits
Hybrid heating systems help bridge the gap between reliance on fossil fuel burning boilers and low carbon heat pumps. It enables public sector bodies who have not been successful with their PSDS funding bid to move towards decarbonisation without the high capital cost. Of course, this also makes hybrid systems suitable for privately owned buildings where cost is a big factor too. On top of this, meeting the heat load of an older, poorly insulated property can
be expensive from a heat pump alone, typically due to the size and fabric of the building. Even in these properties where retrofitting insulation and improving the air tightness of a building is possible, the cost of doing so may be prohibitive. A hybrid heating system provides more affordable running costs and ensures the properties are heated adequately, where a heat pump, with its lower operating temperatures, may struggle.
Hybrid heating in action
As part of its sustainability strategy that embraces responsible energy management, Tinsley Meadows Primary School in Sheffield has taken this hybrid approach. They have installed two Ideal Heating Commercial ECOMOD 14kW air source heat pumps running in a hydraulic cascade. These have been installed alongside two wall hung Evomax 2 40kW commercial condensing boilers, for a low carbon hybrid heating system, offering lower running costs and comfort all year round. Chris Snowden, Technical Operations Manager at Service 2 that installed the system, explains the hybrid approach taken at Tinsley Meadows: “the ECOMOD heat pumps have been designed to be the main heating source, backed up by the new gas boilers at times of heavy demand. It means the school always has sufficient heating without relying solely on gas.”
Conclusion
The PSDS is an excellent scheme but as with seemingly everything in the public sector, there’s simply not enough money to go around and many organisations will be left disappointed when the results of Phase 4 are announced. But decarbonisation aspirations don’t have to end there. By adopting a hybrid heating system approach, public sector bodies can bridge the gap between fossil fuel and decarbonised heating systems without the hefty price tag of the latter.
DOWNLOAD THE HVR APP NOW Find your nearest stockist:
rexnordic.uk I 01355 377 370 March 2025 19 WHY CHOOSE REX NORDIC?
REX NORDIC cooling solutions for large spaces and targeted cooling – for industry, events, agriculture, and other demanding environments.
❱❱ LOW POWER CONSUMPTION,
HIGH PERFORMANCE! ❱❱ SAVE UP TO
ON ENERGY COSTS WITH TARGETED COOLING!
30%
❱❱ EFFICIENT evaporative coolers:
airflow max. 48,000 m³/h! Air conditioners: 19,000-60,000 Btu!
❱❱ PLUG & PLAY Easy to use.
No permanent installation required.
❱❱ RELIABLE 2+1 year warranty
Nationwide service network
Efficient portable air coolers for professionals
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
