BOILERS, PUMPS & VALVES


ARE HEAT PUMPS THE KEY TO DECARBONISING OUR HOMES?


The first hydrogen powered village trial was billed as a potentially game changing


moment for the creation of sustainable homes. Scrapped after residents rejected the plans, its failure shows the need to focus on the technologies which have the most realistic chance of succeeding in a rapid energy transition. Crucially, it overlooked the use of heat pumps. Mark McManus, managing director, STIEBEL ELTRON UK, explains how heat pumps could be the silver bullet needed for decarbonising homes


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arlier this year a proposed hydrogen village trial was scrapped after residents rejected the


plans amid concerns around safety, efficacy and ensuing costs. The proposals, set for the village of Whitby in Ellesmere Port, aimed to explore the feasibility of transitioning from natural gas to hydrogen by utilising the existing network. Faced with the proposition, savvy and informed consumers did their research. They knew the subject matter, they considered the potential pitfalls and risks and, based on their knowledge, they pushed back against it while voicing their desire for technologies which better suited their needs, instead favouring alternatives such as heat pumps. With residents feeling like ‘lab rats’, Minister for Energy Efficiency and Green Finance, Lord Callanan, confirmed the trial would not go ahead. While the world looks to implement greener


initiatives, decarbonising the home environment remains a challenge. But it’s a task which renewable heating products supplier, STIEBEL ELTRON, is looking to rise to.


THE RIGHT SOLUTIONS Transitioning towards sustainable heating resources in homes brings with it difficulties. Having become used to gas boilers, residents meet new and emerging technologies with caution and rightly prefer methods which not only have a proven track record, but which offer the best chance of a future proof solution. So, when looking to move away from fossil fuel powered heating systems, they choose technologies where widespread adoption has been backed by energy experts. Solutions presented to consumers need


to be practical, viable and effective – and need to perform as well as a traditional boiler. Heat pump technology is all the above. Extracting thermal energy from the air, ground, or a local water source, which is then converted by the pump to heat the home, they have been heating homes successfully across the world for decades. With the main source of heat generation coming


from the environment itself, energy required to generate necessary heating for dwellings is vastly


“With low running


costs, no emissions and relatively straightforward to install, heat pumps are set to play a vital role in the coming years”


reduced when compared to other methods. Nor do they generally require upgrades to existing infrastructure – unlike hydrogen, which will require replacement or complete conversion of the entire natural gas pipe network with huge associated costs and time implications. Heat pumps also reduce the need for fuel storage, have a long service life, and require little maintenance. With low running costs, no emissions, and relatively straightforward to install, heat pumps are set to play a vital role in the coming years as we drive the urgent decarbonisation of homes across the country. Indeed, the Government has placed an onus on the use of heat pumps in domestic settings, giving itself a target of installing some


600,000 heat pumps per year by 2028.


TRAINING INSTALLERS It has been estimated that in the UK there are only 3,000 qualified engineers who can carry out heat pump installations from start to finish. To meet the Government’s goals, this would need to increase exponentially to 27,000. The UK has an untapped market to change


this, however, with around 120,000 gas boiler installers available, all of whom have the recognised expertise of heating systems and


30 ENERGY & SUSTAINABILITY SOLUTIONS - Autumn 2023


With demand for heat pumps increasing, STIEBEL ELTRON’s UK division created a state-of-the-art training facility at its


headquarters with a view to inspiring the next generation of heat pump installers


building structures. With demand for heat pumps increasing,


STIEBEL ELTRON’s UK division created a state- of-the-art training facility at its headquarters with a view to inspiring the next generation of heat pump installers. Giving trainees valuable hands-on-experience


with the latest industry technology, the training centre features a broad range of ground and air source heat pumps which vary in size and shape, and are used in different situations and projects, such as in commercial settings, houses or flats. This, combined with the company’s post-training support scheme which guides users through installations, means installers will be armed with a rich knowledge which can be applied to a range of projects.


KEEPING UP WITH DEMAND With a view that electricity is the fuel of the future, by investing in these products, as well as in its comprehensive training program, STIEBEL ELTRON aims to boost the industry’s capability to meet heat pump demand across the country. While the decarbonisation of homes represents


a challenge, heat pump technology which offers fully-functioning, renewable energy, which can be installed seamlessly within homes, can be the silver bullet in seeing it come to fruition.


STIEBEL ELTRON UK www.stiebel-eltron.co.uk


www.essmag.co.uk


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