BOILERS, PUMPS & VALVES
WHAT CAN BE DONE TO
INCREASE HEAT PUMP UPTAKE?
Heat pumps are a secure and sustainable heating solution, which promise to
lead the way to decarbonising the built environment. However, take-up in the UK has been slower than expected despite Government-backed incentives. So what is holding homeowners back and what can be done to increase the number of installations? Andrew Hey, a senior associate and Cleantech sector specialist at European IP firm, Withers & Rogers, comments
A
ccording to data released by Heat Pumps London, just 414 heat pumps per 100,000
people have been installed in the UK, with only 55,000 sold in 2022, compared to 620,000 in France. Despite slower sales in the UK than in some European countries, heat pumps are becoming increasingly popular, particularly at a time of rising energy prices. Their growing appeal is largely down to enhanced efficiency, as well as the UK Government’s decision to ban gas boilers from new-build homes by 2025.
WHY INVEST IN HEAT PUMPS? The are many reasons why investing in a ground source or air source heat pump is a good idea. Heat pumps are much more energy efficient than combustion-based HVAC systems. They generate three times more heat per unit of energy than a fossil-fuel heating system. With a lifespan of around 25 years, they also have a much lower carbon footprint than gas boilers, and they require less maintenance and servicing. According to the Energy Savings Trust, the capital
outlay required to buy and install a air source heat pump in the UK is typically around £14,000, depending on the preferred solution and the siting of the installation. Even with the Boiler Upgrade Scheme – which is currently offering homeowners in England and Wales a grant of £7,500 to switch to a low-carbon heating system, and
Solutions to improve heat pump performance in cold weather are being developed
other support for low-income households – this upfront investment is significant. In addition to taking steps to reduce the up-front
cost of heat pump installation, innovators have been exploring ways to boost system efficiency even further to reduce running costs and the pay-back time for the initial outlay. One key area of focus is the compressor, which uses an electric motor to push refrigerant around the system. For example, Johnson Controls has developed an advanced variable capacity compressor that can be dynamically controlled to deliver enhanced heat pump efficiency.
NEW SOLUTIONS Innovators are seeking solutions to other technological problems too. For example, heat pumps typically become less efficient in extremely cold weather and can struggle to operate below -10˚C. To improve their efficiency in such conditions, UK-based Kensa has developed a means of integrating a thermal battery to store heat from the refrigerant as it moves through the system. Another technique for improving the efficiency
of air source heat pumps in cold weather is set out in a US patent granted to Carrier Corp. The patent describes how an ‘ejector mode’ can be used at low ambient temperature ranges, and disabled at higher temperature ranges. The industry is also exploring ways to optimise the efficiency of the heat exchanger in air source heat pumps. For example, a US patent granted to Mitsubishi Electric Corp describes how heat from both the atmosphere and an alternative heat source, such as geothermal energy, can be used to melt any frost that accumulates on the heat exchanger during use. This technology is aimed at improving efficiency by preventing frost accumulation, which can impede performance. It also minimises the
18 ENERGY & SUSTAINABILITY SOLUTIONS - Summer 2024
need for periodic defrosting, which interrupts heating and consumes additional energy.
WHAT IF YOU LIVE IN A FLAT OR TERRACED HOUSE? Another challenge for heat pumps to overcome relates to their installation, particularly in densely populated areas with terraced housing or blocks of flats, with little or no outdoor space between them. In these situations, developers or collaborative homeowners could improve the sustainability of their homes by installing a ground source heat pump system for shared use. Kensa, which specialises in ground source heat
pumps for difficult-to-install areas, provides ‘networked heat pumps’, which offer an efficient low-carbon heating and cooling solution for multiple properties. Suited to new-build developments and existing multi-dwelling constructions, two or more ground source heat pumps are installed close to one another and connected to in-street pipework. These networks absorb heat at a year-round constant 10˚C and deliver it to individual heat pumps in people’s homes. Whilst ground source heat pumps can be more complex and costly to install, a shared ownership initiative can bring down the cost per household significantly.
PROTECTING INNOVATIONS Last year, the European Patent Office (EPO) saw a 28% rise in patent filings in technical areas related to clean technology as a whole, and we continue to see high levels of patenting activity in the heat pump sector. This means it is even more important for
companies designing heat pumps to stay alert to the developing patent landscape and to prioritise identifying and protecting their own innovations to maintain their competitive advantage in this fast-paced industry.
Withers & Rogers
www.withersrogers.com
www.essmag.co.uk
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