All hands to the tech

Can an app influence the success of the heat pump roll out? Griff Thomas from Thormer Solutions explains some of the common pitfalls of heat pump installation, and discusses whether software solutions can streamline the process for installers and their customers.

Electric heat pumps are one of the best solutions we have for reducing our reliance on fossil fuels. The technology is well-developed and widely used in European countries, plus electricity generation in England, Scotland and Wales is cleaner than ever, growing from less than 20% renewable to almost 50% in just over a decade.

In the UK, the heat pump sector is expanding rapidly, but it’s still relatively new. Switching from gas central heating to heat pumps powered by electricity requires a change in mindset for both installers and homeowners. We need to do more to demystify the technology and promote greater awareness and understanding of its potential.

How is the heat pump roll-out going?

Latest figures show there were 1.48 heat pumps installed per 1,000 households in the UK last year – far fewer than the 15.3 per 1,000 the Climate Change Committee (CCC) estimates we need to achieve net zero by 2050.

The roll-out is underway, but we need to do more.

The government has promised to shift levies from electricity to gas and is investing £60 million through the Heat Pump Ready Programme to support the development of innovative solutions across the heat pump sector (part of the £1 billion Net Zero Innovation Portfolio (NZIP).

The total investment is huge – £1.6 billion per annum to get heat pumps on a par with gas, plus an additional £1.58 billion of subsidies for fuel energy pricing on electricity – showing that the government is committed to make heat pumps happen.

But it’s not just increasing the trajectory of installations. By focussing on this only, we minimise the importance of quality. It is critical that we get heat pump installations right first time – fixing problems costs money and will dent consumer confidence.

What can go wrong with heat pump installations?

Griff says that in his auditing work, he has seen a lot of poor installations suffering from problems that could easily be avoided if engineers had better access to simple tools and easy-to-use apps. Heat pumps are not a like for like replacement for oil or gas and should never be treated as such. They must be specified for the specific needs of the home rather than oversized – as is traditional with fossil fuel heating systems.

To correctly specify the heat pump, radiators/heat emitters (underfloor heating works particularly well with heat pump systems) and cylinder, room-by-room heat loss calculations are required. These calculations must be to a knife edge – any inaccuracies could lead to insufficient heating, cold rooms and high energy bills.

Heat loss calculations should take into account a range of factors, including:

• The size of the space that needs heating • The potential of the building to retain heat, including U values (how quickly and at what rate a building material will conduct heat) of walls, floors, roof insulations, windows and doors • Air change rate • Expected comfort temperatures • Lowest expected temperatures for the location

For example, under ‘standard’ conditions (most heat pumps are tested at an ambient temperature of 7°C and a flow temperature of 35°C) a 13kW air source heat pump (ASHP) would provide significantly less output at – 2°C than with a flow temperature of 55°C.

If the output is too low, it will result in a large bill and a cold house. If the output is too high, the system could be prone to short cycling – turning on and off too often – which could lead to poor efficiencies and faults.

For efficient operation, water must be stored at the lowest possible temperature, for example, 45°C will allow for a slight heat loss through the pipes to produce at least

In the UK, the heat pump sector is expanding rapidly, but it’s still relatively new

40°C through the tap. Accurate heat loss calculations allow engineers to specify a new cylinder or weigh up the pros and cons of keeping the existing one.

Isn’t there an app for that?

The latest developments in software and technology can simplify the process of heat pump specification, installation and commissioning to ensure our new heat pump systems are fit for the future.

Work is underway right now to make this a reality. Thormer Solutions has recently won funding from the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy’s (BEIS) Heat Pump Ready Programme to develop an app that helps installers to avoid common pitfalls of installation and improve overall quality.

‘Total Heat Pump Installation Solution’ (THIS) facilitates fully interactive and intuitive system design for installers, while utilising technologies such as 2D/3D modelling and AR/VR to give end-users a better understanding of their finished system.

The tech revolution is coming

Innovations in technology can provide a one-stop shop for heat pump systems, including design (automated, with the option of manual amendments), installation and commissioning. Survey time can be reduced using the latest solutions for rapid measurement of buildings. Interactive technical drawings provide a detailed layout for ease of installation.

With all this information at their fingertips, heat pump engineers can improve the quality of their installations and reduce the time spent on paperwork and preliminary preparations, supporting uptake of this important renewable technology.

THIS is looking for input from the industry to develop the app, with opportunities for installers and also stakeholders, such as heat pump manufacturers. To find out how you can get involved, please visit the website below.

Thormer Solutions, thormer.co.uk