Innovation in technology to heat a continent Baxi

innovation in technology to heat a continent

Since becoming part of BDR Thermea ten years ago, Italy’s Baxi has accelerated its development of green solutions for Europe’s heating market

Baxi SpA, the leader in Italy’s heating and air-conditioning sector, has been responsible for many of the country’s most ambitious heating projects. One of the most technologically innovative of these was the recent delivery of a hybrid system for heating and domestic hot water for 62 newly built apartments near the San Siro Stadium in Milan.

The solution adopted for the project was the installation - by Nuova Impianti SpA of Malagnino (CR) - of three high-power floor-standing condensing boilers in combination with three heat pumps and four boilers. The heat pumps and condensing boilers serve the heating system and work with a hybrid logic according to the external air temperature. Domestic hot water is guaranteed through pre-heating by the heat pumps and by subsequent integration with the boilers.

The hybrid system represents the optimal solution in all seasons since it makes use of different technologies to take full account of the seasonal climatic conditions. In summer, the heat pumps preheat the water up to a temperature of 35°C, then the boilers start operating to reach a temperature of 55-60°C. In winter, on the other hand, the heat pumps have priority until the external temperature drops below 8-9 ° C; the boilers intervene when the external temperatures are lower as they are more efficient in those conditions.

The advantages derived from the use of a hybrid system are both economic and environmental. Hybrid systems considerably reduce CO2 emissions, making them an important part of Baxi’s continuing commitment to green solutions.

At the leading edge

Since 2009, Baxi has been a part of BDR Thermea, one of Europe’s largest manufacturers and distributors of domestic and commercial water and space heating systems. Founded in 2009, BDR Thermea is headquartered in the Netherlands and employs more than 6,500 people in more than 100 countries worldwide, with leading positions in Europe, North America, Turkey, Russia and China. The Group, with a turnover of 1.8 billion euros in 2018, operates under renowned international market-leading brands including De Dietrich, Baxi, Remeha, Brötje, Chappée and Baymak.

First established in Italy as an enamelling shop in 1925, Baxi SpA is today a modern technology-driven company that occupies one of the largest industrial sites in Europe and has a production capac-

ity of over 4,000 boilers per day. It has been at the leading edge of technological development in the heating industry with its pioneering heat pump heating systems, hybrid systems and, most recently, with the first hydrogen-powered premix condensing domestic boiler.

Over the years another fundamental aspect of Baxi’s DNA has become increasingly evident - its commitment to green solutions. In 2018, Baxi equipped its Bassano plant with 3,600 solar panels, with which it satisfies 25 per cent of its total annual energy demand and 100 per cent of that for the production of boilers.

“The challenge we are engaged in today is sustainability and zero environmental impact. This is why we have created cutting-edge technology to heat water without threatening the environment,” says General Manager of Baxi, Ing. Alberto Favero. He points to the latest evolution of Baxi, the H2, hydrogen boiler. H2 is the result of years of research, a product developed for the energy transition, with zero emissions.

Today Baxi’s product range includes condensing boilers, conventional boilers, heat pumps and hybrid systems, solar systems, heat metering and air conditioning systems.

In a world where consumer expectations are growing continuously, Baxi recognises that it is essential to be able to offer services that meet these expectations. It has developed “BAXI AL TUO SIDE”, the new monitoring & management system that allows remote management and constant monitoring of the plant with support available in real time. And the Baxi Plus 10-year warranty program allows the end user to extend the Baxi Conventional Warranty of the new boiler up to 10 years and thus enjoy a long period of peace of mind, protected from any unexpected expense.

The hydrogen future

On 25 Jun 2020, the world’s first hydrogen powered domestic boiler will be put into operation in Rozenburg, the Netherlands. Developed by Baxi’s parent company, BDR Thermea Group,

this ground-breaking boiler burns pure hydrogen that has been produced by wind or solar energy without releasing any CO2. Gas network provider Stedin, the company that initiated the project, is responsible for the production and supply of the sustainably produced hydrogen. The boiler was developed by BDR Thermea Group’s Research and Development (R&D) team in Italy. After the successful first pilot in the Netherlands, which is being carried out by the Group’s Dutch subsidiary Remeha, it is now carrying out a larger scale field trial in the UK. New opportunities for projects in other European countries are now being explored as part of the broader, panEuropean development of this technology.

“The development of a hydrogen boiler is part of BDR Thermea Group’s solutions for decarbonising heating”, says Bertrand Schmitt, CEO of BDR Thermea Group. “Power to gas (hydrogen) is a necessary technology if we want to store sustainably generated energy over a longer period of time, as abundant wind and solar energy is not always immediately available, such as during the winter. With the new hydrogen boiler, along with our fuel cell appliances, we are firmly committed to making the built environment more sustainable.” n