Renewable Energy Renewable Energy The future of heating in rural homes The future of heating in rural homes

Ground source heat pumps can play a significant role in helping to reduce the carbon emissions of rural properties off the gas grid. Jonathan Hancock from NIBE Energy Systems highlights the reasons why they represent a viable solution.

Ground source heat pumps can play a significant role in helping to reduce the carbon emissions of rural properties off the gas grid. Jonathan Hancock from NIBE Energy Systems highlights the reasons why they represent a viable solution.

There are over 1 million off gas grid fossil fuel heated homes in England. These homes use some of the highest carbon heating fuels, including oil and coal. The government aims to phase out off gas grid fossil fuel heating from 2026, meaning if you are not yet offering your customers appropriate low carbon options, your time is running out.

There are over 1 million off gas grid fossil fuel heated homes in England. These homes use some of the highest carbon heating fuels, including oil and coal. The government aims to phase out off gas grid fossil fuel heating from 2026, meaning if you are not yet offering your customers appropriate low carbon options, your time is running out.

At NIBE, we believe GSHPs are a strong option for off grid homes, and a fantastic opportunity for installers looking to diversify their offering.

At NIBE, we believe GSHPs are a strong option for off grid homes, and a fantastic opportunity for installers looking to diversify their offering.

No restrictions

No restrictions

Despite some common misconceptions, a recent government study found that there is no property type or architectural era that is unsuitable for a heat pump. Older, rural properties can be effectively heated by heat pumps and, while challenges may exist in some homes, these are all manageable with careful consideration.

Despite some common misconceptions, a recent government study found that there is no property type or architectural era that is unsuitable for a heat pump. Older, rural properties can be effectively heated by heat pumps and, while challenges may exist in some homes, these are all manageable with careful consideration.

Heat pump systems are beginning to draw attention across the UK as we seek

Heat pump systems are beginning to draw attention across the UK as we seek innovative ways to meet our net zero targets. Not only is the government considering policy mechanisms to phase out high carbon fuels, but consumer interest in low carbon heating systems is also increasing. innovative ways to meet our net zero targets. Not only is the government considering policy mechanisms to phase out high carbon fuels, but consumer interest in low carbon heating systems is also increasing.

The Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS), which gives a £6000 grant for ground source heat pumps (GSHP), is experiencing higher engagement from off gas grid homes than the UK average and the numbers suggest that some 25% of the ground source heat pumps being installed under the scheme are replacing oil boilers.

The Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS), which gives a £6000 grant for ground source heat pumps (GSHP), is experiencing higher engagement from off gas grid homes than the UK average and the numbers suggest that some 25% of the ground source heat pumps being installed under the scheme are replacing oil boilers.

Reliable option

more effective heating system management.

more effective heating system management.

Reliable option

GSHPs are attractive to off gas grid customers because they are more reliable than alternatives – they are unaffected by cold outdoor ambient air temperatures and so maintain efficiency regardless of outside conditions. This is because the ground temperature stays consistent throughout the year at around 10°C.

GSHPs are attractive to off gas grid customers because they are more reliable than alternatives – they are unaffected by cold outdoor ambient air temperatures and so maintain efficiency regardless of outside conditions. This is because the ground temperature stays consistent throughout the year at around 10°C.

Additionally, heat pumps are immune to volatile oil prices, and so provide stable running costs for consumers. They also require less maintenance than comparable fossil fuel systems, saving call-out time for installers.

Additionally, heat pumps are immune to volatile oil prices, and so provide stable running costs for consumers. They also require less maintenance than comparable fossil fuel systems, saving call-out time for installers.

GSHPs are also incredibly versatile, taking heat from multiple sources, including the

GSHPs are also incredibly versatile, taking heat from multiple sources, including the ground, lakes and mineshafts. NIBE’s GSHP range can also be connected to solar PV-T panels for even higher energy efficiency. For ease of installation, GSHPs have more flexible siting options compared to oil tanks as there is no requirement to ensure safe termination of flue gases. ground, lakes and mineshafts.

NIBE’s GSHP range can also be connected to solar PV-T panels for even higher energy efficiency. For ease of installation, GSHPs have more flexible siting options compared to oil tanks as there is no requirement to ensure safe termination of flue gases.

Households adopting GSHPs also benefit from longer lifespans of over 20 years compared to other heating solutions, with boreholes remaining efficient for well over 50 years.

Households adopting GSHPs also benefit from longer lifespans of over 20 years compared to other heating solutions, with boreholes remaining efficient for well over 50 years.

In addition, the cost of retrofitting a GSHP at the end of its life is comparable to other heating systems. Running costs are significantly lower with GSHPs too. Green levies have been removed from electricity bills and will be further reduced through the government’s ambition to rebalance electricity prices to incentivise the electrification of heat. This will further increase demand for GSHP installations as customers will experience even greater energy savings.

In addition, the cost of retrofitting a GSHP at the end of its life is comparable to other heating systems. Running costs are significantly lower with GSHPs too. Green levies have been removed from electricity bills and will be further reduced through the government’s ambition to rebalance electricity prices to incentivise the electrification of heat. This will further increase demand for GSHP installations as customers will experience even greater energy savings.

Information is power

We also recognise that the commissioning process for a heat pump can require frequent adaptations to ensure the install is set up correctly. Constant on-site visits are often not practical for installers and increase costs. That’s why we have created a GSHP range where installers can remotely monitor and troubleshoot performance through the MyUplink pro app. Additionally, to overcome cylinder placement issues, the NIBE S1255 GSHPs comes with a built-in hot water cylinder to deliver a more compact installation.

We also recognise that the commissioning process for a heat pump can require frequent adaptations to ensure the install is set up correctly. Constant on-site visits are often not practical for installers and increase costs. That’s why we have created a GSHP range where installers can remotely monitor and troubleshoot performance through the MyUplink pro app. Additionally, to overcome cylinder placement issues, the NIBE S1255 GSHPs comes with a built-in hot water cylinder to deliver a more compact installation.

Making the switch

Oil installers wishing to diversify into heat pump technology before the fossil fuel heating phase-out date will also be in a stronger position to take advantage of subsidies and incentives aimed at deploying the technology at scale. The benefits of retraining early don’t stop there. With a small majority of oil engineers still taking their first steps in the UK heat pump industry, installers retraining now benefit from a larger market share, with greater demand from consumers.

Making the switch

Oil installers wishing to diversify into heat pump technology before the fossil fuel heating phase-out date will also be in a stronger position to take advantage of subsidies and incentives aimed at deploying the technology at scale. The benefits of retraining early don’t stop there. With a small majority of oil engineers still taking their first steps in the UK heat pump industry, installers retraining now benefit from a larger market share, with greater demand from consumers.

Consumers are increasingly looking for ways to manage their heating systems more efficiently to save them money, and so our GSHPs provide performance information to consumer’s smart devices for

Information is power

Consumers are increasingly looking for ways to manage their heating systems more efficiently to save them money, and so our GSHPs provide performance information to consumer’s smart devices for

Our NIBE Pro scheme is a perfect example of the industry supporting upskilling, with training costs fully redeemable against product purchases through our voucher scheme. The scheme also provides industry leading training and support, and we are confident that its competitive price point will be further bolstered by the recently announced £5 million Heat Training Grant to those wanting to train to install our heat pumps.

◼ phamnews.co.uk/723/24

Our NIBE Pro scheme is a perfect example of the industry supporting upskilling, with training costs fully redeemable against product purchases through our voucher scheme. The scheme also provides industry leading training and support, and we are confident that its competitive price point will be further bolstered by the recently announced £5 million Heat Training Grant to those wanting to train to install our heat pumps.

◼ phamnews.co.uk/723/24