ENERGY EFFICIENCY
FULL STEAM AHEAD FOR STIEBEL ELTRON With a long history and strong reputation in German engineered energy efficient hot water, heating and ventilation products, Stiebel Eltron needs little by way of introduction. But how are things shaping up in a world that has been shaken up?
THE DESIRE AMONG HOMEOWNERS to ‘future proof’
water and air source heat have advantages under that
their homes has always been welcomed by home
system and in the future with demand management
heating and cooling manufacturer Stiebel Eltron, and
and a two-sided grid these solutions will be even more
demand is only set to strengthen in the months and
popular. That is due to the energy savings, operating
years ahead as people become more conscious of their
outside of peak times and possible extra revenue from
energy use and patterns.
exported energy.”
As Glenn Day told Smart Energy, the mission of Stiebel Eltron is to promote energy-efficient hot water, heating and cooling appliances and compete with centralised gas plants, which are less efficient with energy and water, and cannot be offset by renewables. “We are keen to promote the ‘future of electric’ message as much as we can and transition from gas powered systems. What we are finding now, despite the global upheaval caused by the pandemic in recent months, is interesting: there is continued strong community support for energy efficient appliances,” the National Sales Director said. “To a large extent it is business as usual for us despite the unusual times. “Our product range is deemed an essential service, people need the basics of hot water and home heating and cooling, and we continue to provide just that.” More on that hot topic later, however it is fair to say that market turmoil is not an unfamiliar concept to the family-owned company that has been around for almost a century and in that time has successfully traded and continued to expand throughout the Great Depression, numerous recessions and the Second World War.
Australian operations
Stiebel Eltron’s traditional electronically controlled compact decentralised electric water systems have long been popular for apartments and offices, however during the past 10 years Stiebel’s renewable products range has become increasingly popular. More homeowners are installing air source and ground source heat pumps for hot water loads as well as heating and cooling. Hydronic heating systems have also surged in popularity. The ease of operating these solutions from rooftop PV or self-generated energy at the consumer’s home is also boosting demand, and homeowners relish the prospect of drawing little or no energy from the grid. An Internet Service Gateway connected to the heat pumps enabling PV to optimise load to storage tanks for use when it’s not sunny or windy increases the systems’ benefits. “The market drivers have not just been from consumers who want to future proof their homes but also from government standards, and various state and federal incentives. The Renewable Energy Target has of
It wasn’t until 1995 the company entered the then
course facilitated the uptake of heat pumps through the
fledgling Australian market.
supply of STCs.
The challenge 25 years ago was the market for heat
Stiebel Eltron’s domestic heat pump range WWK was
pumps was not mature enough in Australia but that has
designed to meet all climate zones in Australia and can
changed, particularly during the past seven years, says
receive STCs all around the country as well as [energy
Glenn Day, who believes the momentum will continue.
efficiency programs] VEECs in Victoria and REES in
“The continued strong uptake of PV and possibility of a two-sided electrical market will act as drivers of self-generation of energy for self-consumption. Our hot
38 AUTUMN 2020
Renewable technologies demand and drivers
South Australia. But some policies and schemes are outdated and require an overhaul, according to Day, in particular
