12 July 2023
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Global certification body Eurovent Certita Certification (ECC) has published a new white paper encouraging the UK to embrace heat pump technology.
Installing Efficient Heat Pumps: A Challenge of Environmental Transition details the difficulties and opportunities facing the UK heating market as it moves away from fossil fuel boilers. It further highlights the importance of installing highly energy efficient heat pumps in the challenge to decarbonise over 30 million heating and hot water systems in homes and businesses by 2050.
The ECC publication gives an overview of aerothermal and geothermal heat pumps, and the issues in achieving carbon neutrality. Covering the background of decarbonisation, the factors driving heat pump sales, and the obstacles faced by the sector at large, the white paper moves on to practical installation advice, highlighting the huge impact that installation conditions have on the energy performance of systems.
Citing the untapped potential of geothermal heat pumps - ground source heat pumps (GSHP) and water source heat pumps (WSHP) - the white paper explores the market in the UK, warning that it is currently underestimated by both manufacturers and installers. Geothermal energy is said to offer a significant opportunity because the terrain is favourable in many regions, and many towns and cities are crossed by large rivers.
In addition, the revision of F-Gas Regulations and development of low Global Warming Potential (GWP) refrigerants are also discussed, along with energy performance certification, which is key to enabling those specifying systems to choose the right product for every project. Covering MCS (Microgeneration Certification Scheme) for heat pumps and Eurovent Certified Performance (ECP), the white paper says certification is vital to ensuring the roll-out of reliable, high performing heat pump systems.
Sylvain Courtey, president of Eurovent Certita Certification, said: “While globally we all face the challenges of decarbonisation, the UK’s previous reliance on gas means a swift and all-encompassing shift in energy and technology is required to meet net zero. Heat pumps, and in particular geothermal heat pumps, offer enormous potential and a solid solution to the UK’s heating dilemma. While that does not come without substantial challenges, vast benefits can be harnessed by installing optimally designed and installed heat pumps, which perform exactly as expected.”
As a third-party certifying body, ECC says it is dedicated to promoting efficient and environmentally friendly heat pump installations and believes the white paper offers an in-depth overview of installation best practices to contribute to the green transition, and foster sustainable and efficient heating and cooling solutions.
The white paper can be downloaded at the Eurovent Certita Certification website.
