Water, air and ground source heat pump systems are amongst the most exciting energy technologies available today and are set to make up an important part of the UK’s energy mix by combining reliability with high levels of efficiency and the potential for substantial carbon reduction.

Commercial & Industrial Heat Pumps

Delivering Heat Pump Projects

Large-scale applications of heat pumps are relatively new to the UK and we have successfully installed the UK’s largest water source heat pump at Queens Quay, Clydebank, which will see two 2.65MW heat pumps extract energy from the river Clyde to provide heat and hot water to surrounding homes and businesses. We are also delivering a retrofit heat pump project in Southwark where heat will be extracted from water using ‘open loop’ supplied Water Source Heat Pumps and when completed, the technology will become the primary heat source for the heat, supplying low carbon heat to 2,175 homes. in the Consort, Newington and Wyndham housing estates.

  • reducing-carbon
    55% Reduction in CO2 emissions factor electricity under 2018 draft version of the new Standard Assessment Procedure
  • heat-pump
    250% Seasonal coefficient of performance for Water Source Heat Pumps
  • success
    300% Peak efficiency performance for Water Source Heat Pumps
  • heat-pump
    25 Heat pump projects delivered & in development

What Is A Heat Pump System?

Heat pump heating systems take the ambient heat from a source, such as the ground, water or air, and then boost it to provide low-temperature heating and hot water.  Importantly, each of these types of heat pump systems has the ability to provide cooling as well, making them useful for the warmer summer months when the heating would normally go to waste.

Unlike traditional heating methods, which often rely on carbon-intense fossil fuels, heat pumps are powered by electricity which can come from renewables, or directly from the national grid.  This, combined with high coefficients of performance makes them an attractive choice for anyone looking to find a financially viable way to decarbonise. For information on selecting a Heat Pump hear from our experts on the 5 key considerations.

How are Heat Pumps energy and carbon efficient?

Heat pumps rely on electricity; their environmental credentials are often tied to the national grid, but as this decarbonises, heat pumps provide greater carbon reductions and are now regularly considered as a potential solution for projects of all sizes.  With access to growing resources of renewable electricity, electrification of the UK’s heating infrastructure is a core strategic ambition and heat pumps are perfectly aligned with planned updates to legislation.

This optimism for the technology is shared by the UK government, with The Energy Secretary describing water source heat pumps as "game changing" and the government setting a target for 4.5million domestic heat pumps across the UK in addition to commercial and industrial installations.

Key Benefits

  • chp
    Key technology to address the Energy Trilemma
  • reducing-carbon
    BREEAM credits can be gained through the consideration of heat pumps alone via a Low Zero Carbon (LZC) feasibility study in accordance with ENE-04.
  • epc
    Zero on-site emissions therefore improving air quality
  • home-house
    55% reduction in CO2 emissions factor electricity under 2018 draft version of the new Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP)
  • reducing-carbon
    Grid carbon factor is predicted to decrease by over 87% between 2018 and 2044, with heat pump carbon emissions decreasing by a similar amount over that period.
  • percentage-increase
    20% carbon reduction over Part L (This is 35% for the GLA London Plan.)

Ambient Loop & 5th Generation Heat Network Solutions

Vital Energi Ambient Loop Graphic

5th generation district heating has steered the possibility of schemes which can operate at ultra-low temperatures (as low as 20°C/10°C flow and return), making a new type of heat pump technology viable.

Ambient Loop schemes are a next generation technology which has the potential to transform the way we generate and use heat whilst delivering large carbon savings and meeting the government’s ambition of electrifying heat generation. The system works by generating hot water from a central heat sources, such as an air, ground or water source heat pump. This water is circulated in a closed loop system and customers extract heat from this loop and then boost it via individual heat pumps within their properties to create heating and hot water.

As legislation and planning requirements become increasingly stringent, especially with regards to carbon emissions, it is predicted ambient loop systems will play a large part in the future of the UK’s heat generation mix.

Solution detail
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