The launch of the air source heat pump (ASHP) took place during the 2016 International Low Carbon Heat & Water Conference and Showcase, held at Glasgow’s Royal Concert Hall in late February. Guests attending the event had a rare opportunity to see the pump in action under test conditions at a facility where the new series of Robot Wars is currently being filmed.
The 700 kilowatt heat pump incorporates a reverse cycle hot gas defrost and active control system which is designed to maximise uptime and efficiency and can generate temperatures of up to 65 degrees C, thereby providing 3 units of heat for each unit of energy consumed. It is the latest in a long line of innovations developed by a team of experts from Star Renewable Energy, Glasgow Housing Association (GHA), British Gas and consultants WSP Parsons Brinckerhoff.
The Neatpump air source heat pump is part of an affordable, low carbon heating solution developed to meet decarbonisation targets without the cost, complexity and constraints associated with many renewable energy systems. It doesn’t need fuel deliveries or constant attendance and has minimal environmental impact.
“A clean air, decarbonised society in 2035 will need heatpumps capable of retrofit, not just other ways of burning stuff” said Mr David Pearson, Star Renewable Energy Director. “We are thrilled to be able to show attendees exactly what it can do for them and their businesses.”
Mr Pearson added that extensive modelling and real-life testing have demonstrated the pump’s ability to deliver effective and affordable heating to existing social housing, generating a 53 percent reduction in carbon footprint which will fall even further as the grid is decarbonised. The pump will therefore play an important role in the delivery of cleaner, lower-cost heating for households.
The pump is currently being tested under real weather conditions outside Star’s factory where it has been confirmed to exceed modelling performance targets. As one of the largest social landlords in the UK, GHA has been focusing on the delivery of lower costs and lower carbon solutions for its customers, driving the initial assessment process. The GHA will also lead the deployment project once the heatpump has been fully tested and is ready to be despatched.
British Gas brought their design, project management and commercial skills in to deliver an innovative “wet system” design, which, when put in conjunction with SRE’s pioneering design, has been proven to break temperature and efficiency barriers.
WSP Parsons Brinckerhoff, recognising that utilisation of low district heating temperatures would be the key to success, developed a fully integrated system design to maximise heat pump efficiency and deliver effective heating within the practical constraints of retrofitting to existing housing stock.
“I think it goes without saying that heat pumps are starting to offer a different type of solution to tackle carbon reduction on a large scale for generating heat” said Robert Kilpatrick, an Assistant Director (Development & Operations) of University of Strathclyde Glasgow. “It’s a fantastic new development here which compliments the water source heat pumps that Star have already had some achievement on – well done to them.”
Star Renewable Energy has been at the forefront of innovation in the world of renewable heating since 2009, when parent company Star Refrigeration launched a range of high efficiency “natural working fluid” heat pumps – a move which was the first step in creating the award winning Neatpumps.
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