Kensa Heat Pumps is trialling a new storage heat pump technology which could make heat pumps up to a third cheaper to run than a gas boiler, based on current UK energy markets.
The thermal battery capacity of the storage heat pumps means they can hold heat energy for a significant amount of time. This separates the demand for heat and hot water from its generation, meaning that the units can be run when electricity is at its cheapest and the heat stored for use later when it is needed. This is called ‘load-shifting’.
Homeowners can take advantage of incentives or flexible time-of-use energy tariffs that encourage off peak electricity usage, when electricity is plentiful, and typically lower cost and lower carbon. The heat pumps analyse energy price forecasts and make charging decisions to take advantage of lower off-peak pricing which, when combined with smart controls, ensures that occupants will always be warm and comfortable whilst saving money.
Dan Roberts, director of technical at Kensa Heat Pumps, says: “In Kensa’s 20-year history as ground source heat pump market leaders we are yet to discover a more disruptive update to heat pump technology since the refrigeration cycle was patented in 1803.
“Through direct integration of thermal storage into the refrigeration cycle and the de-coupling of the homeowners heat and hot water demand from its generation, we can reduce running costs without compromising on people’s thermal comfort.”
Five prototypes of the flexible storage heat pump have been installed into properties owned by Stonewater Housing Association, as part of The Energy Superhub Oxford project.
By load shifting the flexible ground source heat pumps to operate and store heat at lower cost times in line with dynamic flexible-use tariffs, typically overnight, Kensa has recorded savings of a third against the properties’ standard fixed tariffs on gas, whilst maintaining the comfort levels of the residents, and saving carbon due to the off-peak electricity’s lower carbon intensity.
