The ‘Evaluating solar PV with electric heating’ project installed 18 solar PV systems and 11 Mixergy smart hot water cylinders in socially rented homes. The Mixergy cylinders all had solar diverters which could use excess solar PV generation to power the immersion heater for free.

The ‘Evaluating solar PV with electric heating’ project installed solar PV systems in properties with air-source heat pumps (ASHP), infrared heating panels and electric storage heaters with and without battery storage.

The ‘Evaluating solar PV with electric heating’ project assessed the benefits of installing solar PV systems in social housing with different types of electric heating. The properties had a mix of air-source heat pumps (ASHP), infrared heating panels and electric storage heaters with and without battery storage.

‘Making heat cheaper, smarter and greener’ was an Energy Industry Voluntary Redress Scheme Innovation project.

This document is intended to be used as a guide by local authorities, housing associations, manufacturers and installers, and other organisations involved in the delivery of heat pumps in fuel poor homes.

The project involves the installation and monitoring of 5kW Mitsubishi Ecodan Hybrid Air Source Heat Pumps interfaced with existing oil boilers (Hybrid ASHP) into 10 properties. The Hybrid ASHP is designed to work with the existing oil-fired boiler currently used as the main source of space and water heating. The hybrid ASHP works in combination with the existing boiler, operating when the outside air temperature is above a pre-set level. Below this level the existing oil-fired boiler will heat the property to ensure that the ASHP operates at the optimum efficiency.

This project part-funded the installation of a Gas Absorption Heat Pump (GAHP) into a sheltered housing scheme that was undergoing major refurbishment. Project partners Colchester Borough Homes had already installed one GAHP into a sheltered housing scheme with positive feedback. However, they wanted more information about the efficiency and cost effectiveness of the GAHP.

This project installed a hybrid combination of a Mitsubishi air-source heat pump (ASHP) with novel Solar Angel PV-T (PV and thermal) solar panels in 21 homes, to provide a “whole house” approach, in rural properties not connected to mains gas in Norton, Kent and Iden, East Sussex.

The project comprises the replacement of the heating and hot water systems of two residential sheltered blocks whose residents are over 55 years of age. The main block comprises 41 flats; the second and smaller block to the rear of the main block comprises 15 flats.