BetaTalk - The Renewable Energy and Low Carbon Heating Podcast Innovation in Heat Pump Technology - A Heat Pump Ready Episode
Sep 8, 2025
Nathan welcomes Richard Barwick, a retrofit project manager focused on social housing, Russell Murchie, co-founder of Nusku bringing innovative heat pump solutions, and Christopher Taylor from Vital Energy, who specializes in high-temp heat-pump technology. They explore advancements in heat pump installation efficiency, the impact of archetype-led retrofits for social landlords, and upcoming innovations in thermal storage. The discussion highlights the need for better contractor training and emphasizes cloud monitoring for maintenance, promising an exciting future in low-carbon heating.
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Standardised External Heat Pump Packages
- Nusku and Vital Energy both developed externally sited, standardized heat pump packages to simplify installations and speed deployment.
- Standardisation enables prefabrication, shared spares, faster maintenance, and potential heat-as-a-service models.
Pair Fabric Works With Heat Service Offers
- Combine fabric retrofit with heat pump installs to reduce demand and enable cheaper, reliable zero-bills offers.
- Coordinate with energy suppliers and DNOs early to manage electrical load constraints and tariff eligibility.
Hydraulic Separation Protects Existing Systems
- Embedding a HIU and phase-change storage in an external unit isolates the building from dirty or corroded internal systems.
- That hydraulic separation protects internal pipework and simplifies connection to multiple flats.