BetaTalk - The Renewable Energy and Low Carbon Heating Podcast

Send us a textWelcome back to the show! In this episode, I'm joined by a good friend and expert in the renewable energy sector, Ken Bone from Ultimate Renewables Supplies. Ken and I dive deep into a topic that's crucial for efficient heating and the future of low-carbon homes: weather compensated heating systems.One of the key points we explore is the apparent lack of understanding within the installer base regarding weather compensation. It's surprising, considering that condensing boilers – mandated way back in 2005 – operate much more efficiently when paired with this intelligent control strategy.But is it fair to point the finger solely at installers? We discuss why it's arguably not their fault. Ken and I explore the possibility that industry associations haven't adequately championed and educated on the benefits of weather compensation. This lack of widespread promotion has left many installers unfamiliar with its implementation and advantages.Our conversation then shifts to the burgeoning heat pump market. Are heat pump manufacturers doing enough to provide user-friendly and effective controls, both for the installer during setup and for the homeowner in their daily use? We examine the current landscape and consider areas for improvement.I also share a bit about the history of the control industry, where the ideal scenario pushed by control manufacturers for many has been individual room-by-room control. However, as Ken astutely points out, this level of granular control is often unnecessary and can overcomplicate things.We also touch on a fascinating aspect of the UK heating market: the observation that certain manufacturers are utilizing the same Chinese OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) for their products. This raises questions about differentiation and the potential for shared underlying technology.A central theme of our discussion revolves around whether these OEMs could produce better weather compensation controls that also incorporate room influence. Can we achieve the best of both worlds – the efficiency of weather compensation fine-tuned by individual room temperature feedback?Towards the end of the episode, we briefly touch upon the important topics of grid flexibility and demand-side response. We discuss how a better understanding and wider adoption of weather compensation by installers could significantly ease the transition to heat pumps and contribute to a more flexible and efficient energy system.This episode is a must-listen for anyone involved in the heating industry, from installers and manufacturers to homeowners interested in optimising their heating systems and understanding the future of home comfort. Join Ken and me as we unravel the mysteries and potential of weather compensated heating!This season is sponsored by Primary Pro, a professional pipe insulation systemSupport the showLearn more about heat pump heating by followingNathan on Linkedin, Twitter and BlueSky

Send us a textIn this eye-opening episode, we delve into the contrasting approaches to water treatment in European domestic heating systems for corrosion prevention. While the UK predominantly champions chemical inhibitor solutions under the EN BS 7593 standard, many European nations embrace a wider range of methods. Surprisingly, some UK chemical inhibitor manufacturers who exclusively promote their products domestically readily offer non-chemical alternatives on the continent. Host Nathan interviews Ricky Prescott from Thoroughflush, who sheds light on the shortcomings of the BS 7593 standard. Ricky argues that manufacturers of chemical inhibitors often fail to provide sufficient information to accurately test heating systems and determine if adequate inhibitor levels are present. Adding to the complexity, while some of the UK's leading heating engineers favor the German VDI 2035 standard, the chemical water treatment group within the Heating and Hot Water Industry Council (HHIC) appears resistant to discussing or acknowledging these alternative European approaches.This season is being sponsored by PrimaryPro a professional pipe insulation systemSupport the showLearn more about heat pump heating by followingNathan on Linkedin, Twitter and BlueSky

Send us a textEver wondered what connects the discipline of a three-time Oxford-Cambridge boat race rower with the intricacies of sustainable architecture and the practicalities of installing heat pumps? This week, Nathan Gambling sits down with Henry Pelly,  an extraordinary individual who seamlessly blends these worlds. Our guest is a Principal Sustainability Consultant at the renowned Max Fordham, a qualified architect holding Masters degrees in Environmental Design and Environmental Psychology – a powerful combination for understanding how buildings impact both our planet and our well-being. We explore his fascinating career journey, which has recently taken an exciting turn with the launch of his own MCS installation company, focused on bringing efficient and eco-friendly air-to-water and air-to-air heat pump systems to domestic properties. Discover Henry's incredible past representing Great Britain in rowing, the demands of building a wedding venue, and the heartwarming chaos of family life with three young daughters. Join us for a captivating conversation that proves passion and expertise can truly span diverse and impactful fields.This season is sponsored by Primary Pro, a professional pipe insulation systemSupport the showLearn more about heat pump heating by followingNathan on Linkedin, Twitter and BlueSky

Send us a textEver wondered how heat pump systems differ between the UK and the US? In this episode, Nathan chats with Shreyas Sudhakar, a leading heat pump installer and educator from California, to explore the contrasting approaches. Nathan, who has fond memories of his time in America, and his apprenticeship on a US airbase in the UK, emphasises the strong connection he feels to the country. He and Shreyas engage in a fun discussion, highlighting the strengths of both systems and gently suggesting areas where US installations might benefit from UK insights. They both strongly believe that sharing knowledge and best practices is key to maximising heat pump efficiency and sustainability. Join us for a conversation that celebrates innovation and the potential for transatlantic collaboration!This season is sponsored by Primary Pro a professional outdoor pipe insulation system used by top engineers in the UKSupport the showLearn more about heat pump heating by followingNathan on Linkedin, Twitter and BlueSky

Send us a textDamon Blackmore is a massive favourite among other competent heat pump installation engineers. He uses social media to help other heating engineers become interested in heat pump systems and has some of the highest performing heat pumps in the country.Unfortunately, the voices of good engineers are being drowned out by the comms pieces from much larger entities involved in the sector. Take a listen to someone actually at the coal face of industry...day in day out.  This episode is sponsored by Primary Pro a professional pipe insulation system used by Damon and other great engineers.Support the showLearn more about heat pump heating by followingNathan on Linkedin, Twitter and BlueSky

In this intriguing discussion, Adam Bell, Director of Policy at Stonehaven and an energy policy expert, dives into the criticisms surrounding Ofgem's regulation and the impact of energy network charges on consumers. He highlights the urgent need for infrastructure upgrades to accommodate heat pumps and electric vehicles. Adam also addresses the environmental considerations of pylons versus underground cables and the evolving Contracts for Difference auction process. Finally, he outlines the significant challenges currently facing the heat pump sector and the need for better regulatory support.

Send us a textHeat pump owners around the UK have joined the Nesta scheme whereby they allow visitors to come visit them and ask questions about their heating system. Nathan chats to Codrina Cretu and Andy Marsden about the benefits of this free scheme to people thinking of having a heat pump as well as the benefits to installation engineers who can use it as a marketing tool.Support the showLearn more about heat pump heating by followingNathan on Linkedin, Twitter and BlueSky

Send us a textEpisode 3 of the Heat Pump Ready programme.Nathan chats toIan Rose arPassiv UK,Casey Cole at Guru,and Mark Lufkin at WondrwallSupport the showLearn more about heat pump heating by followingNathan on Linkedin, Twitter and BlueSky

Send us a textNathan talks with Katrina from Energy Systems Catapult and Trysten Lee from Open Energy Monitor about a key question surrounding the Electrification of Heat (EoH) trial: why did the heat pumps perform so poorly? The trial, involving aprox. 740 heat pumps, showed an average Seasonal Performance Factor (SPF) of just 2.81 for air source.This contrasts sharply with the performance of heat pumps monitored by Trysten at HeatPumpMonitor.org (HPM). Interestingly, many of the installers whose systems are tracked on HPM are relatively new to the field, some with only a few years of heat pump experience. Yet, they consistently achieve high-performing heat pump installations, a stark difference from the results of the large-scale trials. This success likely stems from their adherence to the two BetaTeach principles, their approach to self-directed learning, and their use of peer-to-peer learning. They also tend to pursue different training paths, rather than relying solely on the standard 3-day BPEC and LCL Award courses.The trial, conducted in partnership with Warmworks, OVO, and E-ON, involved 19 MCS contractors installing approximately 750 free heat pump systems.  Beyond heat pump performance, the trial has provided valuable insights that are informing policy development in areas such as planning permission and Distribution Network Operator (DNO) applications.  Trystan and his team have managed to visualise the data captured from the trial at eoh.heatpumpmonitor.orgFor information on the Air to Air trial and to see if you can have a free A2A heat pump system click hereThis season is sponsored by PrimaryProPrimary Pro, a pipe insulation system developed by Dave Smith, is gaining popularity among engineers for use in heat pump installations.Support the showLearn more about heat pump heating by followingNathan on Linkedin, Twitter and BlueSky

Send us a textMechanical Ventilation Heat Recovery systems are discussed with Nathan's guests Duncan and Barry Sharp.Regular listeners will know Barry from previous episodes of BetaTalk and is one of Nathan's favourite heat pump engineers based in Scotland.Duncan is Barry's dad and has been specialising in MVHR systems since around 2010.The discussion looks at how effective MVHR is and the problems with design, installation and commissioning. Duncan spends a lot of his time helping others understand MVHR and is involved in surveying the systems in social housing as well as designing and installing systems. Support the showLearn more about heat pump heating by followingNathan on Linkedin, Twitter and BlueSky