BetaTalk - The Renewable Energy and Low Carbon Heating Podcast

Send us a textThe microgeneration certification scheme (MCS) recently became aware of a non-certified business targeting and encouraging MCS installers to break scheme requirements. We chat to Ben who has recently become MCS registered to discuss the situation along with his transitional journey into the world of heat pumps. We also discuss a current topical: Government funded heat pump training, which Nathan argues is not working as well as it should.   Support the showLearn more about heat pump heating by followingNathan on Linkedin, Twitter and BlueSky

Send us a textIn this podcast Nathan chats with his friends Barry from Renewable Heat and Matt from Matt Rigby Heating Ltd. The guests and Nathan discuss Matts journey from a gas engineer to a heat pump engineer. It mentions how Barry has provided mentorship which is a far better way to help gas engineers transition than the current system of just sending them on a powerpoint course.This season is sponsored by Ultimate Renewables Supplies Support the showLearn more about heat pump heating by followingNathan on Linkedin, Twitter and BlueSky

Send us a textNathan was kindly invited by the Heat Geek team to host a podcast at their Installer Show stand where he chatted to Adam Chapman, founder of Heat Geek and Karolis Petruskevicius the brains behind HomelyThe discussion involves what is currently happening in the heat pump industry as well as Homely's heat pump optimisation tool.  Enjoy!Support the showLearn more about heat pump heating by followingNathan on Linkedin, Twitter and BlueSky

Send us a textSupport the showLearn more about heat pump heating by followingNathan on Linkedin, Twitter and BlueSky

Send us a textIn this episode Nathan chats with Fiona, CEO of SNIPEF and Barry, a regular podcast guest and a Snipef member. Snipef presented talks at the Green Homes Festival during Edinburg Festival month and Nathan discusses the talks with his guest and the potential Edinburgh has in switching to heat pumpsSupport the showLearn more about heat pump heating by followingNathan on Linkedin, Twitter and BlueSky

Send us a textThis is the second episode of the special Heat Pump Ready podcast series, in collaboration with the Carbon Trust with funding from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. In this episode, Nathan talks to 4 Heat Pump Ready projects to discuss ‘How Innovation can improve the heat pump survey and design process’. Key topics discussed include:  - Ways to improve heat loss calculations, the limitations of standard methods and the potential role of measured heat loss in heat pump surveys. - Innovative tools to improve and streamline the survey process, potentially reducing the need for surveyors to visit properties to generate quotes and system designs  - What tools do engineers and installers need to deliver an excellent result to their customers? A summary of the speakers and their Heat Pump Ready projects is provided below:Thomas Whiffen – GEOUtilising data from an existing portfolio of energy modelling and smart thermostat technologies, GEO is looking to provide a solution that will deliver an estimate of a heat pump system required for a property before a boots-on-the-ground assessment.Hermione Crease – PurrmetrixWorking with Hoare Lea, this project will use in-home energy monitoring to calculate the heat loss of a property and provide a forecast of appropriate heat pump products that would suit the homeowner. Richard Jack – Build test SolutionsIn conjunction with Veritherm and Elmhurst, Build Test Solutions use their expertise in measured domestic energy use to determine an accurate heat loss of a property, which can then be used for accurate heat pump sizing. Griff Thomas: HeatlyUsing just your phone camera and the Heatly app, this tool will allow a homeowner to conduct a building survey themselves and receive a complete heat pump design. Supporting both installers and homeowners. The views expressed in this podcast are those of the participants and do not represent the views of the Government or the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero.Support the showLearn more about heat pump heating by followingNathan on Linkedin, Twitter and BlueSky

Send us a textEmma Bohan from IMS Heating came up with the idea for surveying heat pump installation companies big and small. She brought me on board with the project and I had Nesta help with the construction of the survey and its analysis. The podcast episode was recorded in front of a live audience at the Installer Show 2024 with some audience questions at the end. Take a look at the survey report here Support the showLearn more about heat pump heating by followingNathan on Linkedin, Twitter and BlueSky

In this podcast, Madeleine Gabriel from NESTA and Adam Bell from Stonehaven discuss the implications of a new government on energy policy. They cover topics such as decarbonising heat policy, challenges in evaluating hydrogen use, strategic consultancy work on heat pumps, and solutions for heating decarbonisation. Additionally, they touch on the government's plans for energy and heat decarbonisation, including investments in renewable energy projects.

Send us a textIn this episode I spoke to Nigel Banks, Technical Director at Octopus Energy. Nigel is  author of Fabric Fifth which many now see as the common sense approach to retrofitting and decarbonising homes. Nigel spoke in a personal capacity. I was extremely grateful he came on the show.  I have been critical of Octopus in certain regards but am also well aware they are doing important work. It was a pleasure to have Nigel speak on my show. I also chatted with Dan Kelly, Managing Director at Dartmoor Energy. Dan has nine years experience with heat pump systems as well as being a qualified PAS2035 retrofit coordinator and assessor.  For me, the episode helps illustrate that the fa bric first mantra has possibly led the UK down the wrong path.  And it could be argued there has been a waste of Government funds, essentially tax payers money. The most vehement of fabric first advocates, to me, clearly do not understand why the forefathers of thermodynamics got excited about heat pumps: things which used work to do heat rather than things which use heat to do work.  The former being able to reach well above the 100 percent efficiency cap of the later. It highlights how many are not taking ownership of their own learning and understanding what people like Lord Kelvin knew back in 1852.It has been far too easy for people to  disseminate "fabric first".  Quite honestly it is often laziness and highlights a lack of professional developmentIt is totally understandable that consumers do not understand the science of heat but for those involved in the discourse, especially if they are being paid and funded via money from the tax payer they need to take ownership of their own learning and bring them selves up to speed. What's discussed:UKREiiF event, and lack of heat pump knowledgeFramework lists for Social Housing and Local AuthoritiesConflicts of interest regarding PAS2035Cavity Wall Insulation (and Zone 4)LA's are stuck between a rock and a hard placeHeat Pump Optimisers such as Passiv UK and HomelyTackling fuel poverty at scaleThe able to pay market vs the fuel poverty marketTrust Mark - does it work? Possibly notUnconscious incompetenceI'd like to thank Grundfos for sponsoring this season of BetaTalkSupport the showLearn more about heat pump heating by followingNathan on Linkedin, Twitter and BlueSky

Send us a textNathan sat down with three regional winners for the 2024 Heating Installer Awards.They explain their winning installs as well as well as discussing the current trends happening in the industrySupport the showLearn more about heat pump heating by followingNathan on Linkedin, Twitter and BlueSky