​Vattenfall and Feenstra have launched a high-temperature heat pump solution that can replace gas boilers

 

Vattenfall and Feenstra have launched a simple and affordable heat pump system that could be an easy replacement for traditional gas central heating boilers. The all-electric solution will first be rolled out in the Netherlands this year, with the aim of introducing it to countries with a need for this type of solution in the future.  The similarities between Dutch and British gas central heating mean these high temperature heat pumps could be suitable for UK housing in suburban and rural areas. They could enable households to swap out their existing gas boilers without needing to go to the additional expense and disruption of changing the rest of their heating system or installing additional insulation at the same time. Many homes in the UK and the Netherlands are currently heated using a central heating boiler, that uses natural gas to heat the water, which then flows through a network of pipes and radiators. Alternatives such as an electric heat pump use electricity to pump heat in from the outside air. The drawback with these devices is the cooler water temperature, which usually sits between 45 and 55 degrees Celsius. To allow these heat pumps to work at their most efficient, houses need to have their insulation improved, underfloor heating fitted or the radiators adapted. Gas boilers and the high temperature heat pump sit between 60 to 80 degrees Celsius, meaning that these additional works are not required. This is the best and most sensible solution that I have seen. Sign me up.



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