Mitsubishi Electric Corporation - Experts & Thought Leaders

Grace Homes, the luxury property development company building homes in Northamptonshire and Leicestershire, is setting a high benchmark for sustainable living. The company has integrated air source heat pumps from Mitsubishi Electric at its Sysonby Lodge development in Melton Mowbray. Sysonby Lodge includes a courtyard of mews-style properties, detached and semi-detached homes and ten luxury residences in a renovated Grade II-listed lodge. Future Homes Standards Each property has been equipped with Mitsubishi Electric Ecodan heat pump, alongside other sustainable technologies, including photovoltaic (PV) solar panels and battery storage solutions. This approach has allowed Grace Homes to achieve the highest Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) A ratings, which align with the UK government’s Future Homes Standards. Ecodan heat pump installations Mitsubishi Electric has had a longstanding relationship with Grace Homes’ over 15 years Mitsubishi Electric has had a longstanding relationship with Grace Homes’ over 15 years and has played a key role in the sustainability journey. Peter Hutorka, Construction Director at Grace Homes, said, “We spent a lot of time researching the best sort of hardware that would work for us, and we felt that the Mitsubishi Electric’s product, being a market pioneer, was really the way to go.” As part of this collaboration, Mitsubishi Electric provided design support with detailed heating and hot water system drawings for each property, ensuring seamless Ecodan heat pump installations. The technical support team offered ongoing assistance, including troubleshooting and video consultations, to ensure smooth project execution. Long-term partnership with Mitsubishi The heat pumps were installed by Nigel Smith Plumbing & Mechanical Services Ltd, an accredited installer that had completed approved Mitsubishi Electric training. Matt Smith, Project Heating Director at Nigel Smith Plumbing & Mechanical Services Ltd, said of the long-term partnership with Mitsubishi, “It’s brilliant. They’re always at the end of the phone, and if you need to call them and have a video call with them, that’s always there as an option.” energy efficiency of the Ecodan heat pump Ecodan heat pumps were installed in both new-build homes and a Grade II-listed lodge During this project, Ecodan heat pumps were installed in both new-build homes and a Grade II-listed lodge. While installations in new builds were straightforward, the renovation required innovative solutions, including a banked system with five units serving the apartments remotely, which the heat pumps were able to adapt to.  The integration of sustainable technologies, particularly Ecodan heat pumps, has become a key selling point for Grace Homes. Emily Smith, Sales and Marketing Manager at Grace Homes, noted that homeowners appreciate the energy efficiency of the Ecodan heat pump, especially the ability to use the MELCloud app for remote heating control. Future of sustainable housing development The homes' EPC A rating and focus on sustainability also appeal to buyers, with many prioritizing energy efficiency in their decisions. Emily explains that: “Homeowners love the idea of sustainability being built into their homes, and the EPC A rating has been a key factor in their decision to buy from us.” The collaboration between Grace Homes and Mitsubishi Electric exemplifies the future of sustainable housing development.

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Air-Conditioning Europe (MHIAE) is proud to support its Italian distributor, Termal Group, at the Heat Pump Technologies exhibition in Milan on 2-3 April 2025. Visit them at MiCo Milano Sud, Level 0, Stand B45. This is the first Heat Pump Technologies event, and it will focus on the challenge of decarbonization. It will highlight the crucial role of low-carbon heating and cooling solutions in reducing energy consumption and promoting environmental sustainability. Industry experts and pioneering companies will present the latest advancements designed to accelerate the transition to a greener future. latest innovations in the industry On its stand, Termal Group will showcase a range of energy-efficient heating and cooling solutions designed to meet modern sustainability needs while delivering superior performance. Together, the Termal and MHIAE team of experts will be on hand to answer any questions and provide insights into the latest innovations in the industry. With over 40 years of leadership in the air conditioning sector across Italy and Europe, Termal Group remains committed to innovation and sustainability. It provides solutions that promote energy efficiency and environmental responsibility. Join them at Heat Pump Technologies 2025 to explore the future of sustainable heating and cooling solutions.

Mitsubishi Electric welcomed Andrew Western, MP for Stretford and Urmston, and Sir Mark Hendrick, MP for Preston, to its Manchester office and training center to discuss the future of heat pumps, the decarbonization of heating, and the electrification of homes and businesses. The visit, on 7 February, provided an opportunity for the MPs to engage with industry experts on the critical role heat pumps play in reducing the UK’s carbon footprint and helping achieve the government’s net-zero targets. Mitsubishi Electric’s Ecodan units As the UK transitions away from fossil fuel-based heating, air-to-water heat pumps, such as Mitsubishi Electric’s Ecodan units, are proving to be a sustainable and energy-efficient alternative. During the visit, Andrew Western MP and Sir Mark Hendrick MP toured Mitsubishi Electric’s state-of-the-art training center, where engineers receive hands-on training in the installation and maintenance of heat pump technology. Demand for low-carbon heating solutions The company has two training centers, in Hatfield and Livingston, where Ecodan heat pumps are manufactured The facility is part of the company’s ongoing investment in upskilling the UK’s workforce to support the growing demand for low-carbon heating solutions. The company has two further training centers, in Hatfield and Livingston, where Ecodan heat pumps are also manufactured. Andrew Western MP commented: “Decarbonizing heating is a key challenge in tackling climate change, and it’s encouraging to see the work being done here in Stretford and Urmston to support the transition to clean energy. Heat pumps will play a major role in the future of sustainable heating in both homes and businesses, and I welcome Mitsubishi Electric’s commitment to training the next generation of installers.” Adoption of heat pump technology Sir Mark Hendrick MP added: “With the UK’s ambitious net zero targets, it is vital that we accelerate the shift to sustainable heating solutions. Mitsubishi Electric’s investment in training and technology is a crucial step in making heat pumps more accessible to homes and businesses.” Shaun Garrod, Mitsubishi Electric’s Regional Business Manager, said: “The visit underscored the importance of industry and government collaboration in driving the adoption of heat pump technology. At Mitsubishi Electric we are committed to supporting the UK’s transition to low-carbon heating with high-performance heat pumps and pioneering training that not only helps gas installers to embrace renewables but also trains the next generation of heating engineers.”

“Decarbonising home heating represents one of the biggest challenges to the government achieving net zero,” was a conclusion of the recent National Audit Office report ‘Decarbonising home heating’. The facts, the report states clearly in the opening are: 18% of the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions in 2021 were from home heating and 55,000 heat pumps were sold in the UK in 2022. decarbonizing home heating Crucial to decarbonizing home heating is the government’s ambitious goal to install 600,000 heat pumps annually by 2028 – just four years away. To achieve this, installations need to increase 11-fold on current levels.  To foster the uptake of heat pumps several actions can be taken including rebalancing the cost of electricity and gas, training more installers to meet demand, and generating more awareness of heat pumps by consumers. Rebalance the cost of electricity and gas In fact, from April 2024, gas prices were capped at 6p/kWh while electricity prices were capped at 24p/kWh In the UK, the wholesale price of electricity is pegged to an expensive source of energy - gas. This means electricity prices are artificially inflated by the price of gas despite more and more of the country’s electricity being generated from renewables. In fact, from April 2024, gas prices were capped at 6p/kWh while electricity prices were capped at 24p/kWh.  Decoupling the price of electricity There is an imbalance of social and environmental levies which are loaded onto electricity bills. These add an average of £131 to a customer’s annual electricity bill, compared to just £34 for the average annual gas bill, meaning that the cost of running a heat pump is artificially high compared to a gas boiler. This can be addressed by rebalancing the cost of electricity with a more progressive and environmentally conscious distribution of levies and by de-coupling the price of electricity from the price of gas. This would make electricity more affordable, which is particularly relevant at a time when the cost of living is causing huge strain across the UK.  Growing the green economy It would also move household energy requirements away from fossil fuels and volatile oil and gas prices, back UK energy security as the nation moves to renewable energy sources, and help to grow the green economy and employment in the UK.  In the long term, the removal of levies on electricity bills would help to balance these costs. In the short term, the Heat Pump Associations’ call for a Domestic Heat Pump Tariff Discount would reduce the price of electricity used for hot water and heating produced by a domestic heat pump.  Train heating engineers We need 33,700 full-time heat pump installers in the UK to support the government’s ambitions Improving upskilling, capacity building, and infrastructure investment is also required to provide the number of heat pump installers needed to meet the government’s annual target. Significant progress has already been made in training heat pump installers. In 2023, close to 8,000 individuals became qualified heat pump installers – compared to just under 3,000 in 2022. The Heat Pump Association estimates that we need 33,700 full-time heat pump installers in the UK to support the government’s ambitions for heat pump uptake. Heat Pump Training Grant We are currently at around 11,000 so we must continue the upward trajectory of the last few years to meet this goal. The government’s Heat Pump Training Grant is supporting this effort by offering £500 towards the cost of training to become a heat pump installer. Beyond this, support for building the UK’s capacity and capability to manufacture heat pumps and their components is vital to be able to meet demand as it increases in the future. Building skills as heat pump engineers Our heat pump manufacturing facility in Livingston, Scotland, already employs some 1,800 people in green jobs and supplies heat pumps for installation across Britain and export to the rest of Europe. As of this year, in addition to our training facility in Hatfield for installers to build their skills as heat pump engineers, we have added new centers in Livingston and Manchester, and are planning for more. We are also proudly working with colleges, supporting them as they take on young people to learn skills in renewable energy. Increase consumer awareness  Ipsos revealed that over 70% of consumers still know little to nothing about how heat pump technology works To increase the uptake of heat pumps, consumer awareness needs to be raised. Research commissioned by Ipsos revealed that over 70% of consumers still know little to nothing about how heat pump technology works. This means that educating consumers on the importance of heat pump technology will also be crucial to encouraging wider uptake. Greater awareness of the benefits of heat pumps, driven by the government, media, and organizations within the heat pump industry, will ultimately accelerate adoption, help decarbonize home heating, and help us hit the all-important net zero goal. Getting to net zero calls for a heat pump boost It is well documented that heat pump uptake needs to grow, or we risk missing our climate goals. The technology to help us achieve this already exists in the form of heat pumps. However, steps must be taken to raise awareness about their potential and benefits, reduce their running cost by rebalancing electricity and gas prices, and ensure there are enough trained heat pump installers to meet demand as it increases. 

In 2019, the UK became the first major economy in the world to pass laws to end its contribution to global warming by 2050 - a landmark moment on the road to net zero. To meet that target, owners and managers of commercial buildings are increasingly facing more standards, regulations, and legislation to promote carbon reduction. This may pose challenges when it comes to investing in building service technologies, but the net-zero goal also provides an opportunity to embrace new approaches to the design and operation of commercial buildings. Heat commercial buildings When we look at reducing the carbon impact of a building, heating is an important factor to consider. Heating and hot water are significant contributors to a building’s carbon emissions. In fact, they create nearly a third (32%) of the total carbon emissions in the UK. Luckily, the technology to heat commercial buildings in a more energy-efficient, renewable way is already out there - in the form of heat pumps. There is legislation focused on the provision of heat to commercial buildings that need to be considered So, what benefits can heat pumps offer, and how can building managers be sure that they are the right solution for a commercial space? There are already regulations in place to help reach net-zero – from the Climate Change Act in 2008 to the Green Growth Strategy in 2017. More specifically, there is legislation focused on the provision of heat to commercial buildings that need to be considered. Energy efficiency standards Part L of the Building Regulations states that non-domestic buildings should be moving to low-carbon heat sources, the minimum energy efficiency standards means it’s illegal to let any property with an EPC rating of less than band ‘E’, and the Non-Domestic RHI has been extended until 2022, in order to help overcome barriers to investing in renewable heating. There is also growing interest in embodied carbon in commercial buildings, and considering the amount of carbon produced by a building across its whole lifecycle, it’s important to understand the full environmental cost of the extraction, processing, manufacture, delivery, and assembly of every single product or material used. Conventional electric heating The government has already set a target of 600,000 heat pump installations per year by 2030 Needing to consider all of these factors may seem like a lot, but it serves to show that focusing on renewable heating now is the best way to future-proof commercial buildings for years to come. Heat pumps are central to reaching this decarbonized future, with the Carbon Trust finding that heat pumps have the potential to deliver CO2 savings of up to 70% compared to conventional electric heating, and up to 65% compared to an A-rated gas boiler. The government has already set a target of 600,000 heat pump installations per year by 2030, and the Committee on Climate Change estimates that 19 million heat pumps will need to be installed by 2050 to achieve the net-zero goal. Offering renewable heating To reach this goal, uptake needs to maintain momentum. As well as offering renewable heating, heat pumps allow for a reduction in running costs and increased efficiencies, and are increasingly becoming the first choice for building managers planning renovations - because they are designed for both retro-fit and new build, are easy to design and install, and are scalable to work with other systems. In the years since heat pumps first became available, the choice of heat pumps has expanded This means they’re a suitable solution for almost any space, and are even able to work alongside existing heating systems in a hybrid situation if required. A heat pump is an ideal solution for commercial buildings, it’s just a case of finding the right one for the job. In the years since heat pumps first became available, the choice of heat pumps has expanded, and building owners are now able to select exactly the right equipment for a building’s requirements. Combining residential homes For example, heat pumps can now work at higher temperatures, meaning they are a great option for spaces like hotels, hospitals, and leisure centers where there is a high demand for hot water at peak times – removing the need to use a gas boiler. This is also a compelling case for heat pumps in mixed-use buildings – which is a burgeoning space in the UK-built environment. Buildings which combine residential homes and commercial businesses have a wide variety of heating and cooling requirements within the same structure. Traditionally, this is where gas boilers, combined heat and power systems, or electric water heating would have come in. Heat pump installations Modern heat pumps can also be applied in buildings alongside other technologies Now, high-temperature heat pumps – like the 40kW Ecodan QAHV – can deliver hot water up to 90°C, helping businesses increase the efficiency of hot water production while slashing their carbon footprint. Other heat pumps can offer options for a modular approach, so that multiple devices can operate in one system. This means that the multiple-unit system can cascade available units on and off, to meet the required load of a building. It also means heat pump installations are scalable, and can work for a small doctor's surgery through to entire district heating projects. Modern heat pumps can also be applied in buildings alongside other technologies, and boost the renewable element of a project – reducing the requirement for heat energy. Commercial heat pumps Finally, to satisfy these needs without compromising on sustainability and the green imperative would have been challenging, before the advent of commercial heat pumps. Reaching net-zero and moving to renewable technology is now a priority for everyone. For building services professionals, there is a real opportunity to lead the way, and encourage clients to take a new approach to heating and hot water in commercial buildings. The heating equipment we install will be in a building for at least a decade, so installing a heating system based on fossil fuels might risk leaving the building as a ‘stranded asset’ in the future. Making the move to renewable heating will help ensure buildings are meeting efficient and environmental standards for years to come.