Viessmann UK - Experts & Thought Leaders

Viessmann Climate Solutions UK has launched a new 40 kW air source heat pump that offers unparalleled performance and sustainability for larger properties, public sector applications, and small- to mid-scale commercial installations. Viessmann Climate Solutions is a part of Carrier Global Corporation, a global pioneer in intelligent climate and energy solutions. Vitocal 250-A Pro Providing both heating and cooling within a single appliance, the Vitocal 250-A Pro has an impressive Coefficient of Performance (CoP) of 5.32 at A7/W35 (outside air temperature 7°C and DHW 35°C). Unusually for a heat pump of this size, it is energy-rated A+++ for both low and medium-temperature applications. Equally uncommonly, it uses the climate-friendly natural propane refrigerant R-290, which has a global warming potential (GWP) of 0.02, compared to 1.0 for CO2 and 675 for R-32. compact and stylish And, due to its maximum flow temperature of 70°C, it can be used with existing radiator systems It is also remarkably stylish. Its compact, linear appearance, which has already earned it a prestigious iF Gold Design Award, makes it easy to blend into surrounding architecture and landscaping. And, due to its maximum flow temperature of 70°C, it can be used with existing radiator systems in many cases, making it ideal for larger modernization projects. Super Silent Design Installation is faster thanks to factory-installed operating and safety devices, while the feature-rich weather-compensated remote monitoring and control system means operation and maintenance are also greatly simplified. Viessmann’s Super Silent Design incorporating vibration decoupling and sound jacketing ensures the Vitocal 250-A Pro is very quiet in operation; at A7/W35, the total sound power level is 58.0 dB(A) by the ErP Directive. Environmental credentials “The 250-A Pro stands out because of its looks, its performance, and its environmental credentials,” said Viessmann Product Manager, Hugh Jones. “This is a premium heat pump that fills a gap in the market for a highly efficient, propane solution for larger installations. We have several customers lined up who have been waiting for an appliance that can offer this level of quality and efficiency at the scale and price point they need.” Vitocal 250-A Pro Requiring a three-phase electrical supply, its 40 kW output is sufficient for very large, detached houses The Vitocal 250-A Pro can be operated in bi- or monovalent modes. Requiring a three-phase electrical supply, its 40 kW output is sufficient for very large, detached houses or apartment buildings with four to five flats. In 2025, the facility to cascade up to four units together will be added, further extending its range of applications. Fully integrated package The launch of the Vitocal 250-A Pro means installers can offer a fully integrated package of high-quality, future-proofed HVAC, power-generating, and system-management products from Viessmann that are designed to work together seamlessly at scale. Free training courses are available through the Viessmann Academy.

Viessmann Climate Solutions has forged a partnership with the national distributor, APP Plumbing and Heating. This alliance brings immediate benefits to independent merchants, as they gain wide-scale access to Viessmann's complete portfolio, including gas boilers, heat pumps, and commercial heating solutions. The partnership also offers nationwide next-day delivery and modern fulfillment services, enhancing merchants' flexibility to scale and better serve their customers. valuable addition “Viessmann is a valuable addition to our expanding portfolio," says Shane Knight, Commercial Director at APP Plumbing and Heating. "Having previously worked with Viessmann, I deeply understand their products and the people behind them, making this partnership extra special. After all, we are a people-centric business that sells excellent products.” stock management APP Plumbing and Heating is renowned for its efficient service and innovative approach to stock management. Their deep-rooted knowledge of the heating and plumbing sector sets them apart, providing ambitious independent merchants with exceptional support and price stability. Shane concluded, "We view this partnership as a win-win for everyone involved, but most importantly, for our customers." alternative premium service Ian Brookes, Head of Merchant Sales at Viessmann Climate Solutions, added, "APP Plumbing and Heating is a very professional organization, with a strong sales team, and lots of experience, making them a good match for us." "This is a great opportunity to add a channel that can offer our customers an alternative premium service, should they wish. In APP Plumbing and Heating, not only do we have a distribution partner for our residential offering but also now for our commercial heating products, which is tremendous." APP's core market is the UK's approximately 2,500 independent heating and plumbing merchants.

Secon Renewables has partnered with Viessmann Climate Solutions to become a stockist of Viessmann’s most popular domestic air source heat pump range, the Vitocal 150-A/151-A.  The stock of the full range is available with immediate effect. UK heat pump growth The Sunderland-based renewables distributor supplies heat pumps, cylinders, solar, and other energy-efficient products to installers and merchants across the UK and Ireland. This new partnership will support the growing UK heat pump market This new partnership will support the growing UK heat pump market, with an additional stock of Viessmann Vitocal heat pumps available via a distributor that is already well-established and trusted in the renewables space.  solar thermal systems "We have been looking to get Viessmann on board for some time. We already distribute the majority of Viessmann’s solar thermal systems in the UK and are therefore very pleased to have developed a mutually beneficial supply deal for air source heat pumps as well," said Nigel Jefferson, Commercial Director at Secon Renewables. He adds, "There is a good fit between Viessmann and Secon Renewables, with both companies going above and beyond in terms of offering additional value to their customers." training academy and on-call technical support Nigel Jefferson continues, "Secon, for example, has its training academy and on-call technical support; likewise, we are impressed with Viessmann’s MCS umbrella Access scheme and the Vi-Guide technical service App." He states, "Together, our various initiatives provide a significant helping hand to the burgeoning heat pump market, introducing potential new installers to the industry in the right way." stock-holding capability Chris Johnson, Sales Director at Viessmann Climate Solutions UK, said, "The team at Secon Renewables is incredibly knowledgeable, having sold heat pumps and provided hands-on advisory support to installers for over a decade." He adds, "In addition, heat pumps take up a lot of warehouse space, compared to boilers for example, and Secon offers a very attractive stock-holding capability. This partnership will undoubtedly increase the adoption of Viessmann products among the UK installer base."   warehouse capacity and delivery  Secon Renewables carries over £2 million of stock in its 27,000 sq ft warehouse with the ability to ramp up Secon Renewables carries over £2 million of stock in its 27,000 sq ft warehouse with the ability to ramp up on demand. It offers next-day delivery to almost all parts of the UK. The Viessmann Vitocal domestic air source heat pump range comprises the Vitocal 150-A and Vitocal 151-A with an integral 190-litre DHW cylinder. Vitocal domestic air source heat pump With outputs from 4 to 16 kW and providing a maximum flow temperature of 70 °C, each model can provide both heating and cooling and is available to purchase for connection to a single-phase electricity supply, with three-phase models also available for the 10 to 16 kW variants. They are notable for their environmental credentials using R290 natural propane refrigerant, which is one of the most climate-friendly and cost-effective available with a Global Warming Potential (GWP) of only 0.02.

Some 38% of greenhouse gas emissions emanate from residential housing, specifically heating and cooling systems. Given the goal of ‘net-zero’ carbon emissions by 2050, new approaches have emerged to achieve that target. Some of the solutions currently being evaluated include the use of hydrogen as a replacement fuel, to store electricity from solar or wind power, or in fuel cells that use an electrochemical process combining hydrogen and oxygen to produce electrical energy and water. Hydrogen is the most abundant element in the universe, although pure hydrogen is rare on earth. It can be extracted from water (electrolysis), Alternatively, it can be extracted from natural gas using carbon capture technology to prevent carbon, a by-product, from escaping into the air. Modern terrace houses Whether hydrogen is burned for heat or passed through a fuel cell to make electricity, the only byproduct is chemically pure water. When combined with renewable energies like solar and wind power, hydrogen can be used to store energy as an alternative to batteries; unlike batteries, hydrogen gas can be stored indefinitely. FutureGrid operates three modern terrace houses with gardens in the remote hills of Cumbria Like natural gas, hydrogen is odorless. The distinctive smell currently added to natural gas could also be added to hydrogen to ensure residents quickly notice a leak. In the United Kingdom, FutureGrid operates three modern terrace houses with gardens in the remote hills of Cumbria. The houses provide a preview of a world where hydrogen has taken the place of natural gas. Yellow polyethylene pipes Engineers are testing how Britain’s natural gas pipe infrastructure can be converted from transporting fossil-fuel gas to handling hydrogen. Heating of British homes accounts for about 15% of carbon emissions, which would be eliminated with a transition to hydrogen. Hydrogen is more combustible than traditional natural gas, and its smaller molecules make it more likely to leak. There is a historical precedent for the transition in the United Kingdom. During the 1960s and 1970s, the gas industry converted from town gas (a byproduct of the distillation of coal and oil) to natural gas (mostly methane), which was discovered in the North Sea. The transition to a pipe system that can accommodate hydrogen has arguably already begun in the United Kingdom, where the gas industry is using yellow polyethylene pipes (which do not interact with hydrogen) to replace the metal pipes (prone to become brittle when exposed to hydrogen) in the country’s iron mains network. High-Volume technology Worcester Bosch has developed a hydrogen-fired boiler that could replace natural gas boilers An advantage of hydrogen is that the transition would be undetectable to consumers, who could continue to use boilers to heat their houses, although the fuel would be hydrogen rather than natural gas.  Worcester Bosch has developed a hydrogen-fired boiler that could replace natural gas boilers, but they use a hydrogen blend – 20% hydrogen and 80% natural gas. In the future, converting to all hydrogen would require an hour-long service call and only involve changing a couple of components such as the burner. Hydrogen boilers are currently a niche market; however, a regulatory change mandating their installation could make them a high-volume technology, just as natural gas boilers are today, according to the company. Heat pump technology Skeptics point to the cost of converting a country’s underground gas pipelines to hydrogen. Others suggest that a transition to energy-efficient electric heat pump technology would be simpler, and in fact is already underway. In the heat pump scenario, hydrogen could be used in a fuel cell or to store energy (from solar or wind power) in lieu of batteries. Skeptics point to the cost of converting a country’s underground gas pipelines to hydrogen The Hydrogen House in Hopewell, N.J., has been converted to run exclusively on solar and hydrogen power. Inventor Mike Strizki converted the home with a grant from the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities and using his own personal funds. It is the first solar-hydrogen residence in North America and operates completely off the grid. The only emissions are chemically pure water and medical-grade oxygen. Medical-Grade oxygen Features include a 40kw solar installation, 20kw backup power, an electrolyzer to generate hydrogen, and a hydrogen fuel cell. The home was designed to allow for the expansion of an electric and/or hydrogen refueling station. The plan is to transform the house into an interactive educational attraction with hands-on demonstrations related to clean and renewable energy. The Vitovalor 300P is a fuel cell heating appliance, made by German manufacturer Viessmann, that uses the principle of cogeneration to generate both power and heat. To do so, the fuel cell requires oxygen and hydrogen (obtained from natural gas in an earlier process). The generation of heat and power is based on an electrochemical reaction between the two elements, also called cold combustion.

New technologies continue to drive change in the HVAC market. HVAC’s image as a mature and stable industry can overshadow the high level of innovation taking place. Meeting environmental challenges and creating more cost-efficient systems are among the forces fueling the change. We asked our Expert Panel Roundtable: What will be the next big product trend in the HVAC market? 

As the UK continues to battle through the coronavirus crisis, HVAC business owners and installers can be putting some of their enforced downtime to good use. This period of subdued trading is a rare opportunity to get into better shape for when economic activity picks up. One way of doing this is by sharpening the focus on markets which promise strong growth – and few markets are growing faster than that for heat pumps.   The potential here is huge. Some 28,000 heat pumps are currently installed in the UK every year, and before the pandemic this number was rising annually at a rate of 15-30%. That equates to sales doubling every three to five years. New-builds account for the majority of those sales, but 30% are retrofits, and about 30% of those retrofits are in private residences. This means there’s a big opportunity for doing conversions from oil boilers to heat pumps at rural homes not connected to the gas grid. The ‘New Normal’ and Heat Pumps It is only realistic, of course, to expect a lingering dip in HVAC sales of all kinds, including heat pumps, until the post-pandemic world gets back on its feet. But when we do turn the corner into the ‘new normal’, heat pump sales will again climb strongly. One reason for this is consumer demand, the other is government policy. End-users are now increasingly aware of the dangers and disruptions threatened by carbon emissions and climate change – informally known as ‘the Blue Planet Effect’ – and more are being guided by their consciences to make environmentally-responsible heating choices. An Expected Spike In Demand Many end-users are also encouraged by the prospect of receiving payments from the government through the Domestic RHI tariff. When we do turn the corner into the ‘new normal’, heat pump sales will climb strongly If RHI tariffs are the carrot, however, the government is also going to wield a big stick. The Chancellor’s spring statement last year dropped the bombshell that low-carbon heating systems, not fossil-fuel heating, should be installed in all new homes built after 2025. Though this policy might perhaps get slightly delayed and diluted, there can be no doubting that radical change is on the way.           With all this in the pipeline, the industry should be preparing now to cope with the increased demand. But there’s some way to go: of the UK’s 120,000 registered gas engineers, merely 600 or so are MCS-registered to install heat pumps. Many more will be needed. MCS Certification Some installers are already recognizing this opportunity. Some 28,000 heat pumps are currently installed in the UK every year, and before the pandemic this number was rising annually at a rate of 15-30% This is evident in the heightened level of interest in the one-day introductory heat pump courses run nationwide by the Viessmann Academy. These courses provide a useful overview of what heat pump installations involve, helping participants decide whether or not they would like to go on to qualify with the MCS quality assurance scheme. This is a crucial decision, because having MCS certification is an obligation when installing equipment eligible for Domestic RHI payments. Some course participants decide to take the next step to MCS certification straight away, others decide to wait a while – but standing still in a fast-moving market can mean getting left behind! F-Gas Certification So what else must HVAC businesses and installers consider about heat pumps, in order to stay ahead of the game? In addition to MCS certification, F-Gas certification is also necessary when split air source heat pumps are installed. This is because the outdoor and indoor units have to be connected on-site with refrigerant pipework. Some installers choose to get F-Gas certified themselves, others sub-contract this part of the job to someone who’s suitably qualified. Of the UK’s 120,000 registered gas engineers, merely 600 or so are MCS-registered to install heat pumps It is possible to sidestep this need, however, when it is appropriate to install a monobloc heat pump – and the widening choice and affordability of monobloc designs is making them appropriate for a wider range of properties. A good example of this is Viessmann’s new Vitocal 100-A, an outdoors unit which has no need for a complementary indoor unit and is also easy to install because most components are integrated in the unit. New, compact and affordable air source heat pumps such as this, offering much-needed space-saving solutions for urban homes, are another reason why the heat pump market will boom. The Challenges Of Heat Pump Installation Though technological advances are making things easier, installing a heat pump isn’t ever going to be quite as straightforward as replacing an old boiler with a new one. Before starting an installation, first it is necessary to assess whether a heat pump is suitable for the property. This means checking that the property is well-enough insulated; checking the existing system’s radiators, which may need supplementing or replacing with bigger radiators or underfloor heating because of the lower flow temperatures of a heat pump system; and calculating the required size of the heat pump according to the building’s heat loss (and not including hot water demand). This period of subdued trading is a rare opportunity to get into better shape for when economic activity picks up At the installation stage itself, much of the work will be familiar to boiler installers, though weather compensating controls are obligatory for all MCS-approved work and as part of building regulations Part L. It’s also important to note that planning permission requires minimum distances between the heat pump’s outdoor unit, the plot’s borders, and neighboring properties. If this seems complicated, it doesn’t have to be: some heat pump manufacturers provide a calculator to simplify the task. Now Is The Time To Be Proactive Just as installers need a little time to assess whether a property should switch from a boiler to a heat pump, end-users also need a little thinking time, to consider adopting a technology new to them. By being proactive, HVAC businesses and installers can reap what they sow When customers get in touch because their existing boiler has broken down, the pressure for a quick fix can rule this out. But right now, when many of us have time on our hands, there’s the chance to inform customers of alternative heating solutions before their boiler needs replacing. Taking such pre-emptive action, by emailing information or mailing leaflets to customers, does require a little effort, but at least now there’s the time to do it. We are heading into a new era which will see boiler sales decline while heat pump sales rise. By making preparations for these profound changes, and by being proactive, HVAC businesses and installers can reap what they sow.