Hybrid Heating and Smart Grid Thermal Storage

Project type: Large residential refurbishment, approx 650m²

Challenge

Develop an integrated low-carbon heating system combining heat pumps, wood heating and smart thermal storage, while minimising energy consumption and summer overheating.

What we did

Firepower undertook detailed heat loss calculations and developed a hybrid heating strategy incorporating heat pumps, a wood boiler, thermal storage and smart grid controls.

Our assessment identified:

• 7.5kW of uncontrolled solar heat gain, prompting external architectural changes to reduce summer overheating.

• A potential reduction in peak heating demand of over 40% by specifying MVHR - subsequently incorporated into the project.

Potential savings and benefits

Our calculations indicated that MVHR could reduce peak heat demand from 25kW to approximately 14.4kW, with illustrative annual heating electricity savings of around £1,700.

The reduction in heating demand also meant that equipment capacity and installation costs were reduced. Addressing solar gain architecturally will help limit cooling requirements, avoid expensive remedial work, and make for a more comfortable home.

Early independent consultancy helped shape both the building refurbishment and its heating strategy, potentially delivering savings well beyond our consultancy fee.

We subsequently liaised with the heating engineer installing the system to ensure a good outcome. 

Annual savings are illustrative estimates based on assumed energy prices and heat pump efficiency, not measured performance.