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Are Commercial Heat Pumps suitable for Whole Building Heating and Hot Water production?

11th March 2025

A hybrid approach, incorporating conventional Gas Boilers with Heat Pumps, can be an ideal solution for Heating Commercial buildings.

Retrofitting non-domestic buildings with heat pumps present both challenges and opportunities for businesses where clients are concerned with decarbonising their heat demand. With a vast mixture of building types and heat demand profiles in this sector, there is no one-size-fits-all solution.

Many clients in the commercial sector are keen to phase out fossil fuels and seek cost-effective, reliable solutions from their specialist providers.

Hybrid Systems: A Flexible Solution

Hybrid systems – Combining conventional gas/oil boilers with Commercial Heat Pumps, offer a practical approach, allowing clients to transition towards heat pumps without significant financial or operational risks.

These systems can help businesses, who are either unfamiliar or have heard scare stories by businesses or individuals about full heat pump solutions, feel more confident.

Hybrid systems are where gas boilers are retained for domestic hot water (DHW) production and for top-up in heating systems where some heat pump designs – due to size/space limitations or electrical supply limitations struggle to manage the entire heating alone and are advantageous in high demand situations. This setup allows heat pumps to operate at stable, low temperatures, improving performance and reducing wear.

Addressing Electrical Supply Challenges

One common barrier is the availability of sufficient electricity supply capacity. Hybrid systems can reduce peak electrical loads, facilitating the introduction of heat pumps by covering 70%-80% of annual demand, with gas boilers handling peak loads.

Adapting Older Systems

Hybrid systems can also be a stepping-stone for older heating systems designed for higher radiator temperatures. With some rebalancing and the introduction of weather-compensated heating circuits, significant performance improvements can be achieved. These systems are particularly beneficial in settings with constant heat demands, such as care homes and healthcare facilities.

Design and Commissioning

Good design and efficient components are crucial for reducing energy consumption. The start-up and continuous ongoing commissioning process via remotely connected adaptive smart controls is vital to ensure seamless operation and involving controls specialists early can prevent project delays.

Reducing Running Costs

To increase heat pump adoption, running costs must be reduced. Installing solar PV and solar thermal and using time-of-use tariffs can significantly lower costs. Detailed models are needed to accurately predict running costs, considering solar generation, consumption and heat pump demand.

RETROFITTING NON-DOMESTIC BUILDINGS WITH HEAT PUMPS: OVERCOMING CHALLENGES AND REDUCING COSTS

Barriers to Heat Pump Adoption

A key challenge in retrofitting non-domestic buildings with heat pumps is ensuring sufficient electricity supply. In urban areas, local grids may already be at capacity due to the growing demand from electric vehicles (EVs) and heat pumps, leading to expensive upgrades. Rural areas often face undersized supplies or limited three-phase options without significant investment.

Hybrid Systems as a Solution

Hybrid systems, offer a solution to these supply constraints. Gas boilers handle peak loads (especially on cold days when some heat pumps are less efficient), covering 70-80% of annual energy demand. These systems also provide a practical solution for older heating systems designed for higher flow temperatures, reducing the need for costly full system replacements.

Improving Efficiency

With basic upgrades like rebalancing radiators and installing weather-compensated heating circuits, existing systems can achieve substantial performance improvements. These upgrades help maintain consistent flow temperatures, enhancing the heat pump’s efficiency (COP) and reducing overall energy consumption. This is particularly beneficial in settings like care homes, where constant heating is crucial.

Design and Controls

Proper design and the selection of efficient components, such as pumps, are vital for reducing energy consumption. The commissioning process is essential to ensure seamless operation in changing weather conditions. Involving controls specialists early in the project helps avoid delays and ensures optimal performance.

Reducing Heat Pump Running Costs

The cost of running a heat pump can be reduced through several strategies:

  1. Solar Integration: If paired with a solar array, some of the electricity needed for the heat pump can be sourced from the sun, reducing reliance on the grid.
  2. Solar thermal: Modern High Efficiency Solar thermal systems can provide high temperature hot water – even in poor weather conditions that can be used for either direct Hot Water production or when combined into heating circuits through a well-designed hydraulic circuit
  3. Time-of-Use Tariffs: Shifting heat pump operation to off-peak hours when electricity prices are lower can further reduce costs.

Cost Modelling

To provide accurate cost predictions, heat pump proposals should be based on detailed energy models. These models account for solar generation, commercial consumption and the additional demand from the heat pump, factoring in time-of-use tariffs and potential savings.

Smart Controls and Batteries

Smart controllers can optimize heat pump operation by shifting demand to cheaper energy periods or by using excess solar generation. Batteries can store solar energy for later use, further reducing costs. These technologies, when combined, can make heat pump systems more cost-competitive with traditional heating systems.

Conclusion

With improved modelling tools and the integration of solar, batteries, time-of-use tariffs and smart controllers, businesses can provide more accurate running cost estimates for heat pump installations. By demonstrating that heat pumps can save money, especially when combined with renewables and smart technologies, adoption rates are likely to rise.

Hybrid systems can build client confidence in replacing gas boilers with heat pumps, especially for critical heat requirements. With the right approach and support, hybrid systems can become a familiar and effective solution, increasing the adoption of heat pumps in non-domestic buildings.

Auditel is one of the UK’s leading procurement and carbon management specialists.  If you would like to find out more about how your organisation can save money and reduce its Carbon Footprint through the adoption of heat pumps, please get in touch with me on 07887 376779 and ed.browning@auditel.co.uk

Ed Browning

Carbon Solutions Partner

Auditel (UK) Ltd