In the latest of our spotlight series in partnership with The Heat Pump Association, Michelle Eastty from the elemental team speaks to Joe Raftery, Product Manager, Heating Commercial team /UK at Samsung Electronics about climate solutions.
1. When did Samsung Electronics become of a member of the Heat Pump Association and what are the benefits of being involved?
Samsung Electronics is very enthusiastic about the direction of the heat pump industry as a whole, and we work together with like-minded companies to raise awareness of the benefits of the technology. The association has strengthened the profile of the sector within the UK and we’re proud to have been a member since 2014.
The association recognises that uptake in the UK has been slow in comparison to other European countries, where heat pumps are standard within a lot of housing developments. The Heat and Buildings Strategy will help to strengthen the already growing heat pump market in the UK, and we’re going in the right direction.
2. What are the benefits of heat pump technology?
Benefits of heat pumps include decarbonisation, and more options and opportunities for installers, and giving the homeowner more choice.The technology has been proven in existing housing stock for decades and is not fledgling.
The experience and knowledge base are there in similar environments, such as Ireland, where I am from. Heat pumps have become the norm there over the past ten years. We need to make it as easy as possible for homeowners to understand the technology and keep our information jargon free, and make it as straightforward as possible for installers to install.
3. How does Samsung Electronics support installers in the industry to expand their skills to accommodate heat pumps?
Along with other HPA members, Samsung supports a concise and uniformed approach to advice and training. We have two training centres in Mansfield and Chertsey, and we have dedicated heat pump pre-sales and after sales engineers. We actively support the development of training by industry groups, including the Chartered Institute of Plumbing Engineer’s Low temperature and Hot Water course, in conjunction with LCL Awards.
We have also helped in the development of the Low temperature Installer training course which may be an entry requirement to the HPA heat pump course for those installers who wish to design their heating systems. Samsung will provide both of these training courses in our Chertsey training centre. We also offer courses for installing and commissioning heat pumps, focusing on Samsung’s EHS (Eco Heating System) heat pumps.
4. What heating and cooling innovations does Samsung Electronics offer?
We have the technology and experience to be at the forefront of the switch to smart, low-carbon heating systems. Our Samsung EHS range provides integrated heat pump solutions for heating and domestic hot water supply for new build and replacement residential projects.
Samsung has a fantastic product (TDM Plus) that combines a wet heating , domestic hot water with DX wall mounted emitters which offer all the benefits off a wet heating system with wall mounted DX air conditioning all from the one outdoor unit.
We also provide cooling via air conditioning with our unique WindFree™ technology. Once the desired room temperature is reached with the air conditioner’s powerful and fast cooling technology, the unit switches to Wind-Free™ Mode, slowing down the speed of the compressor while keeping the air cool, comfortable and quiet, while minimising electricity consumption.
Samsung is also an established expert in the commercial air conditioning sector, offering multiple engineering solutions to the heating of spaces. Our climate solutions for business spaces include our DVM S (Digital Variable Multi) Eco compact air conditioner units.
Our various combinations of air and water solutions can all by controlled by local or smart controls or integrated into an existing building management system (BMS).
5. What are some of the key challenges that need to be overcome on the road to decarbonisation and net zero?
The Heat Pump Association has outlined the key challenges we face, including regulation, funding and upskilling, and the government has important decisions to make to overcome these.
Government proposals to support decarbonising buildings, initially reported in The Financial Times, could shift levies away from electricity bills to gas bills over the next ten years. The government has set out plans in its Energy White Paper, published in December 2020 to decarbonise the energy system and to keep bills affordable as we transition to net zero.
With the UK government’s plan to phase out the installation of fossil fuel heating systems, calls from industry have been growing over the last year to shift environmental levies from electricity onto gas. Energy bills incorporate costs to cover social and environmental obligations to meet energy policies.
Ofgem data from August 2021 indicates that over 25% of the cost of electricity is made up of environmental and social obligation costs, with the costs of numerous decarbonisation programmes funded through the levy. However, gas costs include just over 2% of environmental and social obligation costs.
A balancing up of these levies would give the homeowner a better understanding of the costs and also help to reduce fuel bills for consumers switching to heat pumps. Care would be needed, particularly with the current volatile market and higher energy costs, to ensure that people don’t face higher energy bills than expected and avoid impacting the overall cost of a dual fuel bill.
Challenges to decarbonisation have also been presented by the pandemic, across all sectors. For instance, manufacturers have faced a huge shortage of components. As Samsung produce our own semiconductors, we have been in a position to fulfil the main stay of our commitments to our global market.
6. And what are the opportunities on the road to net zero?
There is now much more consumer awareness on climate change, and realisation that heat pumps provide a proven solution to reducing carbon emissions in the home. Legal obligations to reach net zero and the pledges that came out of the climate change conference, COP26 are helping to drive change.
There’s much more public engagement now from an early age on the practical solutions to combatting climate change. For instance, as part of her science course at high school, my daughter has been looking at the benefits of seaweed in fighting climate change by reducing carbon dioxide in the atmosphere .
We’ll need to consider and incorporate a range of practical solutions on the road to net zero and have the conversations with people, make connections and present opportunities.
7. What’s been the impact since the government’s Heating and Building strategy/response to it?
The government’s Heating and Buildings Strategy has opened the conversation in a big way. There are challenges to be overcome, that I have mentioned, including clear legislation, funding and training.
The technology is available to achieve this now. Further upgrading of electrical networks within the UK will be required as we move to net zero. This will be needed to support heat pump demand, which will create more employment opportunities within the sector.
For further information about Samsung Electronics visit www.samsung.com/uk/business/climate/heating and for the Heat Pump Association visit www.heatpumps.org.uk
