SPONSORED ROUNDTABLE | COMMERCIAL HEAT PUMPS Training and skills are the biggest issues to overcome. There are about 70,000 engineers qualified in F-Gas refrigeration, but this needs to double double Graham Wright Trying to sell a new system to clients is always difficult. Case studies and physical data give the industry confidence Scott Crease vice-chair, is looking at how to instigate changes in refrigeration loss and is teaming up with the CIBSE Facilities Management group to get key information from clients. I agree with Graham [Wright] that the only way [we know leakage rates] is with evidence, such as an F-Gas logbook, said Draper. The participants agreed that integrating heat pumps into new commercial buildings is more straightforward than installing them in refurbishment projects, for which Teeba Almunshi, director at mstep, said there are considerably more challenges. Refurb projects require extra planning permission, and we have big problems with cost, as the power supply has to be upgraded to accommodate the heat pump technology and thats not cheap, said Almunshi. Also, if youre getting lower temperatures, and its a water-to-water system, the pipework and heat emitters have to be ripped out. Almunshi recommended that clients be made aware of the I recommend forging good relationships with heat pump manufacturers as they keep abreast of the technology Phil Draper hidden costs and of what achieving an efficient heat pump system entails, and argued that these discussions must take place early in the process. Draper, who has worked on retrofit projects for British Land, including a groundbreaking air source heat pump system at 350 Euston Road, and Broadgate, said such projects were challenging in the past, but the situation has changed dramatically in the past two years. In 2013, putting a heat pump in a retrofit was unheard of, and to achieve a 95% gas saving with no electrical increase [at Euston Road] was a big achievement, said Draper. With a recent retrofit project, we retained the heat emitters and used gas as a top-up. I recommend forging good relationships with heat pump manufacturers, as they keep abreast of the technology. Crease agreed that establishing relationships is vital. The relationship between consultants and manufacturers is very important for getting the right information about products, he said. There is a right product and solution for a building, and the design support you get from the industry will make that project work. Richard Brown, head of specification sales at Ideal Heating, is an enthusiastic supporter of early collaboration between engineers and manufacturers. This is what I say to engineers please get us involved as early as you can. We can help. [There needs to be] collaboration between engineers, end users, manufacturers, and contractors. Akos Revesz, senior research fellow at London South Bank University, asked the participants whether commercial landlords or building owners are aware of new heat network developments, and added that the universitys research has involved describing the implications of connecting an individual air or water source heat pump to a new heat network. Buying a scheme can be a big barrier, with high capital costs and investment, said Revesz. But a commercial landlord or owner can hire it out or just buy the heat. Its telling them the pros and cons of the different options and getting them on board with a new scheme, because they must decarbonise their buildings if they are committed to net zero by 2030. A key selling point for heat pumps is the ability to store electricity, which makes it more compelling to invest in the technology, Revesz added. Crease agreed, and said storage and flexible tariffs will be big game-changers. However, Revesz pointed out size is a big constraint 38 December 2022 www.cibsejournal.com CIBSE Dec 22 pp36-39 Roundtable v2.indd 38 25/11/2022 16:05