Panasonic Aquarea provides a fresh solution for Wealden Council

21/10/2013

Following a social housing contract in East Sussex, Panasonic teamed up with Wealden District Council and Chris Bartholomew Electrical Contractors renewables division Ecosphere Renewables to demonstrate the advantages of renewable technology to residents in the village.

Panasonic parked its fully working Aquarea air to water demonstration trailer outside Danehill Memorial Hall to allow visitors to see the system first hand, hear how quiet it is, and appreciate the size of it.

“We feel really privileged that our highly-efficient Aquarea heat pumps have been chosen as the renewable technology of choice for Danehill” explains Graham Evans, Panasonic’s Air to Water Manager. “It is important to educate the residents of the advantages of this renewable heat source. By being able to demonstrate the system, we can talk through how easy it is to install, monitor and maintain, as well as thoroughly explain how residents can achieve both cost and energy efficiency. With an expected 100 units to be fitted, our continued work within the social housing sector provides us with much hope for the future.”

The £137,000 Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) grant-funded Wealden Council retrofit project aims to update the heating systems of 51 village properties to fall in-line with the Government’s energy efficiency targets. Ecosphere Renewables plan to install 51 units between the beginning of August and the end of November, and the remaining 50 systems at the start of 2014, Wealden Council specifically chose Panasonic’s Aquarea because of its extremely impressive co-efficiency performance rating of 4.74 and compatibility with solar PV panel technology.

“Despite using other large manufacturer-branded air source heat pumps in the past, it was obvious that switching to Panasonic’s Aquarea Mono Bloc units would be more beneficial to our customers and the environment,” commented Abby Hussain, Energy Officer at Wealden Council. “At the end of the day, cost, reliability and COP performance is essential for meeting council objectives and ensuring that our residents are in a well-heated, happy environment. Panasonic’s Aquarea heat pumps offer just that and are fully compatible with Solar PV panels. Heat Pump Technology is also eligible for payments through the Government’s Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI).

Panasonic’s outside split system Mono Bloc heat pumps are also proving a popular option with Chris Bartholomew Electrical Contractors. “We are delighted to be working with Panasonic and Wealden District Council,” says Rob Santler, Commercial Director at Bartholomew. “Panasonic’s Aquarea heat pumps are easy-to-install, high-quality performing units that deliver a fantastic ROI in terms of value for money and energy efficiency. It was an easy decision to make.”