3rd June 2024: The project, run by the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero, supports the development of innovative heat pump technologies, tools and solutions for optimised deployment.
Thermly is one of 10 projects that has received in total £5.8 million in funding as part of the Heat Pump Ready programme’s Stream 2 Wave 2 competition. The Heat Pump Ready programme is focused on reducing the lifetime costs of domestic heat pump deployment, while improving homeowners’ experience of heat pumps through the development of new and innovative technology, tools and distribution models.
Gareth Robertson, co-founder of Thermly: “Hot on the heels of Thermly’s launch into the Somerset region in early May, we’re delighted to announce significant funding to research and design a digital solution for households in heating ‘distress’. So often, the 1.75m UK households every year that are faced with an unreliable heating system will, entirely understandably, default to a replacement gas boiler. We must make it easier for homeowners to consider a heat pump as a replacement for a failed - or failing - gas boiler, otherwise we will forever be in a cycle of heating our homes with unsustainable heating sources.”
Established in 2022, the UK Government's Heat Pump Ready programme is funded by the Department of Energy Security & Net Zero, as part of their Net Zero Innovation Portfolio (NZIP) . It is a £1bn fund aiming to accelerate the commercialisation of low-carbon technologies, systems and business models in power, buildings, and industry through the 2020s and 2030s.
Gareth Robertson: “There is huge potential to make a difference in the distressed heating market for our research and development activities. Our aim is to support homeowners in their transition to more sustainable forms of heating and this funding will help us develop further innovative ways to do this. We're excited about what we can achieve over the coming months.”
Thermly recently announced the launch of its partnership with Retrofit Somerset, a long-term collaboration that will support the installation of heat pumps into homes, benefitting up to 40,000 homeowners. The first-of-its-kind project will pave the way for a large-scale, Somerset-wide roll-out of heat pump installations in homes. Initial phases will focus on rural locations in the southeast of Somerset in areas already agreed with Retrofit Somerset, with planned expansion into the whole of the county in due course.
The project team also includes Somerset based social enterprise, Lendology CIC. As a B Corp lender, Lendology CIC supports homeowners with loans to invest in renewable energy measures or improve the energy efficiency of their properties. Emma Lower, CEO at Lendology CIC: “Having worked with homeowners across Somerset for over 20 years, we have seen time and again homeowners making panic purchases in the depths of winter when their heating systems break down. We are thrilled to be part of the Thermly project team to offer our expertise around customer behaviour and support mechanisms”.
For further information or to request an interview, please contact Gareth Robertson or Philip Jackson at somerset@thermly.co.uk.
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The Heat Pump Ready Programme is funded by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero as part of their Net Zero Innovation Portfolio (NZIP) and exists to support the development of innovative heat pump technologies and tools, and solutions for optimised deployment.
The programme will fund projects that can support the development of solutions that improve heat pump deployment in homes that are “complex to decarbonise” or solutions that could be deployed in “distress purchase” situations. It also seeks to improve performance and/or reduce costs of domestic heat pumps with the safe use of refrigerants below 150 GWP, while reducing lifetime costs or improving the overall lifetime performance of domestic heat pumps.
The programme is split into three separate delivery streams with associated funding:
A heat pump is a technology that is used to heat your home, instead of a conventional boiler.
The proven technology used for heat pumps has been around for decades, making them a tried and tested way to heat homes in an energy efficient way, using small amounts of electricity to extract, move and enhance the heat that’s already in the air or ground - into your home.
Heat pumps are three to five times more efficient – for every kWh of electricity used, heat pumps should generate 3kWh of heat for your home. This lowers your carbon emissions, removes reliance on fossil fuels like gas and oil, which is much better for the environment.
Many new boiler installations are 'distress purchases'. This is when a boiler has broken down and needs replacing quickly.
Founded in 2023, Thermly is a green tech company on a mission to change the way we heat buildings. Thermly helps householders make informed decisions so that they can move toward more sustainable energy choices.
With a team with over 20 years’ worth of experience in the energy and finance sectors, and in retrofitting buildings, Thermly simplifies decision-making, speeds up the whole process, matching property owners with trusted and certified installers in the local area.
For further information see www.thermly.co.uk.
