Will hotter heat pumps win over homeowners?

Approximately 15 years ago, the first heat pumps sold by Graham Hendra struggled to achieve a temperature of 50 degrees Celsius. This temperature, known as the flow temperature, is the heat of the water that these devices send to radiators.

In comparison, modern gas combi boilers are typically designed to achieve flow temperatures of around 50-60 degrees Celsius. The older heat pumps often had difficulty adequately heating homes unless the homeowner opted to install larger radiators. The increased surface area of these larger radiators aids in the transfer of heat into the room.

However, a new generation of heat pumps is emerging. Engineers have progressively improved the technology, enabling heat pumps to supply much higher temperatures, sometimes exceeding 70 degrees Celsius. A significant development has been the introduction of new refrigerants, including R290, or propane. This fluid circulates within a heat pump. In an air source device, the refrigerant captures warmth from the outside air, even on cold days. By compressing the slightly warmed refrigerant, the heat pump can increase the temperature and then transfer that heat into a property. R290 is more environmentally friendly than older refrigerants, so leaks are not as potentially damaging in terms of climate change. Additionally, it is up to 34% more efficient, which aids heat pumps in supplying higher temperatures without severe efficiency losses.