With the Future Homes Standard now formally announced, the UK has taken a decisive step toward electrified heating in all new homes. Heat pumps will become the norm, and this is a significant milestone in decarbonising housing – but are we optimising these systems to work intelligently within the wider energy network? 

The government is getting increasingly serious about building a connected energy system, one that works better for everyone.

Recent initiatives, including the Energy Digitalisation Framework, and the Clean Power Action Plan, set a clear direction of travel, a more data-driven, interoperable and lower-carbon electricity system by 2030.

At the same time, the UK now has several important policies in place for homes: the Future Homes Standard for new builds, the Warm Homes policy for existing housing, and emerging governance around Smart Secure and Interoperable Energy Smart Appliances (SSES). Taken together, these frameworks provide the foundations for a modern, flexible energy system.

The question is no longer whether the policy exists, but whether it is aligned around the technology needed to make it work.

The UK has spent the last decade focusing on fabric-first improvements – better insulation, better glazing, better walls. That approach made sense when reducing heat loss was the primary challenge, but the system has moved on.

Electrification without optimisation is becoming the new bottleneck. As homes shift to electric heating and transport, the challenge is no longer just how much energy we use, but when and how we use it. We now need both approaches: fabric-first to reduce demand, and smart-first to manage it. At present, only one is consistently mandated.

Electricity demand is rising as households adopt electric vehicles, heat pumps and other low-carbon technologies. At the same time, more of our generation is coming from intermittent renewables such as wind and solar. This combination creates a new challenge: matching supply and demand in real time without overloading the grid. Without a more flexible and intelligent system, we risk inefficiencies, higher system costs and potential strain on infrastructure during peak periods.

Heat pumps are central to the UK’s decarbonisation pathway and, under the Future Homes Standard, will be required in new builds. But it stops short of mandating smart energy-management controls specifically for heat pump optimisation. Without optimisation, heat pumps behave as static electrical loads added to an already constrained grid. With smart controls, they become flexible assets capable of shifting demand in time without affecting comfort.

One of the most promising ways to address this gap is through Demand Side Response (DSR) and wider demand flexibility services. These allow electricity use to be adjusted temporarily to help balance the grid, while unlocking savings for consumers. Demand flexibility is not new. Grid operators have used it for decades at an industrial scale. What is changing is the opportunity to extend it into homes at scale.

Ofgem estimates that up to 60GW of flexibility from low-carbon technologies will be required by 2050. Achieving this will depend on automating high-power household assets such as heating systems.

The solution already exists in the market. Smart controls, such as the Passiv Smart Thermostat, can automatically respond to signals from the energy system. They reduce or shift demand when the grid is under pressure, while using preheating strategies to maintain comfort in the home.  This turns flexibility into something invisible for the user, but valuable for the system.

As heating systems evolve, households are shifting from passive consumers to active participants in the energy system – often described as ‘prosumers’. This creates new opportunities for households to benefit financially from flexibility, particularly through time-of-use tariffs and carbon-aware optimisation. These smart controls can do exactly that.

The UK now has the building blocks of a low-carbon, smart and flexible energy system, but the challenge is alignment. If the Future Homes Standard, Warm Homes policy and SSES framework were more tightly aligned around smart controls and automated optimisation, the impact would be significant: heat pumps would be flexible from day one, households would save energy automatically, and the grid would be better able to absorb renewable energy.

The UK’s energy transition is no longer just about building cleaner homes or installing cleaner technologies. It is about using energy more intelligently. Smart controls and automated flexibility are not a future concept – they are the missing layer that allows today’s policies and technologies to work together effectively.

 By Ian Rose, Sales & Strategy Director at Passiv UK 

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Warmflow discusses the UK’s net zero goals and how heat pumps can help pave the way there

As the UK and Ireland push toward their net-zero goals, decarbonising home heating continues to be one of the biggest challenges. Domestic heat pumps are now front and centre in the effort to decarbonise homes – and one model is turning heads across the sector: the Warmflow Zeno R290 air-source heat pump.

Combining cutting-edge engineering, installer-friendly design, and ultra-low global warming potential (GWP), the Zeno R290 is designed not just for today’s regulations – but tomorrow’s.

At the heart of the Zeno innovation is its refrigerant. Unlike conventional systems that rely on synthetic gases with high GWP, the Zeno uses R290 (propane) – a natural refrigerant with a GWP of just 3. That’s hundreds of times lower than typical refrigerants, placing the Zeno at the forefront of sustainable heating tech.

This transition goes beyond surface-level sustainability – it’s a genuine step toward meaningful environmental impact. R290 also offers excellent thermodynamic performance, enabling the Zeno to hit flow temperatures up to 75°C.

That’s high enough to run traditional radiators and supply hot water without electric backup – a rarity among modern heat pumps. Noise has long been a pain point for heat pumps, but not here. The Zeno R290 is among the quietest in its class, with sound levels as low as 41 dBA – about as quiet as a modern fridge.

Design-wise, it’s a departure from the usual. The unit comes in a sleek anthracite grey finish, with a compact footprint and minimalist grille. Even the 15kW unit retains a single-fan format – ideal for discreet installations.

The Zeno R290 is available in 9kW, 15kW, and 22kW single-phase variants, ensuring you can get the right unit for your installations, be it a small conventional size new build or a sprawling luxury design.

From the outset, Warmflow designed the Zeno to be easy to install and commission. A large touchscreen display offers intuitive access for both installers and end users, and internal wiring is laid out to simplify connection. Warmflow also have a dedicated wiring centre available, making installations simple. If just one single Zeno is easier to install on site, the effect doubles on multi-plot sites.

Call-backs have been considered too, ensuring that once the homeowners have moved into their brand-new property, call-outs won’t be costing time and trust. There’s full remote diagnostics and commissioning via Warmlink, Warmflow’s cloud-based platform. Every unit includes a 4G SIM card for seamless data connection, allowing installers to monitor performance, adjust settings, and resolve issues – without a site visit.*

For those housebuilders who have no experience in the heat pump market, free training is offered across the UK and Ireland, and Warmflow’s technical support team backs each installation with design assistance, simply send plans to salesgb@warmflow.co.uk. The free training sessions cover various aspects of the Zeno R290 Air Source Heat Pump, including installation, commissioning, and troubleshooting.

Indeed, so dedicated is the heating manufacturer to getting the ball on netzero rolling, that it has introduced its Heat Pump Assist+ programme, designed to support non-MCS (Microgeneration Certification Scheme) accredited installers in entering the growing heat pump market. This initiative is facilitated through an MCS umbrella scheme operated by Warmflow’s accredited partner, Microgeneration Support Services (MSS). With the advent of the Future Homes Standard – which is expected this Autumn – the road to net-zero is now fully underway. For housebuilders who don’t want to be left behind, understanding renewable heating and upskilling your workforce is becoming increasingly crucial.

* Warmlink access is currently complimentary and subscription-free; however, charges may apply for this service in the future. GSM access dependant on service provider coverage.

For more details, visit www.rdr.link/dbg026 or book a training

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Did you know that 98,345 heat pumps were sold in the UK in 2024? While this figure marks a 52% rise from the same statistic in 2023, does it mean that the UK is well on its way to its net zero 2050 ambitions?

I suppose the answer, as it is for most ‘big’ questions, is yes, and no. It can’t be denied that this number marks a huge improvement from previous years. Indeed, a look at a graph displaying the figures presents a steady rise peaked off by a sharp leap up to where we are now. While there’s likely a multitude of factors at play in uptick here, both the Boiler Upgrade Scheme for retrofitters and housebuilder anticipation of the Future Homes Standard 2025 are likely the biggest causes. The mood is certainly starting to change in the UK. It’s clear to all that the way we heat our homes needs to change if we ever want to have any hope of saving our planet. Heat pumps do make a lot of sense for the housebuilding market. Being in control of insulation levels, air tightness and heat loss limitations means that a carbon-friendly, smaller heat pump model can be specified, and in turn actually save some money for the eventual homeowner.

The same can’t really be said across the board for retrofit at the moment. If my experience moving into my first house (an ex-council 1970’s build) is anything to go by, you really have no idea what’s behind the four walls that surround you. Inconsistencies on-site are part and parcel of the building experience. Add to that the treatment a home has seen from its years of owners, and each home will undoubtedly be different to the next. With that, insulation gaps, drafty lots and literal wall make up will mean behemoth sized heat pumps for some UK homeowners. With current electricity prices, the cost to heat your home this way becomes astronomical.

The reality is that even if we build 1.5 million homes in the next few years and continue on with mammoth sized output levels, a huge portion of homes that are currently inhabited now will still be standing and inhabited by 2050, let alone when an inevitable boiler ban comes into play. How do we expect these homes to operate carbon neutrally? Sure, 2050 may sounds like a long while away, but it represents a larger problem with regulation roll out.

In the past few years alone, lumps of regulations have come into force that are forcing builders up and down the country to adapt and change the way they work. From building safety regulations, to BNG requirements, to part L heating changes, there’s an inexhaustive list of updates and rule shifts to stay on top of, all with minimal assistance from government. The issue isn’t in these updates themselves, but the lack of support provided to those that it affects. Despite being the ones to set down these new laws, successive governments have seemed almost surprised and caught off guard by the very changes they are enacting.

As we’re now almost halfway through 2025, my mind is drifting to the Future Homes Standard that’s set to come out this year. What sort of measures will be in place to help guide housebuilders through this change? I can’t shake the feeling that this new standard will just suddenly appear without any meaningful strategy or consideration for those that it affects, be that through education or dedicated assistance.

Something needs to be done about our carbon emission output. But if big policy change, particularly where the environment is concerned, comes out without them necessary measures to help it become a reality, it’s hard not to see it as virtue signalling.

If boilers are to be replaced by these impressive alternatives, renewable energy production must continue to grow, electricity prices must come down and much, much more must be done to help and guide manufacturers, installers and specifiers.

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In its Seventh Carbon Budget, the Climate Change Committee (CCC) identified that to meet our carbon targets, the annual rate of heat pump installations in existing residential properties must increase from 60,000 in 2023 to nearly 450,000 by 2030, and around 1.5 million by 2035.

Richard Beresford, Chief Executive of the National Federation of Builders (NFB), said:

“Ramping up heat pump installations is going to be difficult, but we know what has to be done. The Government must redouble its efforts to ensure the grid can facilitate installs and that all varieties of heat pump technology now receive support across all government funding and policies.”

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Stuart McWhinnie, Assistant Product Manager at Grant UK, explains how advances in technology and the use of new refrigerants are enhancing performance and making heat pumps more sustainable than ever before.

With ambitious targets for reducing carbon emissions, housebuilders are increasingly considering energy-efficient technologies and solutions, like heat pumps, when constructing new properties. By 2025, the proposed Future Homes Standard will require all new homes to produce 75 to 80% less carbon than those built under current regulations and natural gas boilers will be banned. From then on, it will be a mandatory requirement to fit low-carbon heating systems in new buildings, meaning heat pumps will likely become essential installations.

Heat pumps have long been recognised as an energy-efficient heating solution, but recent advancements in technology, particularly with the introduction of new refrigerants, are driving their sustainability to new heights. This makes them an increasingly attractive option for homeowners looking to lower their carbon footprint. For housebuilders and developers, this shift presents a prime opportunity to stay ahead of the curve. By mastering the installation and maintenance of these advanced systems, professionals can position themselves as leaders in the growing market for eco-friendly, efficient heating solutions.

Refrigerant
One of the latest developments in heat pump technology is the adoption of R290 refrigerant as the heat transfer medium. Also known commercially as propane, R290 has been used in air conditioning and refrigeration systems for several years, but its entry into the UK heat pump market is relatively recent. What makes R290 noteworthy is its very low Global Warming Potential (GWP) of just 3, compared to 2088 for the previously used R410a and 675 for R32, the refrigerant most commonly used in heat pump models. This reduction in GWP allows for a smaller environmental footprint.

One of the potential benefits of heat pumps using the R290 refrigerant, is the possibility of long-term energy benefits for homeowners. R290 has excellent thermodynamic properties which enables it to capture heat energy and release it again in a very effective way within a heat pump, which in turn makes the system itself very efficient – appealing to buyers who are interested in energy efficiency. R290 requires proper handling and safety precautions to be taken during installation and subsequent maintenance operations so units must therefore be installed by someone suitably qualified and trained.

Grant heat pumps using R290 have been designed to ensure that all reasonable steps have been taken to enable safe operation during use, with significant safety features built-in as standard such as a larger casing to contain R290 in both gas and liquid state and an R290 leak sensor. Grant UK’s Aerona 290 heat pump range, launched in October 2024, takes full advantage of the energy efficiency and low environmental impact of R290 refrigerant without sacrificing performance. Available alongside Grant’s AeronaÑ models, the 4kW, 6.5kW and 9kW Aerona 290 units are available now, with larger outputs of 12kW and 15.5kW coming in early 2025. These units have earned A+++ energy efficiency ratings (at 35°C flow temperature) and have been tested to perform in extreme temperatures ranging from -25°C to 35°C, making them suitable for homes in a variety of climates.

Grant UK has also taken on board research that highlighted homeowners’ concerns about both the look of heat pumps and the potential noise factor. The Aerona 290’s appearance has been developed following in-depth analysis of customer feedback; it has a powder coated black casing for a modern aesthetic that blends well with various types of architecture. It has also been accredited with Quiet Mark certification due to its sound-reducing technology, including acoustic insulation and antivibration feet, making it suitable for both urban and rural developments where noise might be a concern.

System design is paramount when installing a heat pump so Grant UK’s Design Team are on hand to help installers and other customers correctly size their new Aerona 290 system. Onsite technical support from Sales Support Engineers is also available to assist installers during the setting and commissioning phase of an installation.

Once installed, the units can be monitored and managed remotely, giving both installers and their customers ultimate control of their heat pump system and assisting offsite diagnostic support when required. Designed for use with the Aerona Smart Controller, the Aerona 290’s operation can be easily managed through straightforward set-up and commissioning and innovative control thereafter.

Due to rising consumer awareness around sustainability and the regulatory landscape, the housing market is increasingly prioritising energy-efficient solutions. The introduction of R290 refrigerant in heat pumps is a significant leap forward in heat pump technology, making it a standout choice for further reducing the environmental impact of heat pump systems, while also boosting their performance. As the push for greener homes intensifies, keeping pace with trends and incorporating new technologies will both ensure compliance with future building standards while also responding to changing market expectations.

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All 120 homes at Whittle Brook Park at Anwyl Homes’ development at Whittle Brook Park, Heywood, Lancs will be equipped with air source heat pumps and other energy-efficient features such as wider cavities to external walls, solar panels, electric vehicle charging points, and improved air tightness and insulation.

Work is already underway at the 15-acre development in Lancashire, which is part of the wider West Hopwood community that will see around 1,000 new homes built, plus the creation of 1.5 million square feet of employment space, a local centre, new primary school, extensive public open space and sports pitches. The wider scheme will see £402 million invested in the area.

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New, sustainable building regulations call for low-carbon technologies. As more electrified systems need to be connected to the grid, the result can be costly electrical infrastructure upgrades for property developers. We can help avoid these with innovative connection solutions for new construction projects.

Greater installation of low-carbon technologies such as heat pumps and EV charging stations is creating a significant increase in demand on energy networks. This is pushing grids to their capacity limits.

Even rooftop PV installations pose a challenge, as the local grid does not always have sufficient capacity to absorb the energy generated. To avoid costly infrastructure upgrades payable by the developer, the innovative solutions enabling connections to distribution networks in new construction projects are needed.

Sustainable assets

Within the project, the grid connection of new sustainable assets, such as photovoltaic solar panels (PV)

Reduced constraints

An intelligent and innovative energy management system to make sure network capacities are not exceeded

Avoids developer costs

Bespoke designs for new build developments, avoiding costly network infrastructure upgrades for developers

A study in sustainability

In a pilot project at Maidenhill, near Glasgow, with Cala Homes, Energy Assets and SP Energy Networks, 70 new homes onboarded E.ON Innovations solution to meet sustainable building regulations.

Intelligent peak load management system

This manages on-site power consumption and generation, so that renewable energy is supplied to as many homeowners as possible. At the same time, peak loads on the local distribution network are reduced, so it doesn’t exceed the available capacity of the electrical substation.

Based on network capacity, regulations and location-specific planning conditions, the solution is adaptable to individual customer requirements.

 The solution

In order to meet the increasing electricity demand and at the same time avoid costly infrastructure upgrades, the E.ON Innovation team developed a trailblazing solution. It allows Distribution System Operators (DSOs) to host new sustainable technologies – such as photovolatic (PV) solar panels, without need to upgrade the grid.

The solution employs an intelligent peak load management system: by managing on-site power consumption and generation, the system ensures that renewable energy is supplied to as many homeowners as possible. At the same time peak loads on the local distribution network are reduced, thus ensuring that the available capacity of the electrical substation is not exceeded.

Based on network capacity, regulations and location-specific planning conditions, the solution is adaptable to individual customer requirements.

The result

With the solution provided by E.ON Innovation, increasing the efficient use of our existing power network infrastructure becomes viable. This is done through active monitoring of energy flows and intelligent control of devices to manage the peak load on the local distribution network.

Initially, the project is geared towards exporting electricity from solar photovoltaic systems. In the future, air source heat pumps shall also be controlled with this solution.

Without the system provided by E.ON innovation, around £7,000 of additional costs per home across the wider home development project (which consists of 800 homes in total) would’ve been required.

Find out more about how we can help with your solar needs at eonenergy.com/solar-for-business

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Chris Harvey, Head of Marketing, Stelrad Radiator Group, explores the relationship between heat pumps and radiators.  

The arrival of the low temperature heating system has brought with it perhaps understandable questions to which specifiers, architects and housing designers want answers. Can we still use products we use now with traditional boiler driven heating systems if the heat source is a heat pump? Is there anything we need to consider that we take for granted nowadays?

The development of lower temperature heating systems, utilising renewable heating appliances such as air source heat pumps, has given rise to a number of questions including, where do components we have got to know and love over the years fit into the future of heating? Stelrad Radiators has responded forcefully to those people who claim, for example, that underfloor heating is the only or ‘best’ solution for heat pump installations.

Well understood
More than 90% of all heating systems in the UK currently rely on radiators to share the heat around the home, and despite the arrival of underfloor heating there is still a marked reluctance to use UFH upstairs in new build and it can be a complex option to fit as a retrofit solution – so radiators tend to win out most of the time. Radiators heat up and cool down far more quickly than underfloor heating, something that needs to be borne in mind when selecting the best way to share heat around the home.

Remember radiators are poorly named. Most radiators are actually convectors – there is a small amount of radiant heat from the radiator but more than 80% of the heat is convected heat – drawn up behind the radiator where the air passes over the metal surfaces of the radiator and heats the air in the room.

In new build housing, using a heat pump-based solution is a relatively simple solution. The heating system can be designed into the home at the outset so you know the parameters in which the heating system has to operate – the method of construction, the size of the rooms, the number, type and size of doors and windows – so the heat loss calculations can be done up front and radiators sized accordingly. 

The key to radiators operating well in any situation is to size them properly at the outset, which involves accurately working out heat loss calculations to achieve the necessary number of BTUs required to provide comfort heating in each room and to select a radiator can provide that level of heating.

In replacement heating systems for older properties there are additional issues. It’s a fact that simply replacing a boiler with a heat pump will usually see the existing radiators unable to provide the levels of heat needed in a home. 

So what is the solution – one that is cost effective and straightforward? Do we need to ditch radiators altogether and look for alternatives?

Larger surface areas
The simple answer is no. Radiators will work well with heat pumps, but you will need to increase the size of the radiators to provide a larger metal surface area to heat the air in the room to the level required to provide comfort heating. This need not involve unsightly radiators – for one, modern radiators are aesthetically far more attractive anyway, but there are other solutions too. 

You can achieve the extra boost radiators need by replacing the existing single or double panel radiators with the relatively new K3 radiators that have three panels and three sets of fins – providing the additional metal surfaces you need but without increasing the radiator footprint on the wall.

Major radiator manufacturers such as Stelrad have anticipated the significant move towards air source heat pumps in the UK and have added new, larger size radiators to their portfolio providing that option. They have also stepped up the options on the K3 radiator designs available too.

Go vertical
In addition, the huge popularity of vertical radiators has also offered a solution. Vertical radiators clearly have a smaller horizontal footprint than a traditional radiator, but they can be larger by design – taking up floor to ceiling space. It may be more practical and more attractive to have two modern vertical radiators in a room than one large standard radiator which traditionally has been placed along under the main window.

Stelrad has developed a wider range of vertical radiators, adding a huge number of new designs and sizes helping to provide the larger radiators needed by the renewable heating options. These take up a much-reduced horizontal footprint to slot into smaller wall areas in a room, to provide the levels of heat required without taking up large wall areas that will cause confrontation with furniture in the rooms. Vertical radiators can be focal points in the room, part of the décor, and fit nooks and crannies in a room which traditional horizontal radiators won’t do as effectively.

So new low temperature heating systems offer additional opportunities for the products we know and love and have used virtually every day of our working lives, for years. There’s no need to change what we do, just an element of changing how we do it, and the questions we ask when undertaking an installation or specifying for a heating system design.

Radiators are very much ‘fit for the future’ but as always, correct sizing will need to be undertaken to ensure that they keep the home warm and cosy. But can radiators work well with air source heat pumps? Very definitely yes they can – and they already are in a host of installations across the UK.

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