A Heat Pump for £500?!

The UK Government with its funded Boiler Upgrade Scheme is targeting 600,000 heat pump installations a year by 2028. And although 2023 saw a record increase of installations in the heat pump sector compared to 2022 there are still only just over 200,000 certified heat pumps installed across the UK!

In this episode Imogen and the team went to Octopus Energy’s R&D and Training Facility in Slough, to find out about the new Octopus Cosy 6 high temperature heat pump which they believe could be the solution for 80% of UK homes and could cost just £500!

Come and see the Octopus Cosy at Everything Electric NORTH in Harrogate on 24th, 25th and 26th May 2024!

00:00 Introduction
00:58 What is the Octopus Cosy 6?
02:25 The Octopus Cosy Up Close
03:20 Low Temperature v High Temperature Heat Pumps
04:29 How Efficient are Heat Pumps at Heating a Space?
05:15 Are All Homes Suited to a Heat Pump?
06:08 How Octopus Aims to Speed up the Heat Pump Transition
07:27 Octopus’ Training Facility
07:49 Costs and Savings
08:24 Octopus’ R&D Facility
09:09 What if I Have a Combi Boiler System?
09:44 Integrating With Other Clean Technologies
10:33 Making Heat Pumps Accessible

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Everything Electric NORTH, Yorkshire Event Centre - 24th, 25th & 26th May

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Everything Electric SOUTH - Farnborough International - 11th, 12th & 13th October

Everything Electric EUROPE - RAI Amsterdam - Date Announcement Imminent

[Scott-cmsv]

Let me start off by saying that I am industry professional (Chartered Surveyor) who deals with renewables and am in the process of looking at which heat pump to install in my own home. I am a big fan of heat pump, solar PV & battery storage technology.

However, I recently contacted Octopus (who I am also a fan of - their tariffs, at least) for a quote on a heat pump installation. Whilst the price was decent (I can get cheaper), I was concerned by the design specification.

To get the MCS certification needed for the BUS scheme grant, the system has to be designed to a flow temperature of no more than 50 degrees C. But, and its a big but, a heat pump that has to run at 50 degrees will not be anywhere near as efficient as a system running at a cooler temperature, at least sub-45 degrees, ideally cooler. Why? The COP (coefficient of performance) drops from more than 430% at 45 degrees, to about 385% at 50 degrees.

Why is that important? Because with electricity being just over 4x more expensive than gas, a heat pump system with a COP of less than 400% will cost the user MORE than a gas boiler.

I did highlight this to the Octopus rep and she said that they 'couldn't' design to a lower flow temperature. Again why? Basically, to get the system to output the needed heat at a lower flow temperature you need bigger heat emitters (radiators) and Octopus don't want to upgrade any more of your system than they have to, understandably. But should the facts not be outlined to people who aren't as clued up as some of us, so they can make their own decision about long term costs?

The issue I have is that interviews like this - where the Octopus rep clearly states that you will get a COP of over 400% - is simply not true with the way Octopus design the system. Yes, in warmer months you will get that level of performance, but in winter, when you really need it, people will be paying more to run the heat pump than a gas boiler. That will lead to a wave of more bad press about a really cool and worthwhile technology that can be what we want it to be IF the system is designed correctly!

Octopus - please change your approach, despite seemingly good intentions you are misleading people.

Everything Electric Show - please ensure you use your channel to educate people in an unbiased way with all the facts.

[robertpemberton]

As an octopus customer, I really like what they’re doing, but my only criticism of this new heat pump is it looks like a recycling bin at a theme park LOL

[brackcycle]

"what more could you possibly want ?" A spec sheet ! Sound levels & Cop /Scop at these high temperatures. That said it good to see, & regarding looks ... Don't mind Normal Look or this ..

[kleeenco]

"all in one place in one app" isn't much of a benefit because it's always an attempt at vendor lock in. We need journalists to start asking about open data formats. Still I love these videos, thanks for making them.

[peterbunker]

Strangely devoid of facts. What will be the flow temperature for a 'high temperature' system? What is the noise output? Another vid, please, with less cosy PR, and more information. I thank you.

[hedikintheoriginal]

i feel like this 'article' didn't answer anything

[nssimpson]

IMPORTANT NOTICE: This (promotional?) video should be pulled immediately. I got a quote from Octopus after seeing this. Over £5000. I spoke to them and they said £500 is unrealistic.

[Phild-gxpt]

I am also a proud Octopus customer and would love to install a heat pump. But I think the average £500 installation cost quoted for a well insulated house might be a little astray?
We live in a relatively new, highly insulated, detached house with underfloor heating throughout the ground floor, and radiators on first floor. We are rated A for EPC with a score of 96. Our heating is currently provided by an efficient, four year old gas boiler and hot water tank. So we are extremely suited for conversion, as no change to radiators or associated pipework would be needed.
My quote for conversion from Octopus was £3, 880. That means the total cost of installation, including government grant, is actually £11, 380.
Sadly, whilst I would love to convert to a heat pump, even a price of £3, 880 to me is just not cost effective as it would take quite a few years to recoup the outlay. And there cannot be a vast number homes in the country more suited?
And there must be a question mark over whether the scale of government grant is affecting installation costs. It would be very interesting to see some analysis of quoted costs which might show where most of the installation cost is being spent?

[MattSmith-kslc]

I prefer the traditional look of heat pumps. This looks like my kitchen bin and I’m concerned it would deteriorate out in the weather.

[firstnamelastname]

Lets hope the installer training is good, because looking at the skillbuilder/heatgeek videos it's clear that this is make or break for heat pump installs.
I just hope the government understands that too; perhaps a percentage of available resource should go on training.

[Rick-vmbl]

Great to see Octopus working on their own solutions, but the details were sorely lacking and felt like they were skirting around anything that might have made it seem less than ideal. Also found it slightly odd that they're testing it in 70s and 90s homes when the vast majority of UK housing stock is pre 1940s, and its those that nobody seems to be willing to test on, probably for a good reason.

[jfinnie]

Imogen misunderstood the point that they're specifically not talking about (as she said) "warm when they need to be warm" but instead as Effie said "heating the space when it is cheapest" which is often at 180 degrees to when you might actually want the heating. Eg loading up the temperature of the house overnight on cheap electricity, instead of leaving the house to cool overnight (which is usually much more comfortable for sleeping). There is an obvious high-demand period from 4-7pm when electricity prices spike, and so you'd do well to avoid using a heat pump then, still relatively expensive from 7-9pm. It will be interesting to see how this develops with an energy supplier controlling the heat pump; and whether you truly do end up with comfort when chasing low energy costs.

[lynnfisher]

I have got to say firstly we are satisfied and enthusiastic Octopus Customers having been on their tariffs for a number of years. We are currently on Intelligent Go and have always found that the company respond well to questions and are open with information.

But… I didn’t feel comfortable with this video it was far too woolly, no technical information, no Scop figures, no proper explanation as to why the pumps are working at such high temperature ( and if that has an effect on efficiency) how does it compare efficiency wise with existing heat pumps, why is the design so different, what advantages are there for placing the fan in a semi upright bucket etc.

The lack of probing by the interviewer didn’t help either, this was a promo video without any serious scrutiny of what the Octopus lady was saying. Very disappointing both interviewer and interviewee.

Juries out with this one, we will be in the market for a heat pump in due course but will need a lot of reassurance and evidence before we go down the Cosy route of whatever size.

[jezlawrence]

When are we going to get grants for air to air?! Wet systems are ok but if you're going max efficiency why would you take heat from air to put into water to put back to air?! Air to air means you get get rid of radiators and have more freedom to arrange your room, means you get cooling in summer as climate warms right on the days when solar isnt a problem... Crazy that we're only supporting a2w in the uk

[markbennett]

I’m an Octopus customer and a big fan. However when I enquired about the Cosy 6 the issues were firstly that you need to have a massive hot water tank fitted (I think 1m x 1m x 1.8m which won’t fit in the location of my existing hot water tank or boiler and will be too large for loft installation as well. The Cosy 6 is apparently only suitable for a 3 bed semi and a larger version hasn’t been launched yet. I was quoted £5000 even allowing for the government grant and nearly all the existing Octopus installs are for regular heat pumps so far not the Cosy 6. So I’m a little disappointed but hopeful that the product will be further developed, refined, reduced in cost and proven whilst the government grant is still available.

[ScruffyMisguidedAndBlue]

Why is the fan angled up to catch rain/snow/dust/bird crap?

[zapfanzapfan]

Where I live it snows... how does that fan handle a 20-30 cm snow coverage? Does it need an extra roof built over it?

[jamesfisher]

Neither the presenter nor the octopus representative seemed familiar with the second law of thermodynamics, which dictates that the higher the output temperature ( for a given source temp) the lower a heat pumps efficiency.

[Jawlf]

I love the way Octopus has turned it's back on the way things have always been done and provided the best tariffs to suit modern day technologies.

[glightsolutions]

R290 are in many Swedish heat pumps for 20 years plus. Nothing new there. Great to see alternative designs too.