BetaTalk - The Renewable Energy and Low Carbon Heating Podcast Nathan Gambling BetaTeach

Nathan was grateful the IMA reached out to ask if their CEO, Simon Storer, could  come on the podcast to contribute to a very interesting debate.

Nigel Banks from Octopus (who wrote this fabric article) was scheduled to appear on the show and will  be coming on for a follow up episode.

Nathan was very grateful Richard Erskine,  who could step in at short notice to be a guest host, who has lots to offer in the debate and wrote the very good "Insulate Britain! Yes, but by how much" essay.

Great episode which will be continued
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Nathan sat down to chat all things heat pumps and training with Clayton Brown from CB Heating.

EDF acquired CB Heating back in 2022 which is one of the largest heat pump installation entities in the UK. 

EDF’s strategic investment and partnership with CB Heating have supported the development of the HPIN Academy. This academy provides free training to upskill engineers at every level in the UK.

The episode also discusses the recent partnership between Ideal Heating, a group Atlantic company, who manufacture and supply heat pumps.

Take a listen 
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Heat pumps move energy from and energy source e.g. air, ground water (hence they are called :air source, ground source) to a sink.

The sink is the emitter system within a home e.g. radiators, underfloor heating (UFH) and fan coils.

Engineers, Installers, designers and the occupants of a home rely on radiators having accurate power output data. Unfortuanlty, it looks like their is a big problem in the radiator industry: the published power outputs are being over stated.

This has huge consequences for heat pump systems which rely on designers designing a heat pump system which can operate at the lowest possible design temperature.

Higher flow temperature to radiators requires the heat pump's compressor to work harder an use more electricity, resulting in more demand on the grid and higher fuel bills for the customer.

Rob Nezard from UK Radiators has spotted a problem across the whole of the radiator supply chain and created a video to prove this. Nathan went to visit Rob (watch on youtube) to discuss the problem 
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In this episode Nathan chats to Paul Eastwood, Head of Energy Systems Planning at OFGEM and the past Senior Climate and Energy Advisor at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

Also joining the heat pump conversation is engineer Barry Sharpe from Renewable Heat  

The discussion focuses on what an ideal customer journey is. Paul has had a heat pump system after Nathan recommended Barry to him. The episode questions if Paul's experience could have been better with the hope engineers may gain some useful insight. 

Topics covered are:


Heat loss assessments and independent assessments.Securing quotes for heat pump installationsInstall optionsHeat pump controls and operationsHeat pump servicingWhy do heat pump installs cost more than boiler installationsThis was one of Nathan's favourite recordings and he would like to note that Paul is speaking in a personal capacity and not on behalf of any employer. 

Please enjoy the episode.
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Nathan chats to Barry Sharpe from Renewable Heat, Emma Bohan from IMS Heat Pumps and Steve Webster from EGE Energy about the MCS hybrid consultation, heat pump training as well as glycol and anti-freeze valves.
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Sweden have had a long tradition with heating technologies and have incredible expertise regarding heat pumps. 

Nathan talks to the Swedish company AIRA, the new entrant to the UK's heating and home renewables industry. 

AIRA will be installing heat pump and other technologies across Europe bringing their expertise first to Italy, Germany and the UK.

It's a great episode and Nathan enjoyed his conversation with Daniel Sarefjord, the chief executive of Aira in the UK, immensely. 
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