About Sunamp heat batteries
What are Sunamp’s heat batteries?
Sunamp’s Thermino® heat batteries are modern-day, energy-saving thermal storage systems made with high performance phase change material to deliver mains pressure hot water reliably, safely, and more efficiently than any hot water cylinder.
How does a heat battery work?
The Plentigrade phase change material in Sunamp’s heat batteries absorb and release thermal energy during a melting and freezing process in a similar way to the gel in a pocket handwarmer. Learn more about how they work.
Watch our CEO Andrew Bissell explain how heat batteries work
How did Sunamp develop its heat battery?
The idea of storing heat in a phase change material has been around since the 1940s but the existing materials didn’t perform well enough to provide reliable, high flow rate hot water over the longer term. We solved this problem, working with the University of Edinburgh, and created a stable phase change material which shows no signs of degradation over the equivalent of 50 years of use.
Watch our CEO Andrew Bissell explain how we developed our heat battery.
What is phase change material?
A phase-change material (PCM) absorbs and releases energy when it changes phase, for example, from solid to liquid. Applying energy in the form of heat to a solid will eventually melt it. If you then cool the liquid, it will freeze, releasing the energy used to melt it.
Read more on ‘a guide to phase change material’ by Dr Kate Fisher.
What makes Sunamp’s PCM heat battery better than its competition?
“It is not just about the chemistry, it’s about making products that work well with the PCM. Our unique selling point lies in the integration of chemistry and engineering. Sunamp is the only thermal battery manufacturer in the world to be awarded RAL certification for phase change material.”
Read more on ‘a guide to phase change material’ by Dr Kate Fisher.
How does Sunamp heat battery compare to other hydronic heat batteries?
“At Sunamp, we use our Plentigrade phase change materials (PCMs) to store thermal energy – operating at temperatures similar to the desired water temperature and using the latent heat of melting and crystallising to achieve high energy density.” Read more on this comparison by our head of R&D Dr. David Oliver
All about Plentigrade
Our highly patented PCM formulations form the backbone of our Plentigrade platform. Our PCMs have an enviable high energy density, avoid costly or scarce components and there is no question over their sustainability as the salts are either mined, are by-products of the existing chemical industry or are simple commodity chemicals with diverse supply chains.
Read more on the science behind Plentigrade by our head of R&D Dr. David Oliver
Sunamp’s heat battery vs hot water cylinder
What makes Sunamp heat battery an ideal replacement of a hot water cylinder?
Firstly, their small size means installation is possible where there isn’t enough space for a hot water cylinder. Sunamp Thermino batteries contain a phase change material which is much more efficient at storing energy than water, meaning the systems are up to four times smaller than the equivalent hot water cylinder. Read more here.
How to decide which hot water system is right for you: hot water cylinder vs heat battery?
Start with your heating system. How you heat your home will have an effect on which hot water system you need. 80% of homes in the UK have a gas combi boiler which provides both space heating and hot water, meaning you don’t usually need a hot water cylinder. However, gas boilers are on the way out, with the UK government looking to phase out the installation of new gas boilers in most homes from 2035. Read more on: which hot water system is right for you?
Which Thermino heat battery is right for you?
Remember, Thermino heat batteries come PV ready thanks to our Optimino technology. That means solar PV can be added to the ePlus model later, saving you more on energy bills by using on-site generated electricity, or solar PV and a heat pump can be added to the xPlus, without any need to buy a new battery. Read this to learn more. Take this quiz to know which Thermino is the right fit depending on your current heating system and the size of your home: https://sunamp.com/en-gb/the-next-generation-of-hot-water-just-landed/#quiz
How a homeowner chose a Sunamp heat battery over a hot water cylinder
“I started looking into the pros and cons of a hot water cylinder compared to a heat battery. The cylinder is obviously a more familiar technology, the only problem is that hot water cylinders still suffer from loss of energy over time, which from solar was a big problem for us. We didn’t want to put loads of energy in and by the time we got round to using it, we’d lost half of it.
Sunamp’s Thermino heat battery became the more obvious choice. We took advice from our installer who agreed it would meet our needs. Lower heat losses and its smaller size compared to the hot water cylinder alternative were the final deciding factors.”
Read more: A homeowner’s review | Why I chose a Sunamp heat battery over a hot water cylinder
How can heat batteries help with energy efficiency and aesthetics in your home?
A heat pump or PV with Thermino can improve your home’s Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating. Also, you won’t want the aesthetics of your home to be spoiled by a bulky hot water cylinder. A Thermino heat battery is the ideal space-saving, sleek and stylish solution. The system’s high energy density means it’s only a quarter of the size of a conventional hot water cylinder. Read more on: Energy efficient hot water for home movers
How can you save money on hot water costs with a Thermino heat battery compared to a hot water tank?
When it comes to hot water tanks, annual inspections are a legal requirement, and tank cleaning needs to be carried out every 3 years – costing you anywhere between £200-£500 for 110-500L tanks.
Also, in terms of daily standing heat losses, you could lose between 1.4 kWh and 3.34 kWh with a hot water cylinder; the energy costs from these losses add up at an annual basis, and can be significant.
Thermino heat battery needs no mandatory maintenance, and has minimal heat losses. Read more on how to save money on domestic hot water.
Transition to renewables? How can a Sunamp heat battery help you maximise savings?
Switching from gas boiler to heat pumps? How can Thermino help you get to zero emissions?
Let’s say that you’re currently on a combi-boiler heating & hot water system. With this system, the average annual gas usage for space heating & hot water is about 9600 kWh and 2400 kWh, respectively. The total carbon emissions currently amount to 2190 kgs.
When you add a Thermino xPlus and solar PV into the system, there’s a straight 60% reduction in the amount gas used from the combi, thanks to the pre-heating provided by Thermino xPlus, and water heating demand can be met by PV-generated electricity. This step cuts the emissions by about 12% over the original combi boiler system.
Then, when you introduce off-peak electricity to this system, hot water can be entirely provided by the PV + the back-up off-peak electricity, eliminating the need for gas for hot water completely. This leads to a reduction of about 20% emissions over the combi boiler system.
Finally, when you’re ready to install a heat pump, heating for hot water for taps and baths can be provided by heat pumps + solar PV entirely, bringing the onsite carbon emissions down to zero.
Read more on: https://sunamp.com/blog/switching-from-combi-boiler-to-heat-pumps/
What are the challenges associated with replacing gas boilers with heat pumps?
How can Thermino play a role?
The UK government has backed ground-source and air-source heat pumps as the preferred alternative to gas boilers for households looking to switch. Heat pumps run on electricity, are extremely efficient, and can be retrofitted. Here’s the thing though – combi boilers take up very little space in homes, so inmaking the switch to heat pumps you need to factor in the space needs of a bulky hot water cylinder for hot water storage. Our heat batteries are up to 4x smaller than an equivalent hot water tank, and can fit into the smallest of homes.
Read more: https://sunamp.com/blog/gas-boiler-replacement-and-hot-water-alternatives/
How can Thermino heat batteries help in maximising benefits of heat pump and solar installations?
A key benefit of the Thermino system is the ability to store the energy captured by a heat pump or generated by solar panels so it can be used for hot water at a time when it’s needed. This helps maximise the use of low carbon heat or electricity which may have been lost otherwise, and can reduce a household’s energy bills as less energy needs to be purchased from the grid. On a wider scale, energy storage can help balance the grid as the proportion of energy generated by renewables continues to grow. Read more on: https://sunamp.com/blog/how-thermal-storage-can-maximise-the-benefits-of-heat-pump-and-solar-installs/
How can a Thermino heat battery drive savings with solar PV?
Swapping out a hot water cylinder for an electrically charged Thermino 210 has helped a homeowner save up to 940 kWh of electricity in a year.
Thermino’s ePlus heat battery can be paired with solar panels to deliver hot water more efficiently from PV. At the same time, grid electricity can provide backup and automatically top up the charge whenever required. Read on: https://sunamp.com/blog/rise-of-solar-pv/
How does solar PV compare with solar thermal for hot water system?
While solar thermal system uses the sunlight to generate heat, a solar photovoltaics system (solar PV) works on the photovoltaic effect – photons (light) strike the semiconductor material, generating the release of electrons. Simply put, solar PV panels convert sunlight to electricity.
A solar PV diverter switch can help redirect the surplus electricity to power the immersion heater in a hot water tank, or a heat battery for hot water, which also offers other advantages over a hot water tank. Read more
What are some UK government grants, schemes and loans to upgrade to renewables and heat batteries?
Depending on where you are in the UK, homeowners can apply for: Boiler upgrade scheme (Also supports Sunamp heat battery as thermal storage), Energy company obligation (ECO4, help from your energy supplier), Home Upgrade Grant, the Great British Insulation Scheme, Energy saving funding options in Scotland, , Green Deal scheme, The Welsh Government Warm Homes Nest scheme, Northern Ireland Sustainable Energy Programme, and Affordable Warmth Scheme. Find more: https://sunamp.com/blog/uk-grants-for-homeowners-for-renewable-upgrade/
How can heat batteries help me maximise off-peak tariff?
Considering that a significant portion of total household energy consumption comes from hot water usage, there are obvious advantages to using thermal storage with ultra low heat losses to store energy as heat at off-peak rates for use during the day when it is most needed. Sunamp’s Thermino heat battery can optimise and manage energy demand when coupled with time of use, effectively shifting the ‘hot water demand’ to align with cost-effective periods.. Find more: https://sunamp.com/blog/cut-hot-water-costs-with-offpeak-electricity/
For installers
Why you should become a Sunamp-certified installer?
Installers can benefit from FREE training webinars to become Sunamp certified. Once you’ve completed the free training, your first installation will be assessed by Sunamp’s technical team to make sure there are no issues. You can then benefit from promotion through a free listing on Sunamp’s certified installer map, along with a merchandise pack and marketing materials to help promote your business and easily explain the benefits of Sunamp systems to customers. Know more: https://sunamp.com/blog/why-you-should-become-a-sunamp-certified-installer/
How can you help your customers improve their EPC ratings?
With an A+ energy rating, Sunamp is the only thermal battery manufacturer in the world to be awarded RAL certification for the phase change material. In terms of durability, the phase change material has been tested up to 40,000 cycles of charging, which is the equivalent of 50 years’ use with minimal degradation. Also, the heat battery has 2-3x lower heat losses than a cylinder (0.5-077kwh) also means water heating is ultra-efficient. Read more: https://sunamp.com/blog/how-to-improve-epc-ratings-for-installers/
What are the advantages of installing a Sunamp heat battery?
They are easy to install – it takes half the time to install a Thermino battery for domestic hot water than a hot water cylinder does because it can be easily fitted to pretty much any pre-existing type of plumbing system. They are also flexible to fit – at about 4 times smaller than the hot water cylinder alternative, roughly the size of a combi boiler, and can be fitted in a corner of a garage, airing cupboard, under the sink or under the stairs. There’s no stored water in a heat battery so there’s no requirement for advising customers about procedures for Legionella checks or annual servicing – and the product comes with 10 year warranty. Read more: https://sunamp.com/blog/new-opportunity-for-plumbers-and-heating-installers-to-grow-their-businesses/
For housing associations
How can efficient energy storage help tackle fuel poverty in social housing?
Improving the energy efficiency of housing stock will reduce running costs for fuel-poor households, as will optimising energy consumption. Reliable energy storage systems, such as electric or thermal batteries, can store electric or thermal energy during periods of low-demand from renewables and release it during peak hours, enabling residents to utilise cheaper electricity tariffs.
The EastHeat report conclusively shows the significant impact heat batteries have had in tackling fuel poverty simply by harnessing the excess energy that would have flown back into the grid, with no benefit to the homeowners. Not only did most of the 1& 2 bed properties benefit from ‘free’ hot water, but the heat batteries also drove a much higher ‘free’ PV consumption.
Read more: https://sunamp.com/blog/tackling-fuel-poverty-in-uks-social-housing-the-urgent-need-for-efficient-energy-storage/
What are some decarbonisation grants available to housing associations to retrofit low-carbon technology: heat pumps, solar and thermal storage?
Social landlords in Scotland can apply for the Social Housing Net Zero Heat Fund, a £200m funding pot which is available over the next 5 years to help social landlords reach net zero by 2045. In Wales, the Optimised Retrofit Programme is open to registered social landlords and local authorities to help install decarbonisation measures in existing housing stock.
In England, the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund is open to social housing providers, local authorities and charities to help upgrade homes with energy efficiency improvements. The Wave 3 application window is opening soon. Overall, the UK Government has committed £3.8bn to the fund over a 10-year period to help reach net zero by 2050.
Read more: https://sunamp.com/blog/how-do-heat-pumps-work-unlocking-heat-pump-efficiency-with-sunamp-thermino-for-retrofit-in-social-housing/
Can heat batteries help in energy and cost savings in social housing?
PCM heat batteries can significantly improve the energy efficiency of housing associations’ buildings. By storing excess thermal energy during off-peak periods and releasing it during peak demand, the heat batteries reduce environmental impact and optimise energy use in homes, not to mention they can deliver savings of up to £485 on the cost of hot water energy bills. One of our green retrofit projects at Thurrock estimates a 67% reduction in residents’ energy bills and a 70% reduction in CO2 emissions after replacing old storage heaters.
For housing developers and architects
How can Sunamp heat batteries help architects design low-carbon green buildings?
High energy efficiency: Thermino batteries are packed with high-performance vacuum insulation which achieves up to 19 times the insulation performance of polystyrene foam. This translates to ultra-low heat losses (up to 2-4x lower than a cylinder: 0.5-077 kWh vs 1.3-3.4kWh), meaning high efficiency and more energy savings for residents.
Achieving SAP compliance: Thermino ePlus & xPlus heat batteries can be manually entered and modelled in SAP 10.2 software here, to monitor dwelling energy performance, helping you meet required standards and sustainability goals.
Load flexibility: According to Ofgem, the expected electricity generation capacity from renewables and other zero-carbon sources will reach 300GW by 2035. PCM heat batteries can help manage peak demand more effectively.
Space-saving design: Thermino heat batteries have a sleek, cuboid design. They can fit into tight spaces, where a hot water tank cannot, which means more design freedom for architects and designers, and more precious floor space available for residents. Read more: https://sunamp.com/blog/sustainable-architecture-green-buildings/
Why pair renewable technologies in new builds with energy efficient thermal storage?
As housing developers are compelled to move away from installing gas boilers in new buildings to pass the SAP ratings, meet the FHS regulations and futureproof their stock while lowering energy bills for residents, low carbon alternatives such as heat pumps and solar PV both require additional thermal storage to deliver hot water to residents.
And to maximise the efficiency of renewables (which is critical to maintain EPCs), it’s important to have an energy-efficient alternative to bulky hot water cylinders in new build homes.