September 26th later this year marks the start of upcoming stricter EU regulations for residential space heaters including gas boilers, driving fast development of more energy-efficient heating appliances and European-wide introduction of Gas Heat Pumps (GHP’s).
ClimateWell AB, a Swedish award-winning innovation company and leading provider of unique thermo-chemical sorption technology, has in this Feasibility Study verified the technical and commercial feasibility of a unique thermal heat pump component - HeatBoost – that can be integrated in Gas Heat Pumps, raising the thermal efficiency in gas-fired boilers up to 170%, combined with a 90-degree temperature lift.
HeatBoost makes it possible to heat pump outside ambient air (as the renewable energy source) down to -20° C, and enables retrofitting in houses with old, high temperature radiators, while achieving an annual energy efficiency of over 130%.
The technology can potentially save more than 30% of the natural gas consumption, and thus energy cost for a typical European household using a conventional condensing gas boiler today. The cost premium for the technology can be paid back in less than 3 years, making it an attractive investment for the end-user and possible to finance.
Working already with major OEM’s like GE, Caterpillar, Rheem and Alfa Laval in other applications, ClimateWell is now initiating a Phase 2 Project, using best-in-class expertise in this field, to demonstrate the concept full-scale in an operational environment.
ClimateWell has secured the support of Europe’s leading gas utility company Gaz de France (GDF), the IEA heat pump programme working group for GHP’s as well as the European Heat Pump Association, forming an industry reference group to provide valuable industry input.
ClimateWell’s target customers, the European gas boiler OEM’s such as Vaillant, BDR and Ariston, will be solicited for feedback throughout the Project as well as attend the demonstration of the GHP concept at the end of the Project.
While the target market for domestic space heating in Europe is huge with an installed base of 90 million boilers and over 8 million sold every year, the potential environmental impact is even bigger with a total reduction of the CO2 footprint of 61.5 million tons.
ClimateWell estimates the addressable market to 1 million components per year, which at 1000 Euro per HeatBoost component, is valued to 1 billion Euro.
