Hybrid solutions bring together two different heating technologies helping homeowners to incorporate renewable energy into their homes.
Hybrid heating packages together two different heating technologies and combines them in one operating system. These innovative hybrid solutions can enable households with traditional fossil fuel systems (for example gas or oil) to inject greener, more sustainable technologies (like an air source heat pump) into their home heating.
How does a hybrid heating system work?
A typical hybrid heating system will incorporate an air source heat pump with a second source of heat, such as an oil boiler or gas boiler. While there are different types of hybrid systems, the basic principles of how they work will be similar. The heat pump, which will be positioned outside the property, will draw in air, extract its latent heat energy and transfer this into energy that can be used within a central heating system, warming up rooms and providing hot water. To learn more about how air source heat pumps work, please head over to our heat pump page in the Education Area.
The heating demand of the property combined with its heat loss will determine how much of the demand the heat pump will meet. The secondary heat source within the hybrid system will then work to fulfil the remaining heating and hot water demand.
Providing the communication link between the heat pump, the second heat source and the wider heating system will be a central controller. This controller will monitor the room temperatures and any demand for hot water, calling on the heat pump and secondary heat source when required, either independently or separately depending on the type of system set up. These controls incorporate advanced technology which will prioritise the use of the heat pump over the second heat source whenever possible.
When the outside temperature significantly drops to a point when the heat pump is unable to operate efficiently, the controls system will automatically switch the heating system’s operation to bring in the second heat source, either switching the operation completely from the heat pump to the boiler or using both heat sources together. Such controls are also able to monitor the average external temperatures and optimise the hybrid system’s operation to be most efficient in given conditions, switching between the heat pump, the boiler or a combination of both.
The infographics below provide an example of the different modes of operation that the Grant VortexAir Hybrid uses with the controls seamlessly switching the operating modes depending on the ambient air temperature and the property’s assumed heat loss.
Types of hybrid heating systems
There are different types of hybrid heating systems available and each one works slightly differently - here we explain how the hybrid products from Grant UK operate.
VortexAir Hybrid - oil boiler/heat pump hybrid
The Grant VortexAir combines a Vortex low NOx flame oil boiler with an Aerona³ R32 air source heat pump. Both appliances can be installed externally as one complete unit or the oil boiler can be sited indoors and the heat pump fitted outdoors, depending on the needs of the property. These hybrid systems have been designed to maximise overall system efficiency, cleverly switching between different heating modes whether that be the heat pump operating only, the oil boiler operating only or a combination of both. Depending on the temperature demands on the system, a hybrid like the VortexAir will seamlessly switch operation to the most effective heating mode.
Learn more about the Grant VortexAir oil boiler and heat pump hybrid.
EvoLink Hybrid System - heat pump hybrid hub
The EvoLink is a wall-mounted white cased unit which houses the hydraulics to add an Aerona³ R32 air source heat pump to an existing fossil fuel heating system. Compatible with most types of existing domestic heating systems, including gas boilers, oil boilers, LPG boilers and modulating biomass boilers, the EvoLink allows households to incorporate renewable energy into their heating system while also keeping their existing boiler as the supplementary heat source. When a heat pump alone may be unable to fulfil a property’s entire heat demand, the EvoLink provides a solution to reduce the carbon emissions of a heating system.
Discover more about the Grant EvoLink Hybrid System Hub.
Hybrid heating system pros and cons
Hybrid heating systems can help hard to heat homes, which are not quite ready to make the transition to a heat pump alone, reduce their carbon emissions. Here are a few of the benefits that hybrid heating can offer as well as a couple of the downsides of a hybrid system.
Pros of hybrid heating systems
- Restoring heat - Hybrid solutions such as the VortexAir allow heat to be restored to a property quickly (by fitting the high efficiency oil boiler as a stand-alone unit first) before making the necessary adjustments to the system and radiators to accommodate the heat pump (which can be installed afterwards).
- Environmental benefits - Homeowners who want to reduce the carbon footprint of their homes can turn to hybrid technologies to meet their needs, with greener energy fuelling their heating system for much of the time but with the back-up of a traditional fuel source when demand requires. The EvoLink Hybrid System Hub facilitates the installation of a low carbon heat pump alongside an existing boiler, helping homes commence their transition away from fossil fuels.
Follow the link here to read more about the advantages of a hybrid heat pump.
Cons of hybrid heating systems
- Cost – The installation costs for a hybrid heat pump compared to those of a standard boiler replacement will be higher in most instances. However, the long-term benefits that a hybrid heating system can deliver, such as reducing a home’s reliance and use of fossil fuels, can result in both environmental and financial returns on the investment.
- Not entirely renewable – Hybrid systems are not 100% renewable so compared to a standalone air source heat pump, they are not as sustainable. However, for properties which are currently unable to move to a heat pump alone, a hybrid system can provide a solution which will help significantly reduce their carbon emissions compared to using a traditional fossil fuel boiler on its own. If you are interested in learning more about hybrids and how they can be a stepping stone towards achieving net zero carbon targets, please listen to our Net Zero Heating Show Podcast – download our hybrid episode here.
How much does a hybrid heat pump cost?
As with any new heating system, the installation costs of a hybrid heating system will vary from house to house because every home will have its own specific requirements. To obtain a quote for a new hybrid heat pump for your home, please speak to a local heating installer who will visit your property, assess its heat loss, evaluate the boiler you currently have installed (to see if it is suitable for hybrid product such as the EvoLink) and discuss your space heating and hot water requirements.
The running costs of a hybrid heating system will also vary from one installation to another. A hybrid can provide cost benefits but this will depend on a property’s overall heat demand, the type of heating previously installed, the pattern of heating usage, and the costs of electricity and of the fossil fuel used by the second heat source. To discover the answers to more questions surrounding hybrid heating, please visit our FAQs page.
Hybrid heating system installation
When installing a hybrid heating system, the air source heat pump will always be located outside the property. The second heat source will either be located indoors or positioned alongside the heat pump as a single unit outside. For example, with the EvoLink Hybrid System Hub, the original boiler (such as a gas boiler) will remain in its original location with the EvoLink unit wall mounted nearby in the kitchen or utility room and the Aerona³ R32 heat pump installed outdoors.
As with any heat pump installation, a hybrid heat pump installation should be thoroughly planned with an in-depth heat loss calculation carried out on the property to ensure that the correctly sized system is specified and installed. Usually, with a hybrid system, minimal changes are needed to the heat emitters already in the home so this can reduce the overall installation time. While every installation is different, a typical hybrid heat pump installation will take between 3-5 days to complete.
Learn more about hybrid system installations by reading some of our case studies below:
- Living with a VortexAir Hybrid in a 200 year old cottage
- VortexAir exceeds expectations at a family home
Discover Grant UK’s Hybrid Heat Pumps today
Grant UK supply a range of hybrid heating solutions which have been designed and developed to help homeowners reduce their dependency on fossil fuels. The Grant hybrid heat pump offering includes the VortexAir oil boiler and heat pump hybrid as well as the EvoLink Hybrid System Hub which allows a new Grant air source heat pump to be installed alongside most types of existing boilers. To take your first steps towards more sustainable heating in your home, please speak to your local heat pump and hybrid heat pump installers.
