Tool to support move away from gas boilers

The Australian Alliance for Energy Productivity (A2EP) has launched an online estimation tool designed to aid Australian businesses in sizing heat pumps to replace gas boilers in a bid to reduce skyrocketing energy costs and decarbonise operations to meet net zero targets.

A2EP notes that although the implementation of industrial heat pumps is growing rapidly in Europe and other parts of the world, Australia has been slower to take up the technology.

“There is a lack of understanding across industry, which we at A2EP are trying to overcome with resources and tools like the Heat Pump Estimator,” says A2EP CEO Jarrod Leak.

“A lot of manufacturing and operations managers think heat pumps don’t compete on cost, but that’s based on the incorrect assumption that you need to replace a boiler with a heat pump of the same capacity, which is not the case.”

The online tool is designed to give decision-makers the basic information they need to understand if a heat pump system is technically and economically viable for their business, and to start a conversation with an energy consultant or heat pump provider.

“So many Australian businesses are under extreme pressure from the rapid rise of energy prices, particularly gas price,” says Leak. “They need to understand there are alternative technologies available right now that can reduce their energy costs, decarbonise and improve their self-sufficiency, and now is the time to get started.”

Matthew Deegan, Sustainability Program Manager with the Australian Meat Processor Corporation, says there is great potential for heat pumps to significantly reduce energy costs and emissions.

“Like many businesses across industry, Australian meat processors need to reduce their energy costs and want to operate more sustainably,” says Deegan. “We want to help them do just that, which is why we have supported the development of this tool.

“Some processors are starting to realise the savings heat pumps can offer for their situation. This Heat Pump Estimator will help other businesses to identify the first steps towards real cost and emission savings from heat pumps.”

According to A2EP, the potential for decarbonising process heat in Australian industry is huge.

“Around 52 per cent of Australian industrial energy end-use is from the generation of heat for processes,” says Leak. “A good proportion of that can be supplied with existing, commercial heat pump technologies to deliver cost and emission savings.”

The Heat Pump Estimator was developed by A2EP, pitt&sherry and SmartConsult, with support from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), the Australian Meat Processor Corporation and Mayekawa Australia. The tool is part of a suite of resources developed by A2EP, including reports, webinars and the dedicated website, FutureHeat.info.

The Heat Pump Estimator can be accessed at heatpumpestimator.com