Let's Talk ASHP Solutions - Part 6

What are the key benefits and features of Baxi ASHPs?

At Baxi we have two ranges of commercial heat pumps: the Auriga & Auriga+. These product ranges each have their own benefits and, therefore, consideration should be given to the best solution for each challenge.

The Baxi Auriga mid-temperature heat pump provides flow temperatures up to 60oC, meaning it is perfectly suited for hybrid applications. In many cases, particularly in a retrofit project, a hybrid solution incorporating a mix of technologies will be the most sensible approach to achieve significant carbon reductions within budget and time constraints.

The Baxi Auriga is available from 20kW to 320kW when used in cascade.

Our new Baxi Auriga+, meanwhile, uses natural refrigerant. This refrigerant has a lower Global Warming Potential (GWP), improving the product’s sustainability. The Auriga+ can provide extremely high flow temperatures up to 80oC, meaning it is suitable for use in low and high temperature heating and domestic hot water installations.

The Auriga+ is extremely efficient, delivering Seasonal Coefficient of Performance (SCOP) scores up to 4.2 at W35 and 3.4 at W55. The units are manufactured with an inverter driven scroll compressor which enables modulation down to 13%, helping to improve efficiency further.

The Auriga+ comes in two outputs: 20kW & 30kW. When used in combination with our Commercial HVAC controller, we can cascade up to eight heat generators, be that eight heat pumps or a combination of Baxi heat pumps and boilers in a hybrid installation. The CHVAC controller also enables connection to a BMS through either Modbus or 0–10 V.

Our products operate at very low noise levels with a sound power of less than 65dBA, with a sound pressure of 43dBA at a distance of 5m.

Wherever you need heating or indirect hot water production, our heat pumps are a high-performing, efficient choice.

What development processes do the ASHPs go through?

The Baxi Auriga heat pumps are designed, manufactured and tested at our state-of-the-art facility in Vilafranca, Spain. Opened in 2022, this €13 million commercial heat pump facility boasts complete in-house capabilities spanning R&D, logistics, manufacturing and assembly, and including climatic testing chambers and a controls desk.

The labatory allow for a variety of testing conditions, including a wide temperature range, from -20°C to +55°C, the option for dry air or 100% humidity, and up to four climate rooms.

As part of BDR Thermea Group, we follow a rigorous New Product Development process which incorporates laboratory and in-field product testing to optimise performance and reliability of our appliances.

What knowledge and experience does Baxi have to help specifiers select the right ASHP?

With our Remeha, Andrews and Heatrae Sadia brands, Baxi has a lot of experience in providing commercial heating and hot water solutions for our customers across several market sectors. For all our products we have comprehensive specification guides and technical data sheets to provide customers with the data they need to assess suitability of our products.

But our help and support far exceeds documentation. At the outset, our technical sales and sector managers will work collaboratively with our customers to understand their project goals and deep dive into their needs. We will then work with them to scope out potential solutions and undertake initial feasibility studies to understand how Baxi can help them.

Once this initial assessment has taken place, our in-house technical team can support our customers with system design, system sizing and simulation testing to assess solution suitability against the customer’s project.

With the help of our colleagues at BDR Thermea Group, we are building up a catalogue of real-life tested and simulation system solutions. This data can support us in calculating expected CO2 savings and potential reductions in running costs for a customer’s project.

The knowledge and experience within the team is exceptional, with many of our team having vast experience as heating engineers.

What Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) do Baxi products hold?

Baxi can provide complete and independently validated Lifecycle Carbon Assessments for all of our commercial heat pumps. These reports give our customers the information they need to assess the embodied carbon of their projects and, ultimately, make the selections on equipment that help them fulfil their project goals. They help in calculating the whole life carbon of projects to estimate environmental benefits over a long period of time.

Outside of heat pumps we also hold embodied carbon data across a number of our electric water heater, gas water heater and hot water cylinder product families.

Baxi is committed to full transparency around the performance of its products – and EPD certificates are just one measure that can be used.

EPDs is another example of how Baxi can assist consultant engineers make accurate carbon calculations through transparent documentation.

How can ASHPs help achieve carbon neutral targets?

Heat pumps decarbonise heating at the point of use. They are an extremely important part of how we as an organisation, and our wider industry, are supporting our commercial and residential customers through the energy transition.

The primary benefit of ASHPs is their exceptional energy efficiency, with multiple units of heat produced for each unit of power used to run the pump.

Secondly, ASHPs rely on ambient air, which is inherently sustainable.

With the expertise and support we have within our group, we are really excited to be able to bring a product range to market which can support our customers who have a variety of decarbonisation goals. For example, with our mid and high-temperature heat pumps, along with hybrid system controllers and our existing gas boiler catalogue, we can support customers in both hybrid and all-electric applications, and to satisfy both space heating and domestic hot water applications.

Our technical experts assess our customers’ carbon reduction goals before working collaboratively to design the best bespoke solution for every project.

How does Baxi’s service and expertise differ from competitors?

To support our product offer, Baxi can assist our customers with a range of pre and after-sales services.

Our design and technical support capabilities can help customers with feasibility studies and system design and sizing – but it doesn’t end there. Alongside this, Baxi is offering on-site commissioning support of our Auriga and Auriga+ range at no extra cost. This service will ensure correct set-up and operation of our units, giving customers peace of mind that their new hybrid or all-electric installation will operate as expected.

Baxi has a nationwide network of 270 after-sales service engineers, supported by our in-house technical helpline. These colleagues can help provide remote fault-finding and triage support, as well as on-site product repairs, service and maintenance. 

We are committed to working alongside our customers through every step of the journey, from conception to post-completion.

How have ASHPs developed over the last 30 years?

With the development of heat pumps to make use of different refrigerants, manufacturers can now help customers with a wider variety of decarbonisation goals, be that through the installation of hybrid or all-electric systems.

These new refrigerants - such as R290 (propane) which we utilise in the Auriga+ - and CO2 can deliver higher flow temperatures up to 80oC. This can help when replacing boilers in an existing building.

Other improvements include the introduction of variable speed compressors, which adjust output based on demand, and enhanced defrosting to improve performance in cold weather.

Smart controls have also been integrated to allow for remote monitoring and scheduling, and noise levels have also reduced.

Crucially, Baxi heat pumps have also become significantly more durable and reliable, with longer lifespans and reduced maintenance requirements.

Baxi's research and development teams are working daily to make ASHP systems more efficient.

Despite all these technological improvements, it is always important for customers to consider a fabric first approach. By reducing the heat loss of a building, the heating capacity of the plant can be reduced, driving lower capital and running costs for the customer.

Explaining incentives to switch to ASHPs

There is funding available to support in the purchase and installation of heat pumps. In the public sector, eligible academies, sixth-form colleges and voluntary-aided (VA) schools can apply for capital funding from the Condition Improvement Fund.

As well as this, funding can be awarded to Local Authorities, schools, higher education institutions and healthcare organisations through the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme.

There is guidance on the Government website, but Baxi’s technical team are also able to signpost customers towards potential funding routes.