Passiv UK unveils innovative smart thermostat for heat pump control at InstallerSHOW 2024

Passiv UK is set to unveil its latest innovation, the Passiv Smart Thermostat, at InstallerSHOW 2024. The Passiv Smart Thermostat is the first smart thermostat designed specifically for controlling heat pumps and is the result of over 10 years of R&D in low-carbon heating.

It makes heat pump control simple and can reduce heating bills by 30%. The Energy Saving Trust verified that it increases the Coefficient of Performance (COP) of a heat pump by 17% and it can also optimise to time-of-use tariffs and rooftop solar generation.

The Passiv Smart Thermostat is the first in a new generation of smarter heating controls. Once installed, it learns how a home heats up and cools down and how a heating system behaves. It then uses local weather forecasts to calculate the optimal way to meet a homeowner’s comfort requirements with smart preheating, while continuously optimising the heat pump’s flow temperature to maximise its COP. This also removes the need for an installer to set a weather compensation curve, taking the guesswork out of heat pump installation.

What comprises the thermostat?

The thermostat is made up of the Passiv app, Thermostat, Programmer, and Hub, which together provide simple, smart control of heating and hot water using either the in-home devices or remotely on a smartphone. Working without access to the internet is a key requirement for the new-build market. Other smart thermostats require an internet connection to be set up and access to a smartphone app, which can make them unsuitable for many homes.

For installers, the new product makes a heat pump installation simpler. In addition to removing the need to set a weather compensation curve, the Passiv Smart Thermostat features wired or wireless thermostats and a built-in, push-fit wiring centre to speed up heat pump installation. The product can be commissioned in two minutes using only the Programmer, which also guides the homeowner through registering for the Passiv app for a quick and simple handover process.

Greener Grid Payments

The Passiv Smart Thermostat also enables heat pump users to participate in Greener Grid Payments. Greener Grid Payments is the UK’s first automated Demand Side Response (DSR) service for heat pump owners, allowing them to get paid for using their heat pumps. The Passiv Smart Thermostat automatically responds to signals based on the needs of the wider electricity network, reducing demand whilst using smart preheating to make sure the home doesn’t noticeably cool down. Over winter 2023/2024, top earning participants received over £65 for taking part.

Ian Rose, Sales and Strategy Director at Passiv UK, says: “We are delighted to launch the Passiv Smart Thermostat, a revolutionary new smart controller for heat pumps. The Passiv Smart Thermostat makes heat pump optimisation simple, delivers better home comfort and can reduce heating bills by 30%.

“With the Government targeting 600,000 heat pump installations a year by 2028 and the Future Homes Standard banning gas boilers in new-build homes, it is more important than ever that heat pumps are installed with smart controls that make them easy to use, efficient, and affordable.”