The engineer who brought this to my attention also observed that DNOs might actually reduce the LV levels closer to 230v instead of 240v as at present. That wouldn't require a change to the regulations because 230v is already the 'designated voltage'.
The change could be effected by reducing the 11kV output from Primary Substations over a longish period of time.
It has implications for grid upgrades.
An EV charger or Heat-Pump requiring 4kW at a given moment in time would draw 4.3% more current at 230v than at 240v.
Consequently, a greater proportion of the Distribution Grid would suffer thermal overload, and require upgrading. DNOs would expect Ofgem to approve such recabling, the costs of which would be met by higher electricity bills in that Region.
This post was modified 1 month ago 3 times by Transparent
GB could achieve the same as Ireland if DESNZ understood the problems better.
Instead of increasing the grant from £5k to £7500, we should've put the additional £2500 into an inspection regime run by the local Building Control office. Whilst on-site the surveyors would also have been able to check related works which might've been part of an ECO4 package. We've really missed a chance to raise the standards.
@deltona, are you speaking out of authority based on demonstrable fact or expressing an opinion based on not feeling able to believe the claim?
105 m2 bungalow in South East England
Mitsubishi Ecodan 8.5 kW air source heat pump
18 x 360W solar panels
1 x 6 kW GroWatt battery and SPH5000 inverter
1 x Myenergi Zappi
1 x VW ID3
Raised beds for home-grown veg and chickens for eggs
"Semper in excretia; sumus solum profundum variat"
Interesting article from a Which magazine journalist. Other than the references to a buffer tank which imply that they're essential elements of an installation, it came across as a well balanced piece to me.
Had to laugh at being instantly able to identify Supplier A from the generic description provided.
130m2 4 bed detached house in West Yorkshire 10kW Mitsubishi Ecodan R290 Heat Pump - Installed June 2025 6.3kWp PV, 5kW Sunsynk Inverter, 3 x 5.3kWh Sunsynk Batteries MyEnergi Zappi Charger for 1 EV (Ioniq5) and 1 PHEV (Outlander) User of Havenwise (Full control Jun-Dec 2025, DHW only from early Dec) Subscriber to MelPump App data via CN105 Dongle Kit
Interesting article from a Which magazine journalist. Other than the references to a buffer tank which imply that they're essential elements of an installation, it came across as a well balanced piece to me.
Yes, I was curious about it. In the case of this journalist, she decided it was not for her home given how disruptive the installation would have to be. But it is a very good guide of what a consumer may want to consider before spending any money with installers technical assessments.
I like the way they put it: "When combined with a suitable time-of-use (TOU) tariff, they should cost no more to run than a gas boiler and, in the right home, can be considerably cheaper.". They also have a running costs savings calculator, looking scaringly simple...
8kW Solis S6-EH1P8K-L-PLUS hybrid inverter; G99: 8kw export; 16kWh Seplos Fogstar battery; Ohme Home Pro EV charger; 100Amp head, HA lab on mini PC
Having just lived through the installation of a properly fitted and designed Heat Pump, along with a years worth of research, planning and pre install work (including installing a large battery bank), this article is spot on.
There is much work to do for the industry to persuade people to make the jump to a Heat Pump from their Gas Boilers!
And we haven't even talked about how to run it effectively post install.....!
@sheriff-fatman Of course Octopus have a larger capacity heat pump now than when she had a survey carried out; however, at that point, presumably they didn’t want to fit a larger Daikin (was their heat pump of choice before the Cosy range muscled in). Toodles.
Toodles, heats his home with cold draughts and cooks food with magnets.
Reluctant as I am to link to anything produced by The Telegraph, this is an interesting challenge to the Heat Pump industry by Dale Vince, particularly the point about the reality of CoP performance for many users.
130m2 4 bed detached house in West Yorkshire 10kW Mitsubishi Ecodan R290 Heat Pump - Installed June 2025 6.3kWp PV, 5kW Sunsynk Inverter, 3 x 5.3kWh Sunsynk Batteries MyEnergi Zappi Charger for 1 EV (Ioniq5) and 1 PHEV (Outlander) User of Havenwise (Full control Jun-Dec 2025, DHW only from early Dec) Subscriber to MelPump App data via CN105 Dongle Kit
