@editor 

I seem to have got myself into a bit of trouble on LinkedIn with Octopus’s TJ Root for questioning the Cosy 12’s inclusion in TIME’s Best Inventions of 2026. I simply asked what sets it apart from comparable heat pumps, because the write-up highlights heating larger, older homes efficiently without explaining the particular innovation. Surely that describes plenty of heat pumps already on the UK market? What do you think? Is there something especially innovative about the Cosy 12 that I’m overlooking that warrants being added to Time's best inventions of 2026?

I don't think that you are at all out of order asking what is innovative about the Cosy 12 that warrants its inclusion in the list of TIME's best "inventions" in the household category for 2026.

There are some interesting contenders on that page:

https://time.com/collection/best-inventions/2026/

Looking at a few of the other "inventions" in the household category, the supporting text is often along the lines of, "XYZ technology has been around for 20 years, what makes this special is that" and then goes on to state the USP. The text about the Cosy 12 doesn't do that.

It possibly does have some USPs. It has a small footprint, since the casing is the same as the Cosy 9, but it runs a higher fan speed, so higher noise levels are the trade off for that. It comes with 4 Cosy pods that monitor room temps and humidity. Octopus engineers can monitor system performance remotely, spot inefficiencies, and deploy software adjustments or fixes. So there is a level of vertical integration that perhaps isn't there with other heat pumps. 

I think the issue here is really the use of the word "invention" and the meaning of it. (Cambridge dictionary: An invention is a unique device, method, composition, or process that has never been made or existed before, created through study, experiment, or imagination). If instead it was "TIME's best new technology of 2026" then I don't think anyone would have any issue with it. 

@toodles - innovative storage like that from RheEnergise doesn't need to be co-located at the Bulk Supply Point. It just needs spare capacity on the Distribution Grid to take the solar generation anywhere other than the 400kV Transmission Grid.

Pyworthy BSP has two separate 33kV 100mm² routes running east to Hatherleigh. That's situated within a hilly part of central Devon which would better lend itself to a pumped-hydro site. Coincidentally I'm running an energy seminar at Hatherleigh next week, 11am on Monday 26th.

The local population is concerned at a proposal from Xlinks to build a 1.8GW BESS and data centre on hills near Great Torrington.

But GB already has too much BESS and no more connections will currently be approved. This is shown in the following diagrams which were presented by NESO during a training webinar for RESP participants, so it has some authority behind it.

A pumped high-density hydro solution is likely to be viewed more favourably than 2000+ battery containers on the skyline. It's an idea which would be worthwhile mentioning to Parish and Borough Councillors to gauge their reaction.

Applications for the RESP roles are currently being evaluated by NESO. This is a good example of where local knowledge sees the opportunities which aren't large enough to feature on the national road-map.

Posted by: @rob-of-york

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Octopus engineers can monitor system performance remotely, spot inefficiencies, and deploy software adjustments or fixes.

Given the comments last week (13th Oct) by Sir Ken McCallum, Director General of MI5, the capability to remotely alter firmware in energy appliances should be regarded as a security risk.

I worked partly in computer security. I saw things that would make people run screaming to unplug their devices from wifi.

Any device that is important and does not need to be connected to the internet should not be connected to the internet.  Any that have to be really belong on a separate guest network where they can't talk to anything else in the house.

We've had Deye brick inverters remotely for being grey imports. We've had Tesla shut systems down and discharge them remotely with pretty much no warning because they shipped potentially dodgy batteries. Anything the vendor can do someone who hacks the vendor can do, or someone can do if their president goes off the rails and orders it to happen.

Some of the plug in batteries you can actually turn into bricks simply by sending them the right message, and when reverse engineering their highly insecure protocols people have done this by accident.

If it doesn't work entirely offline then you are at the mercy of the vendor, the vendor going bust, being sold, discontinuing support for your "obsolete" product, foreign powers, and probably the highest risk element of all - a bored teenager who just hacked their control system for the lolz