Hybrid Heating Trial 2025: Solar and Battery Integration

Refresh NI is excited to announce the latest phase of our hybrid heat pump trial, now enhanced with solar PV and battery storage at a retrofit home in the Belfast area.

Following the success of Refresh NI’s earlier hybrid heat pump studies, this latest phase explores how solar generation can complement hybrid renewable heating systems in retrofit homes across Northern Ireland. The Hybrid Heating Trial 2025 aims to measure the impact of adding a solar & battery system to an existing renewable heating system in Northern Ireland’s retrofit market.

Refresh NI’s 2025 update builds on the previous hybrid heat pump studies by adding a Sunsynk solar PV array (six 435 W panels) and a 5.3 kW Sunsynk battery for energy storage to the existing system, comprised of an Alpha E-Tec Hybrid Heat Pump coupled with a gas combi boiler for backup.

Why Solar PV & Battery?:

Refresh NI chose to add solar PV & battery storage to the existing air-source heat pump system as the next step in the trial due to several expected benefits:

• Lower energy bills – the electricity generated by the solar panels & can power the heat pump during daylight hours, cutting grid electricity usage.
• Reduced carbon emissions –  an additional on-site energy source would reduce the homeowner’s reliance on fossil fuels.
• Enhanced system efficiency – solar integration maximises self-consumption, potentially improving the heat pump’s overall seasonal performance.
  

Additionally, the case study would provide clear, evidence-based guidance for homeowners considering a hybrid heat pump combined with solar PV. By monitoring energy use, comfort levels, and cost savings in a real retrofit home, we can establish a framework of realistic expectations for energy savings, carbon reduction, system performance, and investment planning.

Early Insights

The findings of the Hybrid Heating Trial 2025 suggest that solar-assisted systems can meaningfully offset electricity usage for heat pump operation. Josh Rowe, Technical Director at Refresh NI, said:

“The value of this next phase of the trial is that it reflects how people actually live and use energy in their homes. By adding solar PV and battery storage, we can see how hybrid heat pumps benefit from using their own generated electricity, reducing reliance on the grid and lowering running costs. It also helps us understand how integrated systems can play a bigger role in decarbonising homes and is a practical step towards more resilient, lower-cost heating for retrofit properties.”

View and download Refresh NI’s Hybrid Heating Trial 2025 by clicking the button below.

 To register your interest in a hybrid heat pump or solar PV & battery storage, please click the links below or call 028 9099 3485 to arrange a free, no-obligation survey.