What is a hybrid heating system?

A hybrid heating system is a modern, environmentally-conscious approach to providing residential heating that combines different technologies and energy sources to optimise efficiency and reduce carbon emissions. The essential characteristic of hybrid systems is that they blend the functionalities of a heat pump with a variety of alternative heating solutions, such as hydrogen boilers, biofuels, or direct electric heating. Additionally, it can also effectively utilize bio-LPG fuels, which are currently available in limited volumes.

Can you use your existing boiler as part of a hybrid heating system?

Yes, you can use your existing boiler as part of a hybrid heating system, especially in a bivalent system setup. In a bivalent system, any heat pump is paired with any gas or oil boiler and combined via a buffer tank, meaning you can potentially work with your existing gas or oil boiler if it is still in good order. The heat pump will run as much as possible when it can meet your demand, and when the outside temperature drops below a certain point, the heat pump will switch off, and the boiler will fire; they do not run at the same time.

What are the advantages of these hybrid systems?

For homes that are poorly insulated or larger in size, fossil fuels may still play a role in providing the higher temperatures needed for conventional radiator systems. Hybrid systems provide the flexibility to accommodate both lower and higher-temperature heating needs.

What are the disadvantages of a hybrid system?

Putting in a hybrid heating system, which uses both a heat pump and sometimes a new boiler, can cost a pretty penny at the start. Plus, if you need to tweak your current heating setup so it works with the new system, that’s going to cost extra too. Bummer alert: there’s no government cash help for this kind of heating setup. The Boiler Upgrade Scheme, which can give up to £5,000 or £6,000 to help pay for heat pump costs, is only giving a thumbs up to systems that are all-electric.

What’s the difference between a Heat pump and a hybrid heat pump?

In short, a regular heat pump is an all-electric system that moves heat around to warm or cool your space, while a hybrid heat pump brings in a boiler to help out when it gets super chilly or when lots of hot water is needed. So, the hybrid system is like having a backup buddy to make sure you’re always comfy, no matter what the weather’s doing!