Residential CO2 Heat Pump

How does the technology work?

An air to water heat pump is a very efficient device that uses energy in the ambient air for the production of heat. It uses a refrigerant cycle with a compressor and heat exchangers to extract heat from the ambient air and transfers this heat to water. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), heat pumps are three to five times as efficient as a gas boiler, while using (renewable) electricity as energy source rather than fossil gas.

Many heat pumps use Hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) refrigerants such as R32 which have a high Global Warming Potential (GWP). These refrigerants will soon be phased out by EU F-gas regulations. DENSO’s heat pumps use the natural refrigerant CO2, which has a Global Warming Potential (GWP) of only 1, meaning this technology is GREEN and futureproof!

A CO2 Air to water heat pump is a good fit for:

  • High temperature domestic hot water production
  • High temperature radiator heating in existing, moderately insulated homes.

About the product

DENSO first introduced CO2 refrigerant to its Air to Water Heat Pumps in 2001, in Japan. Known as ‘Eco-Cute’, the product‘s improved energy efficiency meant that less domestic electricity was required. As a result the innovation won six globally recognised energy and environment awards, including the 2002 EPA Environmental Climate Protection Award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

DENSO’s CO2 Air to Water Heat Pump was first introduced into Europe in 2009 and set a standard for compact size, light weight and low noise. It is supplied exclusively as original equipment to heat pump manufacturers.

Our partner Vattenfall has developed a solution that incorporates a buffer system which allows the DENSO CO2 Heat Pump to be used for space heating and domestic hot water at the same time. This all-electric heat pump system fully eliminates the need for gas boilers in existing, moderately insulated homes. Starting from July 2023 our partner Vattenfall exclusively installs these in projects for Social Housing Corporations. For further details of this project please refer to Vattenfall website.