Grant UK previewed the Aerona Smart Controller, a new control for its Aerona³ heat pumps, at InstallerSHOW in June 2023. The company said the response from installers at the show was positive, and it set out the product's features in a news release dated 2 January 20241.
The controller is described as a weather compensated unit that can operate up to three heating zones as well as domestic hot water. It has a 4.5 inch touch screen display, and Grant says it combines that display with remote monitoring and heating curve configuration. Heating curves can be adjusted independently for each zone, and the controller calculates the flow temperature for the heat pump according to conditions outside the property1.
A wi-fi hub is supplied with the controller. Grant says the hub, together with a web-browser platform and an app, gives access to core performance data for the heat pump and system, remote adjustment of temperature settings and parameters, and error codes and diagnostics information. The controller also carries in-built installer assistant features intended to support set-up and commissioning of an Aerona³ heat pump1.
"When we previewed this product at InstallerSHOW last June, the response we received from customers was incredibly positive"
Grant has not reported a price for the Aerona Smart Controller, a general on-sale date, or which existing Aerona³ models it will work with beyond the Aerona³ range named in the release1.
| Feature | Detail as stated by Grant UK |
|---|---|
| Display | 4.5 inch touch screen |
| Zones | Up to three heating zones plus domestic hot water |
| Control type | Weather compensated, with independent heating curves per zone |
| Connectivity | Wi-fi hub, web-browser platform and app |
| Remote functions | Performance data, temperature and parameter adjustment, error codes and diagnostics |
| Installer features | In-built installer assistant for set-up and commissioning |
Why it matters for households
For a home with a heat pump, the control that sets flow temperature has a direct bearing on running costs and on how independently the household can manage its own heating. A weather compensated controller adjusts the water temperature sent to radiators or underfloor heating according to the outdoor temperature, rather than running at a fixed high temperature. Grant states that independent heating curves per zone let the controller calculate the optimum flow temperature for the heat pump1. In practical terms, that is the mechanism by which a system avoids overheating a home and wasting energy, which is central to heating controls and to how a household's energy use is managed day to day.
The remote monitoring element matters for a different reason. Access to performance data, error codes and diagnostics through an app or browser means faults and inefficient settings can be identified without a visit, which affects how quickly a system is returned to efficient operation. For households weighing control options, the difference between zone-by-zone control and a single thermostat is set out in smart TRVs versus a smart thermostat, and the practicalities of fitting or replacing controls are covered in installing and replacing heating controls.
The installer relationship is also part of the picture. Grant states the controller has in-built installer assistant features for commissioning an Aerona³ heat pump1, which ties the product to the installers who set systems up. The wider role of that trade in household energy decisions is covered in installers, retailers and household energy independence.
What happens next
The release is dated 2 January 2024 and describes the product as a new addition to the Grant heat pump range1. No launch date beyond that, no pricing and no confirmed list of compatible models have been reported.