Panasonic Heating & Cooling Solutions announced on 27 July 2023 that it has added Bi-Bloc units to its Aquarea L Series of air source heat pumps. The announcement was made from Welwyn, UK, and covers units that can provide heating, domestic hot water production and cooling if required1.
The L Series uses the natural refrigerant R290, which Panasonic states has a low global warming potential of 3, and says this gives a lower environmental impact than alternative refrigerants and allows for a more energy-efficient solution rated A+++1. The company says the range provides water outlet temperatures of up to 75°C even at outdoor temperatures down to minus 10°C1. Panasonic describes the units as allowing easy installation with a hydraulic, or water, connection between the indoor and outdoor unit1.
"Panasonic Heating & Cooling Solutions continues to expand its heat pump portfolio with the addition of Bi-Bloc units to its Aquarea L Series"
Standard connection options listed by the company include buffer tank control, a secondary heating pump, 3-way or 2-way valve control, a room thermostat, boiler connection for hybrid operation, and Wi-Fi control of the heat pump remotely1. An upgrade board can be fitted alongside further options, which Panasonic lists as two zone control, PV integration and swimming pool pump control, among others1. The company states the heat pumps were recognised in the 2022 Good Design Awards, the iF Design Awards 2023 and the Red Dot Awards 20231.
| Feature | Detail as stated by Panasonic |
|---|---|
| Refrigerant | R290, GWP of 31 |
| Efficiency rating | A+++1 |
| Maximum water outlet temperature | Up to 75°C1 |
| Operation at low outdoor temperature | Down to minus 10°C1 |
| Functions | Heating, domestic hot water, cooling if required1 |
Why it matters for households
The refrigerant a heat pump uses affects both its efficiency and its exposure to refrigerant rules. R290 sits well below the thresholds that the F-Gas regulations target, which is relevant to any household weighing up how a system will be serviced over its life; the refrigerant rules set out how R290, R32 and higher-GWP gases are treated. A water outlet temperature of up to 75°C matters for homes that want to keep existing radiators and a hot water cylinder rather than undertake a full fabric and emitter upgrade, and the stated operation at minus 10°C addresses the coldest part of a typical UK winter. The listed hybrid boiler connection is relevant to homes not ready to remove a boiler entirely, and PV integration is relevant to homes with solar generation. Panasonic has not published prices, efficiency figures at specific flow temperatures, or sound levels for these units in the announcement, and none of those have been reported here.
What happens next
No availability date, price or UK launch schedule for the Bi-Bloc units is given in the announcement1. Households wanting specification or installation detail would need to go through the heat-pumps hub or a supplier, as no further dated steps have been reported.
Sources1 cited
- Panasonic’s Aquarea L Series with Natural Refrigerant Available in Bi-Bloc, aircon.panasonic.eu