Mitsubishi Electric has announced that it will begin phasing out its Ecodan R32 heat pumps, which will be replaced by an extended Ecodan R290 range1. The company said it launched the Ecodan R290 in October 2023 and announced an extended R290 range in April1. The announcement was published on 12 June 20251.
The Ecodan R290 was originally available in 5kW and 6kW outputs, and 8.5kW, 10kW and 12kW models have since been added1. Mitsubishi Electric said the larger models suit larger homes and properties with higher heat loss1. The units use the natural refrigerant R290, which the company gives a Global Warming Potential of 0.021. They deliver flow temperatures up to 75°C and have a guaranteed operation range down to -25°C ambient temperature1. The company says the heat pump is manufactured in the UK and carries Quiet Mark accreditation1.
Mitsubishi Electric said the R290 models are fully compatible with existing microbore pipework, which it says allows homeowners to move to renewable heating without major system overhauls1. It also said the high flow temperature makes the units suitable for properties that cannot undergo extensive fabric upgrades or insulation improvements1.
"Our Ecodan R32 range helped raise the bar for low-carbon heating, and we're proud of the role it has played in supporting the UK's decarbonisation efforts. As the market evolves, the expanded range of Ecodan R290 heat pumps is designed to meet both future performance expectations and regulatory demands, while continuing to provide the quality and reliability that homeowners and installers expect from Mitsubishi Electric."
| Ecodan R290 model | Output |
|---|---|
| Original launch models | 5kW, 6kW |
| Added in the extended range | 8.5kW, 10kW, 12kW |
Why it matters for households
For a household weighing up a heat pump, the refrigerant inside the unit affects both its environmental profile and how it performs in cold weather. R290 has a much lower global warming potential than the R32 used in the outgoing Ecodan range, according to the figures the manufacturer gives1. A flow temperature of up to 75°C is higher than many heat pumps achieve, and matters for homes that keep existing radiators rather than replacing them with larger ones or improving insulation first1. Compatibility with existing microbore pipework is also relevant to homes where the pipework is a barrier to switching, because the manufacturer says no major system overhaul is needed1. A stated operating range down to -25°C addresses the concern that heat pumps struggle in cold snaps1. For energy independence, the practical point is that a home running a heat pump draws its heating from electricity rather than from gas delivered by pipe, so the fuel source and its price exposure change. How the R290 range compares with other manufacturers' models, and how it performs against the outgoing R32 units in real homes, has not been reported in the announcement1.
What happens next
Mitsubishi Electric has said it will begin phasing out the Ecodan R32 range, but the announcement does not give a date for when the phase-out starts or finishes, or say which R32 models will go first1. No end date for R32 sales has been reported1.
Sources1 cited
- [](https://les.mitsubishielectric.co.uk/latest-news/new-news-pagemitsubishi-electric-announces-transition-from-ecodan-r32-to-the-new-extended-range-of-ecodan-r290-heat-pumps), les.mitsubishielectric.co.uk