Mitsubishi Electric launched the Ecodan R290 heat pump as delegates gathered for COP28 at the end of 2023, the company has said1. The unit is manufactured at its factory in Livingston, Scotland1.
The Ecodan R290 uses R290, a hydrocarbon refrigerant with a Global Warming Potential of just three1. Mitsubishi Electric states the unit can achieve high Coefficient of Performance values greater than four in heating mode, and that even at temperatures as low as -15°C it can reach a heating temperature of 75°C, matching that of a traditional boiler1. It is also described as designed to operate quietly and to allow multiple zone control, which the company says enhances energy efficiency and individual comfort1.
"As delegates gathered for COP28 at the end of last year, Mitsubishi Electric launched its new and innovative heat pump, the Ecodan R290."
The launch was reported in an article published on 15 January 2024, which also sets out the wider policy context. It cites a £3.8 billion commitment over 10 years by government to "improve the energy performance of social rented homes", the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund, which it says has supported housing associations in bringing stock up to an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) C rating1. The article states that housing associations are increasingly installing heat pumps as they move away from fossil fuel boilers or storage heaters, and that Mitsubishi Electric has been working with housing associations on retrofit and new build projects1.
On running costs, the article states that for every 1kW of electricity consumed, heat pumps can produce at least 3kW of heat energy1. It does not give a price for the Ecodan R290, an installation cost, or a running-cost figure in pounds, and no efficiency or performance data from an independent test is reported1.
Why it matters for households
A heat pump's refrigerant affects how the unit performs and what happens when it is serviced or replaced, because R290 sits outside the F-Gas rules that cover higher-GWP gases. A refrigerant with a Global Warming Potential of three is a very low figure against the fluorinated gases more commonly used in heat pumps, and the choice of refrigerant is one of the differences between models that advisers are asked about.
The stated ability to reach 75°C at -15°C matters for homes that were not built for low-temperature heating, because it suggests the unit can serve existing radiators and hot water cylinders without the same degree of fabric upgrade. That is a claim from the manufacturer, not an independent measurement.
For a household, the practical questions are the same as for any heat pump: the installed cost, the tariff used to run it, the insulation and radiator sizing in the property, and who is qualified to service equipment using a flammable refrigerant. None of those figures appear in the material published at launch.
What happens next
No next steps, dates or availability details for the Ecodan R290 are reported in the source1.
Sources1 cited
- Heat pumps and social housing decarbonisation, les.mitsubishielectric.co.uk