Panasonic Heating & Cooling Solution's Aquarea M Series air-to-water heat pumps are now available to market, the company announced on 9 September 20241. The range covers 9, 12 and 16 kW outputs in single or three phase, and uses the refrigerant R2901.
The company describes the M Series as built on a modular concept, with four indoor options: a standalone remote controller, a control module, a hydro box and an all-in-one (AiO) unit1. Panasonic states that the hydraulic connection between the outdoor and indoor units on the hydro box and all-in-one variants simplifies installation and eliminates the need for F-gas certification1. The system uses R290, which Panasonic describes as a natural refrigerant with a global warming potential of 31. More on the rules that govern refrigerants sits in the site's guide to heat pump refrigerants, and the wider product family is covered under Panasonic Aquarea air source heat pumps.
Panasonic's figures for the outdoor units include maintained nominal capacity without a heater down to -20°C, operation at temperatures as low as -28°C, a sound power level of 53 dB(A) for a 12 kW unit, a water outlet temperature of 75°C at -15°C and 55°C hot water at -25°C1. The units use a scroll compressor1. The AiO indoor model has a 185 litre cylinder, a back-up heater, a new expansion vessel that extends the elevation difference up to 30 metres, a domestic hot water COP rating of 3.6, a CN-CNT port for building management system integration and a Wi-Fi adapter for Aquarea Smart Cloud and Service Cloud1. Outdoor units come in Anthracite Grey and indoor units in Monochrome1.
"The system utilises the natural refrigerant R290, known for its low Global Warming Potential (GWP) of just 3, making it a more environmentally friendly choice."
Panasonic has also introduced remote controllers for the M Series outdoor unit, supplied with or without a Wi-Fi adapter, and a dual controller system for independent control of two zones in a property1. An optional PCB for the control module, hydro box and all-in-one options allows 0-10 V demand control and smart grid readiness1.
| Item | Detail as stated by Panasonic1 |
|---|---|
| Outputs | 9, 12 and 16 kW, single or three phase |
| Refrigerant | R290, GWP 3 |
| Indoor options | Standalone remote controller, control module, hydro box, all-in-one |
| Operating range | Nominal capacity maintained to -20°C; operation to -28°C |
| Water outlet | 75°C at -15°C; 55°C hot water at -25°C |
| Sound power | 53 dB(A), 12 kW unit |
| Cylinder (AiO) | 185 litres, DHW COP 3.6 |
Why it matters for households
The refrigerant choice is the part with the longest reach for a home. R290 carries a global warming potential of 3 on Panasonic's figure, against the higher values associated with the fluorinated gases that dominate much of the installed base, and the F-gas rules that phase those gases down are the reason manufacturers are moving this way1. For a household, that affects what can be installed, serviced and later repaired as the rules tighten, and it is the subject of the site's guide to heat pump refrigerants.
The performance figures matter for how a home is heated rather than how much it costs to run, which no source here states. A water outlet temperature of 75°C at -15°C and 55°C hot water at -25°C1 is relevant to properties that keep existing radiators and a cylinder rather than switching to underfloor heating, and to households weighing an air-to-water system against other options. The 185 litre cylinder and 30 metre elevation allowance on the all-in-one model1 bear on where a cylinder can physically go, a common constraint covered in the guide to hot water cylinders for heat pumps. The claim that the hydraulic connection removes the need for F-gas certification1 concerns who is qualified to install the unit, not whether the work is competent.
What happens next
No UK availability dates, prices, grant eligibility or installer training details for the M Series have been reported1.
Sources1 cited
- Panasonic’s Innovative T-CAP Aquarea M Series Heat Pumps with R290 are Available Now, aircon.panasonic.eu