Alpha launched the Custom Hybrid on 15 May 2025, a heating system that combines a heat pump with a gas boiler and is described by the maker as "an innovative and customisable system that combines a heat pump with a boiler"1. It joins the E-Tec Hybrid, an existing packaged hybrid in Alpha's range1.
The Custom Hybrid connects a single-phase Magis M heat pump with any E-Tec or Evoke combi or system boiler using a Hybrid Interface Kit. The kit fits directly beneath the boiler and is designed to connect the Magis M heat pumps with the E-Tec NX, NX Plus and Evoke NX boiler ranges1. Heat pump outputs are available up to 16kW, chosen to match the heating load and set the balance between the heat pump and the boiler1. A built-in smart control, the Magis M control, monitors and manages the two heat sources, maintaining room temperatures and activating the boiler for additional heat when required1.
Alpha states the system is suitable for all property types, including those with high hot water demands1. Dan Wilden, National Renewables Manager at Alpha, said:
"Currently, there are still many properties in the UK, particularly older ones, which are unable to make the switch to more energy efficient heating because they were not designed to support systems such as heat pumps. The Alpha Custom Hybrid provides a robust, flexible solution for delivering energy efficient heating and hot water, whilst simplifying the installation on site."
Andrea Carmeli, Managing Director at Alpha, said the company is "committed to providing our customers with high-quality solutions enabling the switch to renewable energy"1.
Alpha describes hybrid heat pumps generally as combining a heat pump with a gas boiler that "work in tandem", with the heat pump handling most day-to-day heating and the boiler stepping in during colder weather or high demand2. The company states such systems can be installed in most existing homes with minimal disruption, without major building work, a new water cylinder or a complete overhaul of radiators2. Alpha gives a typical hybrid heat pump cost of around £5,000 to £8,000, comparable to a standard boiler replacement, with the exact price depending on property size, installation complexities and boiler compatibility2. No price has been published for the Custom Hybrid specifically.
Why it matters for households
A hybrid keeps a gas boiler in place while adding a heat pump, so a home can draw on whichever source the control judges most efficient at a given moment1. For households in older or harder-to-treat properties, that avoids the fabric upgrades, cylinder and radiator changes that a heat pump-only route can require2. It also means the home remains on gas, so it is not independent of the gas network, but it can reduce how much gas is burned over a year. Alpha's own E-Tec Hybrid literature states the control "always chooses the cheapest fuel source based on current energy tariff", a claim made for that packaged product rather than the Custom Hybrid3. Running costs therefore depend on the gap between electricity and gas prices, which the sources do not quantify. Further background is in Hybrid Heat Pumps: Heat Pump and Boiler Together and Alpha E-Tec hybrid and heat pumps.
What happens next
No installation dates, availability dates, grant eligibility or installer training schedule for the Custom Hybrid have been reported1.
Sources3 cited
- New Custom Hybrid solution launched by Alpha, alpha-innovation.co.uk
- Hybrid Heat Pumps, alpha-innovation.co.uk
- Hybrid heat pump solution - Alpha, alpha-innovation.co.uk