Kensa announced on 23 February 2026 that it has partnered with Passiv UK to bring the Passiv Smart Thermostat to its heat pump customers, describing it as its first dedicated smart controls partner1. The thermostat works out of the box with Kensa heat pumps, requiring no additional hardware, and is available for nationwide installation through Kensa1.
Both companies state the controls can cut heating bills by up to 30 per cent1. The system replaces manual weather compensation setup by dynamically optimising the heat pump's flow temperature in real time, and is controlled either through a wall thermostat or the Passiv app1. Passiv says it also optimises energy use around time-of-use tariffs and rooftop solar generation2.
Kensa customers gain access to Passiv's Greener Grid Payments scheme, which rewards households for helping balance the electricity grid during periods of constraint, with heat pumps flexing automatically in the background1. Passiv states the thermostat is compatible with the Kensa Shoebox NX and Kensa Evo heat pump ranges2. Kensa says the thermostat is offered for private homeowners, social housing providers and new-build developers1.
"Our mission is to deliver heating that's better for everyone. Being able to specify the Passiv Smart Thermostat with no extras needed means homeowners and residents can reduce bills, make the most of smarter tariffs, and enjoy year-round comfort."
Passiv UK was founded in 2008 and employs 50 people, and states it was the first to globally market a smart thermostat and is the largest installer of hybrid heating systems in the UK2. Neither announcement gives a price for the thermostat, a date for when installations begin, or the level of Greener Grid Payments; these have not been reported1.
Why it matters for households
For a home with a Kensa ground source heat pump, the practical change is that flow temperature optimisation, which would otherwise be set up manually, is handled automatically1. That matters for energy independence because a heat pump's running cost depends heavily on how its flow temperature is matched to the home and the weather; controls that adjust this continuously can reduce the electricity a heat pump draws for the same comfort1. The Greener Grid Payments element adds a second route to value: households are paid for allowing the heat pump to shift its operation during periods of grid constraint, without affecting comfort1. The 30 per cent figure is a claim by the two companies involved, not an independently verified saving, and no detail has been published on how it was calculated or which homes it applies to1.
What happens next
The thermostat is available nationwide through Kensa from the announcement date1. No further dated steps, such as a rollout schedule or payment rates, have been reported1.