Image courtesy Australian Alliance for Energy Productivity 

The Australian Alliance for Energy Productivity (A2EP) has launched a video case study of a heat pump installation at Port Phillip Estate and Kooyong Wines on the Mornington Peninsula which takes viewers step-by-step through the system and the process of replacing a gas boiler in a business.

The Port Phillip Estate and Kooyong Wines site requires a significant amount of domestic hot water for its restaurant, accommodation and function centre. The previous gas boiler supplying the hot water was ageing, unreliable and expensive to operate.

The new heat pump system supplied by local Dromana-based supplier Energy Smart Water is highly efficient with thermal storage providing back-up supply for times and the flexibility to heat water using electricity from the 100 kilowatt on-site solar photovoltaic (PV) system when the sun is shining.

Since installation, there has not been any interruption to the supply of domestic hot water and the operators estimate it is reducing annual gas bills by $6,000 to $8,000 annually.

“This award-winning system demonstrates the savings and productivity benefits that electrification technologies such as heat pumps can offer businesses,” said Jarrod Leak, chief executive officer of A2EP.

“Not only has the system slashed gas bills for this popular destination winery and venue, it is delivering non-energy benefits such as improved productivity and quality of service to the winery with a more reliable hot water service for its many guests and customers,” said Leak.

The heat pump system is just the latest initiative by Port Phillip Estate and Kooyong Wines to reduce its carbon footprint and environmental impact. Other actions have included the installation of the 100-kilowatt solar PV system on the roof, 500,000 litres of rainwater storage tanks and water recycling on the site.

The Australian Alliance for Energy Productivity offers a free Heat Pump Estimator online tool for businesses interested in heat pumps for reducing their energy costs and emissions. This is available at www.heatpumpestimator.com and can generate valuable initial information to inform conversations with consultants and suppliers.

More technical details about the system and installation at Port Phillip Estate and Kooyong Wines can be found on A2EP’s FutureHeat website, which features heat pump and thermal storage case studies for a range of commercial and industrial applications.

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