GTEC’s MD, Griff Thomas, is part of the team behind Total Heat Pump Installation Solution (THIS), an exciting new software package and supporting app set to revolutionise the heat pump sector.
Part funded by the department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy’s (BEIS) Heat Pump Ready Programme, under Stream 2, THIS will make heat pump installation a simpler and easier to understand process – for both installers and their customers. The Heat Pump Ready (HPR) Programme forms part of BEIS’s £1 billion Net Zero Innovation Portfolio (NZIP), which aims to accelerate the commercialisation of innovative clean energy technologies and processes through the 2020s and 2030s.
Currently in the early stages of development, THIS is the brainchild of Thormer Solutions which was formed by Griff and expert in software design for the heating industry, Paul Harmer from Inventive Software. Paul is also CIPHE’s Lead Technical Consultant.
For heating engineers, THIS will make heat pump surveying, specification, installation and commissioning far easier. For consumers, THIS will enhance their experience of the process; from choosing an installer and visualising what the system may look like, to ongoing operational satisfaction.
Griff, who undertakes renewable technology site visits for a number of governmental and non-governmental schemes, said: “The heat pump sector is growing rapidly but still relatively new. In my capacity inspecting installations, I see a lot of issues that could be avoided if installers had better access to calculation tools and design support software – easy drawing to design functionality, for example.
“THIS aims to simplify the process of heat pump specification, installation and commissioning; everything is available through one app, including automated design tools. End-users will have access to the very latest web technologies, such as AR, so they can get a better understanding of the look and feel of their finished system. All paperwork will be stored in one place, reducing installer admin and providing peace of mind for their customers.”
Have your say in THIS
Offering a host of benefits for every part of the supply chain, Thormer is currently looking for industry representatives (such as heat pump installers) and stake holders from across the breadth of the building services engineering and related sectors to help shape the development of the project – from heating engineers through to manufacturers, trade associations, scheme owners and DNOs.
Stakeholders who could benefit from the potential of THIS will be given the opportunity to put forward ideas to tailor the app to suit business needs. Heat pump manufacturers, for example, could adapt the software to the specifics of their technologies.
Overall, THIS will improve the quality of heat pump installations, enhancing customer satisfaction and supporting the take-up of this important renewable technology.
The first demos of THIS are scheduled for usability testing by Easter 2023. In the meantime, Thormer is looking to establish its stakeholder group and gain insight from the BSE sector.
To register your interest as an industry representative or stakeholder, please email [email protected].
For more information about ‘THIS’, visit: www.thormer.co.uk