Unlocking the potential of smart heat pumps

IRELAND: Panasonic has partnered with Energised Futures, the research and innovation incubator of British energy and services company Centrica, in an effort to advance intelligent heat pump control. 

The research explored the automation and optimisation of heat pumps in seven Dublin homes as part of an EU funded Horizon-2020 programme, the Dedalus project, to develop user-centred demand side response systems. 

The project is designed to reflect the full lifecycle of heat pump deployment by combining Energised Futures’ technical innovation with Panasonic’s manufacturing expertise, and installer insight from local contractor MOS Mechanical.

MOS Mechanical is member of the County-Kildare-based MJOS Group, which also includes MSM Renewables who installed the heat pumps.

Energised Futures is creating bespoke digital twins for all participating homes and remotely controlling each Panasonic heat pump with predictive algorithms to deliver optimum comfort and efficiency. 

Building on the success of its earlier MESH project, funded by the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero, the team has developed advanced control algorithms to enable the Panasonic heat pumps to participate in demand response. 

The system prioritises heating the home and hot water tank when electricity is cheap and low‑carbon, while preserving occupant comfort: reducing heat pump operating costs and emissions and simultaneously supporting grid balancing and integration of renewables.

Insights from the Dublin trial will feed directly into complementary pilots in Austria, Denmark, Italy, Spain and Romania, helping to build a holistic understanding of how smart heating and flexibility solutions work across different climates, housing types and energy systems. The combined results from Dublin and the other EU pilots, which ended last month, will now be analysed and shared.

“Heat pumps have incredible potential, but that potential isn’t being fully realised,” explained Ben Krikler, Centrica’s head of energised futures and director of research and innovation. “By combining advanced controls, predictive algorithms, and real-world data, we can make heat pumps smarter, more efficient, and more rewarding for households by delivering comfort at the lowest running cost while also helping to balance the grid and reduce emissions.”

The pilot adopts a user-centric, co-creation approach to understand what drives or hinders participation in demand response, including factors such as comfort, data privacy, and energy literacy. Supported by a robust social science framework and drawing on behavioural science, motivation theories, and socio-economic insights, the project actively involves participants through workshops, segmentation analysis, and interface testing.

Installing the heat pumps, MSM Renewables worked directly with participating households, giving them practical support and helping ensure the trial reflected real-world installer and customer experience.

Reflecting on the trial, MOS Mechanical’s founder and CEO Mick O’Shea said: “Heat pumps are evolving quickly, and projects like this make sure installers stay ahead. Hands on experience with the latest systems gives us the confidence to show customers how efficient heat pumps really are. It also proves that when the industry works together, the technology delivers more for households and opens new opportunities for installers.”