Panasonic Australia and Reclaim Energy have announced a partnership to launch a new CO2 hot water heat pump solution in the Australian market as a cost-effective alternative to gas and electric hot water heating by delivering energy savings to consumers.

The installation pairs Panasonic’s CO2 heat pump technology with Reclaim Energy’s hot water system design solution and will be available to both residential and commercial markets in December 2023.

Reclaim Energy has over 20 years’ experience in providing leading-edge, environment-friendly hot water systems. Panasonic has a long history of innovation in the heat pump market and has been the long-term number one market share holder in Japan. By combining the expertise of Reclaim Energy and Panasonic, Australian consumers will be delivered the latest innovation in CO2 water heating solutions.

Chris Taylor, managing director, Reclaim Energy said: “The focus of our business is to allow householders to have a greater level of control of their own energy consumption and management, while contributing to net zero emissions.”

“We’re pleased to partner with Panasonic. They are known as an innovative and trusted air conditioning provider in Australia and have sold hot water heat pumps in overseas markets for over 20 years, so we are excited to be working with them to bring this solution to the local market.”

Paul Reid, managing director of Panasonic Australia, said that the company’s global mission was to help humanity live well while reducing environmental impacts for the benefit of future generations, and that the local partnership with Reclaim aligned with this goal.

“Panasonic understands that we’re all searching for ways to overcome the environmental and societal challenges we’re facing in today’s world. We want to support Australians who are looking to make more sustainable choices, lower their energy costs and replace outdated water heating solutions. Panasonic has installed approximately two million hot water heat pumps in the Japanese market, and we’re very pleased to be rolling this technology out locally here in Australia.”

Heat pump operation and benefits

Heat pump

The Panasonic CO2 heat pump is up to 5 times more efficient than gas or traditional electric heating and can quickly and safely heat water up to 80 degrees Celsius, making it suitable for both residential and commercial use. The refrigerant it uses has a low global warming potential (GWP).

The heat pump uses a heat exchanger to collect heat from the air outside to use as energy for the refrigerant and transfers energy from the hot refrigerant into water to produce hot water. The Panasonic product has an industry leading Coefficient of Performance (COP) of 6.1. This means that for every unit of electrical energy used, it produces 6.1 units of heating energy, resulting in reduced CO2 emissions compared to conventional water heating via electricity or natural gas.

The heat pump and storage tank are designed to be installed externally, for example, at the back or side of a freestanding home. They operate quietly and have a small footprint.

“We are committed to energy efficiency through innovative, interactive, and customised environmental hot water solutions. With the ability to use up to 80% less energy compared to traditional electrical hot water systems, and to combine with existing renewable energy installations, the financial and sustainable benefits are significant,” Taylor explained.

Image: (L-R) Paul Reid, Managing Director, Panasonic Australia and Chris Taylor, Managing Director, Reclaim Energy.

Architecture & Design Team

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Panasonic Australia

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