Alpha has provided its Magis M heat pump to a new heating system that could provide a solution for the successful retrofit of renewable energy heating to existing older housing stock.
EnergyWall applies radiant heating to the outside of hard-to-heat homes. The heat is generated by a heat pump and warms the external walls of the home, providing radiant heat to warm the interior and using the thermal mass of the walls to act as an efficient heat store.
EnergyWall is a finalist in the 2026 Manchester Innovation Prize project. Led by AI firm Underheat, the prototype system has recently completed initial testing in Energy House 1 at the University of Salford.
The design of the system means that the flow temperature from the heat pump can be as low as 28°C to produce the required heating effect. This was one of the reasons that the Alpha product was selected, as it can provide flow temperatures of between 5°C and 65°C.
Because the heat is being applied to the external walls, there are no cold thermal bridges and the issue of problematic internal condensation is removed. This means EnergyWall has the potential to provide an effective retrofit solution for Britain’s older solid wall building types.
Initial tests suggest that this technology could reduce heating bills by over 50%, making it an attractive option for improving public sector housing and addressing the issue of fuel poverty.
Evidence from recent testing of the prototype installation will be used as part of the submission for the Manchester Innovation Prize, the results of which are due to be announced later this year. The successful technology will receive funding for further development.
Dan Wilden, National Renewables Manager at Alpha, said: “Given the sheer number of older solid wall properties in the UK, this application of heat pump technology is hugely exciting.
“Retrofitting energy efficiency has always been problematic, but this solution solves the majority of issues immediately. Further development of the technology may also see EnergyWall providing equally efficient cooling, using the heat pump in cooling rather than heating mode, which would open equally
exciting opportunities to address the growing issue of overheating in inner city housing stock.
“It’s exactly the kind of creative thinking that we at Alpha are delighted to support.” www.alpha-innovation.co.uk