Baxi - Experts & Thought Leaders

Baxi, part of the BDR Thermea Group, has announced the appointment of Alstom MD - Jason Baldock as the new Managing Director (MD) for Baxi UK & Ireland.  This follows the news that outgoing MD and Dutch national, Jan Rijnen has relocated to head up sister BDR company - Remeha, covering the Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg (Benelux) region. Jan will continue to be responsible for Baxi UK&I until Jason joins on October 1st.  Prior roles of Jason  Jason oversaw numerous marked contract wins in the rail sector, which included securing the largest market Jason has 29 years’ experience in commercial and project delivery roles, most recently as MD of Alstom UK&Ireland Digital and Integrated Systems division since 2020.  During his time at Alstom, Jason oversaw numerous significant contract wins in the rail sector, which included securing the largest market share of Network Rail’s Major Signalling Framework Agreement (MSFA).  Heating systems with sustainable solutions Both Jan and Jason will report into BDR Group CEO Tjarko Bouman. Of his UK&I replacement, Jan said: “Jason has immense experience in helping complex organizations to upgrade and replace their legacy control systems for the 21st century. His experience is a great fit for Baxi in our role to help organizations replace existing heating systems with sustainable solutions that reduce carbon, reduce costs and improve controls. We’re extremely pleased Jason is joining our BDR team.”   Commenting on his appointment, Jason said: “I am truly excited to be joining Baxi UK & Ireland and look forward to building on the company’s strong heritage and exploring new opportunities as we embrace the decarbonization agenda.” 

A roundtable event hosted by heating and hot water solutions provider Baxi welcomed representatives from government and industry to discuss the challenges and opportunities surrounding the decarbonization of heat in care homes. The roundtable was used to highlight the results of a recent Baxi research report. This summer, Baxi carried out a survey of over 400 care home managers, followed by an industry-led focus group to understand their attitudes towards decarbonizing heat in their buildings. The subsequent report analyses the implications of the findings and includes Baxi’s policy recommendations. Decarbonization ambitions 94% of the care home managers surveyed expect to have a budget for decarbonization. However, the research highlighted a number of barriers the sector needs to overcome in order to deliver its decarbonization ambitions: Access to funding The need for technical advice and guidance on funding Procurement and installation Cost and affordability The spark gap between electricity and gas prices and ongoing running costs Demand for care services UK’s population of over-85s is set to double between now and 2050, leading to risen need for care services The roundtable event took place in Westminster and was hosted by Jeff House, Baxi’s Director of External Affairs and Policy. It was attended by a panel of industry experts, giving them the opportunity to share their perspectives on the enablers needed to decarbonize heat in the care sector.  The UK’s population of over 85s is set to double between now and 2050, leading to increased demand for care services. Discuss the pressing need for action With typical public and private sector settings requiring around-the-clock heat, the panel was invited to discuss the pressing need for action in the nation’s approximately 17,000 care homes. Taking part in the discussion were Paul Chambers, Deputy Director of the Public Sector Decarbonization Scheme at the Government’s Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ); Nik Smith, Managing Director of specialist renewable energy contractor, Oakes Energy Services; Richard Hilson, Principal Consultant, Health and Sustainability, at technology and data consultancy, Talan; and Andy Green, Head of Technical Solutions at Baxi. Recap of Baxi’s research report These upgrades would have a significant impact on reducing a home or estate’s carbon emissions The discussion began with a recap of Baxi’s research report, which revealed the opportunity for retrofit, with the majority of survey respondents operating buildings less than 10 years old.  This, coupled with the fact that 42% of care homes rely on fossil-fuel-based heating, was said to present an opportunity for the sector to consider heating system upgrades. These upgrades would have a significant impact on reducing a home or estate’s carbon emissions. UK’s high electricity costs The concerns raised by panelists and attendees, which included government representatives, industry stakeholders, customers, and media, echoed the report’s findings and highlighted a shared commitment to overcoming barriers to decarbonization. Among the most prominent barriers discussed by the group was the spark gap. The UK’s high electricity costs were said to offer little OPEX incentive for those care home operators interested in upgrading gas boilers to replace with an air source heat pump system. installed and operated heat pumps in commercial buildings Legacy challenges from poorly installed and used heat pumps in retail buildings, including the care sector Legacy challenges from poorly installed and operated heat pumps in commercial buildings, including the care sector, were also highlighted. Common issues, including on-site teams operating heat pumps incorrectly and a failure to commission heat pumps optimally, prompted the proposal of a standard for the commercial sector. The group agreed that such a standard could be akin to MCS in the domestic sector, or PAS in the insulation sector and would be key to improving design and installation practices. It was suggested that this, combined with a focus on quick wins like pipework lagging and switching to a low-temperature heating system, could help care operators to achieve optimal gains in energy efficiency and decarbonization. Heating system upgrade The panel also took the opportunity to discuss the heating system upgrade of a hypothetical 60-bed care home. While the upgrade of a boiler to a fully electric heat pump system was identified as a significant carbon saver, in the absence of more attractive electricity tariffs higher operational costs were reported as a major obstacle.  A hybrid system with a heat pump delivering 60% of the heating output and a boiler contributing the remaining 40% was acknowledged as a potentially viable option. This system would be capable of providing significant carbon savings while maintaining running cost neutrality. Reformed electricity tariffs and partnerships Many of the panelists agreed that this places extra focus on the need for improved electricity tariffs and alliances Despite the success of the Public Sector Decarbonization Scheme to date, the absence of any further funding is a core challenge that the group identified. Many of the panelists agreed that this places extra emphasis on the need for reformed electricity tariffs and partnerships such as Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) and Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs). Reflecting on the roundtable, Jeff House said: “The performance of the care sector is vitally important, not least because it will touch all of us at some point in our lives. Finding ways to help the sector to manage its energy usage, especially when it comes to heat, is therefore in everyone’s best interests." Best practice around energy-efficient heating House added: “While the results of our research report made many of the challenges facing the care operators clear, the roundtable gave us a valuable opportunity to discuss some of the nuances of the sector in detail." "There’s no question that addressing the spark gap and introducing focused government funding will help significantly, but those on our panel recognized that we can all play our part in driving change too." "By keeping this dialogue going and doing everything we can to support the sector in best practice around energy-efficient heating, we can put some foundations in place while we wait for enhanced government support.”

Baxi has launched the Amptec S, a state-of-the-art electric system boiler to provide an energy-efficient alternative heating and hot water solution to gas. As a pioneer in sustainable heating solutions, Baxi’s expansion of its established portfolio of electric boilers signals its ongoing commitment to enable installers to offer an alternative heating solution with the removal of gas without compromising on comfort. Reduced energy use and running costs Amptec S is open in six models, ranging from 4 kW to 18 kW, offering a versatile solution for homeowners Manufactured in the UK, the Amptec S is available in six models ranging from 4 kW to 18 kW, offering a versatile solution for homeowners.  With a temperature range adjustable from 30°C to 80°C, modulating ratio up to 9:1 and cycling of its heating elements, the boiler intelligently matches output to demand. This all results in reduced energy use and running costs. Integration with a wide range of controls To ensure seamless integration with a wide range of controls, Baxi has made the Amptec S compatible with universal communication protocol, OpenTherm. The unit includes a circulation pump, an expansion vessel, this allows for reduced installation times and space saving as all pipework is inside the boiler. The Human Machine Interface (HMI) feature improves user experience and assists with maintenance and fault finding. Its lightweight, compact design fits neatly into a cupboard 290mm deep, significantly reducing the time and space needed for installation. Sustainable cost savings on energy bills Created with future adaptations in mind, the Amptec S can be easily paired with Solar PV via PV batteries Created with future adaptations in mind, in addition to its core features, the Amptec S can be easily paired with Solar PV via PV batteries. This offers an attractive option for those seeking sustainable cost savings on energy bills, including homeowners. The Amptec S also comes with a 2-year warranty for added peace of mind. Energy-efficient heat and hot water Rob Pearse, Residential Business Director at Baxi, said: "Keeping manufacturing in the UK means we can easily adapt to what our UK customers and users really need. We’ve considered the installer’s experience at every step of the design process with the Amptec S and, in doing so, we’ve made an electric boiler that’s easy to work with because of its small size and weight." He adds, "Most importantly, however, it is also able to provide energy-efficient heat and hot water when used in conjunction with an indirect cylinder. Its reliability, adaptability and affordability are all features that installers can discuss with their customers, knowing that the solution they’re providing will tick a number of important boxes, while being easy to install and maintain."

The energy transition is upon us and we are shifting today’s energy use to low and zero carbon sources. The way in which we heat and provide hot water to our homes and businesses will change, and we are developing technologies that will support this transition. A bold and pragmatic policy framework will encourage investment and drive change. BEIS Hydrogen Strategy We, therefore, welcome the publication of the Hydrogen Strategy from the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS). This important document details the role and vision for clean hydrogen deployment at scale, in the United Kingdom, building upon the ambitions in last year’s 10 Point Plan for a Green Industrial Revolution. As an energy carrier, hydrogen has many uses that will help to decarbonize heating, transport and industry. We, therefore, welcome the government’s assurance to the public that hydrogen can be made as safe as natural gas. UK Government’s Contract for Difference The availability of low-cost hydrogen at scale is a key enabler of the deployment of hydrogen for heat Alongside the BEIS Strategy, the UK Government is publishing its proposed business model for supporting hydrogen production, in the form of a Contract for Difference. This approach has been utilized successfully for offshore wind and will enable the sector to invest in early-stage projects, and reduce the cost of hydrogen. The availability of low-cost hydrogen at scale is a key enabler of the deployment of hydrogen for heat. We believe, there is no ‘one size fits all’ solution, and a whole range of heating technologies will need to be deployed for a range of properties. Baxi Heating, as part of BDR Thermea Group, is at the forefront of developing clean heating solutions, including our ground-breaking development of hydrogen boilers. Hydrogen-ready boilers from 2025 Our work with the Hy4Heat project and associated demonstration sites in the UK show technical feasibility of this solution. We believe the government should act upon advice from the Climate Change Committee and other sources advocating a mandate that all boiler sales from 2025 should be hydrogen-ready, in order to help pre-populate a swathe of the housing stock, ready for a future conversion. Technology, energy efficiency and business models are all bit parts in the wider picture. Skilled installers and contractors will be utterly essential to success, so we are glad to see the announcement of a hydrogen sector development action plan in early 2022, setting out how the government will support companies to secure supply chain opportunities, skills and jobs in hydrogen. UK Heat and Buildings Strategy Following the Hydrogen Strategy, we look forward to several important publications in the lead up to the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26), including consultations on the role for hydrogen-ready appliances, off gas grid heating measures and the UK Heat and Buildings Strategy.