New commercial and industrial (C&I) air source heat pump water heater (HPWH) activities have just been introduced to the Victorian Energy Upgrades (VEU) and NSW Energy Saving Scheme (ESS). EnergyAE worked with VIC and NSW government to develop these new schemes are we are now very excited to assist you to apply your products for the program.
These activities reward installation of new HPWH systems, either for replacing a gas or electric water heater/boiler, or for the installation of a new system.
Expected certificate returns can be up to 80-90% of equipment cost for replacing an electric system, and around 20-30% of equipment cost for replacing a gas system.
This article describes how to apply for the incentive schemes, eligibility criteria, documentation requirements (test reports, schematics, specifications), addresses frequently asked questions, and how EnergyAE can help you get your systems registered to the scheme.
EnergyAE can help you to register your HPWH systems to the VEU and ESS activities. We take care of all TRNSYS modelling, documentation and submission to the ESC Registry.
If you would like EnergyAE assistance to register your products, or would like more information, contact us here.
There are a few differences between the Residential and new C&I activities. All systems must be re-modelled in TRNSYS using the updated C&I methodology:
Residential HPWHs can be registered for the C&I activities, but Bs/Be values are not valid. Residential systems must be re-modelled according to the C&I method to determine the equivalent C&I figures.
The following additional resources provide more information on the VEU and ESS programs:
Product Eligibility:
Product Registration:
Installation Eligibility:
Decommissioning:
Claims Process:
A: No, only a single unit needs to be modelled, and any multiple of this exact unit will have the annual energy consumption multiplied by the number of units installed.
A: Yes, the unit is modelled with different load profiles. See the differences in installation eligibility for residential vs C&I in the table above
A: If the new heat pump thermal capacity (kW) > existing system thermal capacity (kW), then the VEECs are multiplied by the Capacity factor where: Capacity Factor =(Existing system thermal capacity (kW))/(Heat pump thermal capacity (kW)). For example, if existing capacity = 10kW, new HPWH capacity = 20kW, Capacity Factor = 10/20 = 0.5.
A: None extra
The following documentation might details the documentation EnergyAE requires to prepare an application and undertake TRNSYS modelling:
For stand-alone systems:
If applicable:
This section lays out the standards referenced by this incentive program.
Products with a total storage volume less than 700L must be certified to AS 2712 through an accredited certification body. Bodies are accredited by the Joint Accreditation System of Australia and New Zealand (JAS-ANZ). JAS-ANZ accredited bodies will provide certification to AS 2712, WaterMark and GasMark, as applicable.
This standard specifies design and construction requirements for solar and heat pump water heaters. Your certifier should specify the specific tests required for a product.
This standard specifies the calculation methodology for evaluating the annual energy consumption for heated water systems including SWHs and HPWHs using TRNSYS software.
In June 2021, an update to this standard was released: AS/NZS 4234:2021. VEU/ESS C&I modelling calls on AS/NZS4234:2021. The prior version was released 2008.
Residential HPWH have their performance assessed by AS/NZS 5125.1 This standard specifies the performance assessment for air source heat pump water heaters and is used to determine the power and COP of an HPWH, which are used to form correlation equations for HPWH performance over a range of conditions.
An alternative test standard is EN 14511which allows the performance a HPWH to be assessed over a grid of test points for varying entering water (inlet) temperatures and ambient air temperatures. The power input and thermal capacity is measured at each point, forming a 2D table(performance map) of values.
Testing to AS/NZS 4692.1 is required for systems including water storage tanks up to 700L in volume. This standard specifies energy consumption, performance and general requirements for electric water heaters and is used to determine the tank heat loss value for a thermal storage tank.
For tanks with volume greater than 700L,AS/NZS 4234:2021 Appendix E provides a calculation methodology.
Testing to AS 4552 is required for systems including gas boosters. This standard specifies requirements for gas fired water heaters for hot water supply and provides the thermal performance for the gas booster.
EnergyAE specialises in helping manufacturers to register their product for VEU and ESS activities. We provide the following related services:
Get in touch with us today to discuss an upcoming project.
EnergyAE is an Australia & NZ engineering consultancy providing engineering & energy analysis services in the solar and heat pump water heater industry. EnergyAE has extensive experience assisting manufacturers to apply for government incentive programs to be eligible for STCs and VEECs. EnergyAE has helped VIC and NSW government to develop these new Commercial & Industrial HPWH activities.