Since November 2022, Passiv UK and Samsung have been working together to develop smart, interoperable heat pump controls to provide automated flexibility from Samsung heat pumps. This has taken place as part of the Interoperable Demand Side Response (IDSR) programme funded by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. The new flexible controls have been built to be compliant with the PAS 1878 and 1879 standards for Energy Smart Appliances and the provision of Demand Side Response. The project builds on Passiv’s existing smart controls for Samsung heat pumps and several years of collaborative research between the two companies.
The UK Government is targeting 600,000 heat pump installations a year by 2028. This will result in a significant increase in electricity demand, particularly at peak times. To help prevent overloading the grid and to reduce reliance on fossil fuels, heat pumps can be operated to coincide with periods of high renewable generation, spreading demand out across the day and responding to the needs of the grid. This flexibility is known as Demand Side Response or DSR and can be enabled through the use of smart, connected heat pump controls. Unlocking DSR from heat pumps will allow consumers to monetise the grid flexibility they provide, helping to reduce energy bills and support the mass rollout of heat pumps.
PAS 1878 and 1879 are built on the principles of automated, interoperable DSR, allowing devices to respond to signals from any flexibility provider without the need for user intervention. These standards will form the basis of domestic flexibility trading in the UK. Passiv’s new interoperable controls allow Samsung heat pumps to participate in DSR in a way that is open, easy, and efficient, ensuring Samsung’s customers can get the most out of their heat pumps. This builds upon Passiv’s revolutionary Greener Grid Payments service that ran over Winter 2023/2024 and allowed heat pump owners to earn money simply for using their heat pumps.
Passiv’s heat pump controls also provide a range of other benefits to Samsung heat pump owners. The Passiv Smart Thermostat increases the efficiency of a heat pump by up to 17%, as verified by the Energy Saving Trust. It can also optimise a heat pump to consume cheap electricity from smart energy tariffs and rooftop solar generation. Taken together, this can reduce heating bills by up to 30%. Reducing running costs and enabling flexible operation are both key components of accelerating heat pump deployment and the decarbonisation of UK heating.
The Passiv and Samsung system tested as part of the IDSR programme
Passiv has almost completed the testing phase of the IDSR programme. The Samsung and Passiv system has passed the full set of conformance tests, validating that it fulfils the PAS 1878 requirements. Next, it will pass into performance testing, where the Passiv controls will connect with other DSR platforms in the programme and evaluate how effectively PAS 1878 compliant systems can provide DSR. Testing is expected to continue into 2025.
Working alongside Samsung has highlighted the value of collaboration on our journey to net-zero. Automated flexibility as demonstrated in this project will be essential for making the decarbonisation of heat affordable and effective. These standards are an important step towards widespread, efficient flexibility to support both homeowners and our electricity networks. Passiv UK is proud to be at the forefront of domestic DSR, providing the best possible experience for heat pump users across the country.”Ian Rose, Sales & Strategy Director, Passiv
