CO2 Heat Pump Hot Water System

Australians pay more for electricity than many other first world countries. Significant savings can be made by using a more efficient hot water system.

Introducing the Reclaim Energy
CO2 Heat Pump Hot Water System

The Reclaim Energy CO2 Heat Pump Hot Water System uses CO2 as a refrigerant. CO2 has far less environmental impact; that is, no ozone layer depletion and minimal global warming, when compared to other commonly used refrigerants. It has excellent thermodynamic ability, allowing much higher efficiency in the system, with more heat being transferred to the water, for less energy used.

Power the Reclaim Energy CO2 Heat Pump Hot Water System with a solar PV system

The smart controller of the Reclaim Energy CO2 Heat Pump Hot Water System allows you to customise your hot water management to optimise your PV energy production.

It has a preset option for PV systems where the system will receive power from the time of day that the PV system is producing power. 10am for a period of 6 hours, or until the System has reached 60ºC.

The PV system creates power and feeds the CO2 Heat Pump to heat the water for free, instead of going back into the grid.

How the Reclaim Energy CO2 Heat Pump Hot Water compares to a conventional electric hot water system

The Reclaim Energy CO2 Heat Pump Hot Water System is very energy efficient. It uses only 20% of the energy required by an electric storage hot water system, saving up to 80% compared to conventional electric hot water energy costs.

Environmentally friendly

As an environmentally advanced product the Reclaim Energy CO2 Heat Pump Hot Water System is an affordable system that is ranked alongside solar energy in terms of environmental friendliness. As such it is eligible for rebates and other government incentives, offering the highest level of Small-scale Technology Certificates (STCs) of any hot water heat pump system. These rebates save you even more from the outset.

Energy savings with the Reclaim Energy CO2 Heat Pump Hot Water System

A Reclaim Energy CO2 Heat Pump Hot Water System uses innovative technology to draw energy in from the atmosphere and convert it into heat.

Ozone friendly refrigerant (CO2) absorbs the heat, which then flows into a compressor, where it’s converted into a high temperature gas. It then passes through a condenser within the water heat exchanger and the water is heated and then stored in the hot water tank for later use.

No backup booster is required.

This means the Reclaim Energy CO2 Heat Pump Hot Water System requires much less electricity to heat water when compared to conventional hot water systems.

In fact, the system will save up to 80%* of hot water energy costs, year after year.

A Reclaim Energy CO2 Heat Pump Hot Water System has an average COP of 5 which means that for 1 kW of electric input, it generates about 5 kW thermal output.

This is about 80% less energy when compared to traditional electric element hot water systems, where 1 kW of electricity generates 1 kW of thermal output.

A comparison is given on a case study page for a Reclaim system versus other hot water technology solutions from a cost and performance perspective.

As electricity prices continue to rise year on year, a Reclaim Energy CO2 Heat Pump Hot Water System becomes the best, most financially sustainable option available.

Massive power savings

Reclaim Energy Heat Pump

0.85kW

1kW electrical input to create 5.24 kW thermal output
(i.e. 32°C ambient temperature)

Standard electric hot water

3.6kW

3.6kW electrical input to create 3.6kW thermal output

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Reclaim Energy does not offer this for a couple of reasons.

    Firstly, rebates are only available for standalone heat pump water heaters.

    And secondly, the Reclaim Energy operational temperature is stable at 63°C, while solar thermal operational temperature fluctuates between 30-90°C, depending on the availability of solar energy.

    These two techniques can work against each other and one system can affect the thermal energy produced from another.

    The Reclaim Heat Pump can heat up a 315L tank in less than 3 hours, while solar thermal systems can take a full day.

    Combining two technologies can achieve a small return on energy savings, but requires a special tank and controller made for this purpose, which Reclaim Energy does not offer, or recommend, at this stage.

  • Yes. The Smart controller of the Reclaim Energy CO2 Heat Pump Hot Water System allows you to customise your hot water management to optimise your PV energy production.

    It has a preset option for PV systems where the system will receive power from the time of day that the PV system is producing power.

    10am for a period of 6 hours, or until System has reached 60oC. The PV system creates power and feeds the CO2 Heat Pump to heat the water for free, instead of going back into the grid.

  • The residential unit is designed for domestic hot water applications. Reclaim Energy does not recommend any applications, or installations, other than what is specified in the product manual.

  • Yes it is. In high chloride water supply areas, the water can corrode some parts of the heat pump and tank, causing them to fail. Where the chloride level exceeds 200mg/litre, any warranty does not apply to the heat pump and tank units.

    pH is a measure of whether water is alkaline or acid. In an acidic water supply, water can attack parts of the heat pump and tank, causing them to fail. No warranty applies to the heat pump and tank units where the pH is less than 6.5 or more than 8.5.

    Water supplied from a rainwater tank in a metropolitan area is likely to be corrosive due to the presence of atmospheric contaminants in the water.

    Water with a pH of less than 6.5 can be treated to raise the pH. It is recommended that an analysis of water from a rainwater tank be conducted before connecting this type of water supply to a Reclaim Energy CO2 Heat Pump Hot Water System.

  • The purchase and installation of a Reclaim Energy CO2 Heat Pump Hot Water System entitles you to Small-scale Technology Certificates (STCs) – formerly known as Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs). An STC is the equivalent of one megawatt hour of renewable energy generation. The Reclaim Energy CO2 Heat Pump Hot Water System attracts a large number of STCs that can be traded for a cash rebate. Eligible households can claim both Federal and State rebates. For more information visit www.environment.gov.au/climate-change and www.rec-registry.gov.au.

  • Yes. The Smart Controller has 5 presets that allow you to customise your hot water management at the touch of a button. This can be used to set the CO2 Heat Pump to operate on the cheapest tariffs to ensure the household energy budget is controlled. Smart Controller Options:

    Option 1 – a default mode that runs the system 24/7, turning on and off through the thermostat.

    Option 2 – Off Peak 1 Mode commences at 2200 hours (10pm) and remains active for 9 hours.

    Option 3 – Off Peak 2 Mode commences at 2400 hours (12 am) and remains active for 6 hours.

    Option 4 – a preset mode for customers with PV systems. The system will receive power from the time of day that the PV system is producing power. 10am for a period of 5 hours, or until System has reached 60°C. The PV system creates power and feeds the CO2 Heat Pump to heat the water for free, instead of going back into the grid.

    Option 5 – allows the setting of boosting times based on custom requirements.

  • No, the Reclaim Energy CO2 Heat Pump Hot Water System does not require an electric booster element.

  • The Reclaim Energy CO2 Heat Pump Hot Water System will operate effectively between -10ºC and 43ºC, without the need for an electric backup/booster element. It is also fitted with an inbuilt freeze protection, making it suitable for all Australian conditions and climate variations.

  • The CO2 Heat Pump is rated at 37dB, measured at 1m distance from the unit, which is whisper quiet, practically silent.

  • CO2 has far less environmental impact, that is no ozone layer depletion and minimal global warming, when compared to other commonly used refrigerants.

    It has excellent thermodynamic ability, allowing much higher efficiency in the system, with more heat being transferred to the water, for less energy used.

  • The residential 6 kW CO2 heat pump unit be combined with different size storage tank. The storage tank size includes 160L, 250L, 315L, and 400L. Glass Lined Enamel tank, suitable for all water types.

    For commercial use Reclaim Energy offers the high efficiency 25 kW Q-TON Commercial Heat Pump, an air-to-water heat pump that uses CO2 gas as a refrigerant and can be used in a variety of applications for the supply of sanitary hot water. The Q-TON Commercial Heat Pump meets the demand for medium to large sanitary hot water generation that involves low electricity consumption and a high level of environmental friendliness.

  • The Reclaim Energy CO2 Heat Pump Hot Water System operates like a refrigerator in reverse. It contains a fan that forces air through an evaporator that contains a refrigerant. The heat in the air passes through the evaporator and is absorbed by a natural refrigerant, CO2. The warm gaseous refrigerant is circulated in the system via a compressor. As it passes through the compressor, its pressure rises, as does its temperature. This hot refrigerant then passes through a heat exchanger to heat the water, which is finally pumped to the storage tank.

  • Not only does a Reclaim Energy CO2 Heat Pump Hot Water System help save on energy costs, it also offers the following benefits:

    • Easy to install
    • Glass Lined Enamel tank options
    • Top down Heat Pump return heating for quick water recovery (i.e. ~ 110 L/hr hot water delivery)
    • CO2 refrigerant ideally suited to excel in cold weather conditions
    • CO2 refrigerant naturally environmentally friendly
    • High coefficient of performance (COP) creating high energy from low energy input
    • Quietest system on the market with an average noise level of 37dB One shot boost function for continuous hot water
    • Designed to use excess PV generation rather than exporting it to the grid
    • Smart Controller allows control over energy costs and consumption
    • STC and VEEC rebate approved
    • Outstanding cold weather performance

  • Yes, the Reclaim Energy CO2 Heat Pump Hot Water System is very energy efficient. It uses only 20% of the energy required by an electric storage hot water system, saving up to 80% compared to conventional electric hot water energy costs.