What is a Sunamp heat battery?
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If you’ve started looking into energy efficient water heating or ways to get more from your solar panels, you might have come across the term heat battery. It sounds technical, but the idea is actually very simple.
A heat battery stores energy as heat so you can use it later, typically for hot water in your home. Think of it as a smarter, more efficient replacement for a traditional hot water cylinder.
What is a heat battery?
A heat battery is a compact unit that stores thermal energy rather than electricity. Instead of holding hot water like a tank, it stores heat inside a special material and releases it when you need it.
Sunamp heat batteries are designed to deliver mains pressure hot water without needing a bulky cylinder.
In simple terms, a Sunamp heat battery lets you store energy when it is cheap or free, use that energy later as hot water, and reduce your energy waste and running costs.
How does a heat battery work?
At the heart of a Sunamp heat battery is a phase change material, often shortened to PCM. Rather than heating water and keeping it hot all day, the system heats this material instead. The material stores a large amount of energy in a very small space.
Sunamp heat batteries charge using electricity. This could come from a standard electricity supply, off-peak electricity tariffs like Economy 7, or solar panels during the day.
Once charged, the energy is stored inside the phase change material with very minimal losses. This is one of the biggest advantages over traditional hot water cylinders, which constantly lose heat over time.
This phase change material means that heat batteries are much more energy dense, which is why they are so compact compared to cylinders.
When you turn on a hot tap or shower, colds mains water passes through the heat exchanger inside the unit. The stored energy is transferred instantly into the water as it flows through, giving you mains pressure hot water at consistent temperatures, with no need to store large volumes of hot water.
Why are Sunamp heat batteries smaller than hot water tanks?
Traditional cylinders store energy as hot water, which takes up a lot of space and gradually cools down. Sunamp heat batteries store energy in a much more concentrated way. Thanks to this, they are smaller units (up to four times smaller than the equivalent cylinder!) which can fit in cupboards, with minimal heat losses, and no need for large loft tank or airing cupboard.
For many homes, especially flats or properties where space is limited, this is a big advantage.
What are the benefits of a Sunamp heat battery?
Sunamp heat batteries are becoming more popular in the UK as more homes move away from gas. Some key benefits of the Sunamp include:
Lower running costs
Charge the unit using cheaper, off-peak electricity overnight, or using excess solar generation.
Better efficiency
Less heat is wasted compared to traditional cylinders, as there’s no need for storing large quantities of hot water.
Space saving design
Sunamp is up to four times smaller than equivalent hot water cylinders, making them ideal for homes where space is limited.
Mains pressure hot water
No need for noisy pumps or tanks in the loft. Enjoy hot water at mains pressure throughout your home.
Future ready
Sunamp works perfectly alongside solar panels, heat pumps, battery storage, and smart tariffs.
Can a Sunamp work without solar panels?
Yes, and this is a common misconception. While Sunamp heat batteries work brilliantly with solar PV, they do not rely on it. You can still benefit by charging your Sunamp using cheaper, overnight electricity tariffs.
Sunamp heat batteries are a great option for homes without solar, as well as those planning to install it in the future.
Is a Sunamp heat battery right for your home?
A heat battery can be a great fit if you want to move away from gas, have limited space for a hot water cylinder, are on (or can switch to) an off-peak tariff, and if you’re considering installing a renewable technology, such as solar PV or heat pump.
Sunamp batteries are particularly popular in flats, apartments, new build properties, and fully electric homes.
What is a Sunamp heat battery?
A Sunamp heat battery is simply a smarter way to store and use energy in your home. By storing heat instead of hot water, it delivers the same end result more efficiently, with a smaller footprint, and with the potential to significantly reduce your energy bills.
As energy prices continue to fluctuate and more homes look to electrify, Sunamp heat batteries are quickly becoming one of the most practical solutions for modern hot water systems.