Today, Shell UK and PassivSystems are pleased to announce the launch of B-Snug, a smart hybrid heating system for British homeowners.
The B-Snug system uses advanced technology to manage a combination of an air source heat pump and a traditional boiler. The intelligent controls continuously monitor the temperature in the home and analyse weather forecasts to automatically switch between two heat sources: a newly fitted Samsung Air Source Heat Pump and the customer’s existing boiler. The system’s controls use machine learning to select the most appropriate heat source to deliver warmth and comfort, favouring use of the heat pump whenever possible. With the majority of heat for the home being provided by the air source heat pump, the system reduces heating bills. And, by providing homeowners with a way to use electricity to heat their homes, this initiative enables consumers to reduce their use of oil or LPG thereby helping Great Britain to reduce carbon emissions from domestic properties.
B-Snug’s smart hybrid approach offers a viable solution particularly for larger and hard-to-insulate homes where fitting an all-electric heat pump in isolation may be too expensive. It is currently aimed at homes that use oil or LPG for heating.
B-Snug uses PassivSystems’ technology platform and will be delivered as one of its Advanced Smart Control Services.
“The Committee on Climate Change (CCC) has given a clear message that we need to decarbonise homes to achieve the government’s net-zero emissions target by 2050,” said Colin Calder, Chief Executive Officer at PassivSystems. “The B-Snug smart hybrid heating system offers an affordable, cost effective and easy-to-install option, moving households towards a more sustainable, low-carbon energy source without having to make any changes to their existing heating system. PassivSystems is delighted to be a key supplier and technology provider in this new product launch, which directly contributes to meeting the CCC’s goal of deploying 10 million hybrids by 2035.”
“In PassivSystems, we found a great partner to launch B-Snug – our first smart hybrid heating system,” says Brian Davis, Vice President Energy Solutions at Shell. “By leveraging Passiv’s technology and experience we can now offer a more cost effective and cleaner heating solution to our customers.”
About B-Snug
B-Snug is a wholly owned subsidiary of Shell U.K. Ltd and is bought to market by PassivSystems Ltd, a Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) approved installer. For more information visit www.b-snug.com.
PassivSystems is developing the platform technology, products and partnerships to deliver low-carbon hybrid heating solutions for residential markets. It manages home energy assets by using controls to optimise energy use across multiple domestic applications, while enabling demand response for consumers. Its platform technology also controls and optimises the performance of solar PV systems, batteries and electric vehicle charging. This helps consumers, asset owners and businesses get better value for money whilst reducing emissions.
PassivSystems is the UK’s leading provider of residential solar PV asset management solutions. The company was founded in 2008. It employs 60 people and operates through its headquarters in Newbury. For more information visit www.passivsystems.com.
Royal Dutch Shell plc is incorporated in England and Wales, has its headquarters in The Hague and is listed on the London, Amsterdam, and New York stock exchanges. Shell companies have operations in more than 70 countries and territories with businesses including oil and gas exploration and production; production and marketing of liquefied natural gas and gas to liquids; manufacturing, marketing and shipping of oil products and chemicals and renewable energy projects. For further information, visit www.shell.com.
Shell established its New Energies division in 2016. Shell New Energies focuses on two main areas: new fuels for transport, such as advanced biofuels and hydrogen; and power, by being involved at almost every stage of the process, from generating electricity, to buying and selling it, to supplying it directly to customers. Shell’s New Energies business is seeking to leverage the company’s strengths and to invest in commercial opportunities in fast-growing parts of the energy industry. For more information, go to www.shell.com/newenergies.
