Advertise on podcast: Energy Unwrapped with Mick Wall

Heat pumps get talked about like they're brand new technology — they're not. On this episode of the Energy Unwrapped Podcast, I sit down with Nathan Gambling, lecturer in plumbing and heating and host of the Beta Talk podcast, to trace how Britain actually got its heating: from single-room fires, through town gas and the conversion to natural gas, to the combi boiler boom — and how heat pumps have quietly been running in the background the whole time, including one that heated a Norwich building from the River Wensum from 1945 until the 2000s.We get into:- Why "heat pumps are not new" — Graeme Haldane's 1927 experiments and John Sumner's 1945 Norwich heat pump- How Britain's town-gas-to-natural-gas conversion became one of the biggest planned engineering operations in peacetime history- Why Canvey Island became the UK's first LNG terminal- Why radiators were never designed to be scorching hot — and why that still trips people up with heat pumps today- Why the UK became the world's biggest gas boiler market, and what that legacy means for the heat pump transition now#HeatPumps #EnergyUnwrapped #UKHeating #RenewableEnergy #HeatingEngineerI'll leave a link to my trusted heat pump installer directory and the Energy Unwrapped podcast below.📊 Real-world UK energy data, analysis and tools:👉 https://energy-stats.uk🔥 Need help choosing a trusted heat pump installer?👉 https://trustedheatpumpinstallers.co.uk/⚡ Switch to Octopus Energy (we both get £50):👉 https://mickwall.octopus.energy/🎙️ Energy Unwrapped Podcast:👉 https://energy-stats.uk/energy-unwrapped-podcast/

Hot water cylinders are one of the UK's biggest untapped energy storage assets — and most homes don't even know it. In this episode of the Energy Unwrapped Podcast, I sit down with Pete Armstrong, CEO and co-founder of Mixergy, to unpack a decade of engineering behind the smart hot water cylinder.We get into how top-down heating and stratification let a single 200L tank store roughly 10 kWh of usable energy, why there's something like 10 times more energy sitting in the UK's hot water tanks than in Dinorwig's pumped hydro plant, and how curtailed wind power in Scotland could be turned into free hot water for half of Scottish homes instead of being switched off.Pete also walks through why Mixergy moved to local, cloud-independent control, what the upcoming Secure Smart Electricity System regulation means for appliances like this, and where hot water storage sits against home batteries and EVs in the flexibility conversation.#Mixergy #HotWaterCylinder #EnergyStorage #UKEnergy #GridFlexibility #EnergyUnwrapped🎙️ Full Energy Unwrapped Podcast:👉 https://energy-stats.uk/energy-unwrapped-podcast/📊 Real-world UK energy data, analysis and tools:👉 https://energy-stats.uk🔥 Need help choosing a trusted heat pump installer?👉 https://www.trustedheatpumpinstallers.co.uk/⚡ Switch to Octopus Energy (we both get £50):👉 https://mickwall.octopus.energy/ ⚡ Axle Energy Flexibility Referral (we both get £25):👉 https://vpp.axle.energy/landing/grid?ref=R-ZWPYRZOD Golden Rules (best heat pump hot water settings:👉 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YTE1NiWCOtk Future Homes Standard with Nigel Banks of Octopus👉 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ln_ZEHDEiJI The Cheapest Electricity has Moved👉 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PodKKVa_BCk

How does a gas engineer become a heat pump specialist? In this episode of the Energy Unwrapped podcast, Mick Wall speaks with James Clark of Elite Services Group about his journey from gas engineering into heat pumps and renewable heating. James explains how his approach to heat pump design and installation developed, the impact of Heat Geek training, and why good installers need to keep learning as the industry changes. We also discuss communication, customer handover, aftercare and the importance of learning from mistakes. The conversation covers the realities of building and running a renewable heating business, including the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, recruitment, changing technology and the challenge of delivering quality heat pump installations at scale. James also shares his experience of solar, home batteries, air conditioning and smart electricity tariffs — and explains why the role of a heating installer is increasingly becoming that of a whole-home energy adviser. In this episode: James’s journey from gas engineer to heat pump specialist What makes a good heat pump installer Heat pump design, training and continuous learning Heat-loss surveys, installation and customer handover The Boiler Upgrade Scheme and industry challenges Running a heat pump and renewable heating business Solar, batteries and air conditioning Smart tariffs and the future of home energy 🔥 James and Elite Services Group are part of my Trusted Heat Pump Installer directory 👉 https://www.trustedheatpumpinstallers.co.uk/ 📊 Real-world UK energy data, analysis and tools: 👉 https://energy-stats.uk ⚡ Switch to Octopus Energy (we both get £50): 👉 https://mickwall.uk/octopus 🎙️ Energy Unwrapped Podcast: 👉 https://energy-stats.uk/energy-unwrapped-podcast/

In this episode of the Energy Unwrapped podcast, I speak to Glyn Hudson and Trystan Lea from OpenEnergyMonitor. We go back to the early days of OpenEnergyMonitor, from Glyn and Trystan meeting as childhood friends, to building early energy monitoring hardware, hand-soldered circuit boards, open-source software and the arrival of the Raspberry Pi. We also talk about how OpenEnergyMonitor moved from electricity monitoring into heat pump monitoring, how HeatPumpMonitor.org came about, and the role of John Cantor in helping shape real-world heat pump monitoring. This is a brilliant conversation about open-source energy monitoring, heat pump performance, billing-grade MID monitoring, manufacturer onboard data, installer learning, community forums, Raspberry Pi, Home Assistant, solar, batteries, EV charging and what better energy data can teach us. My own OpenEnergyMonitor journey started in October 2018 with an emonPi to monitor my solar. Since then, my setup has expanded to monitor solar, batteries, EV charging, cooking and my Vaillant heat pump. My heat pump was just system number 9 on HeatPumpMonitor.org. We also discuss what HeatPumpMonitor.org has revealed about good heat pump design, low flow temperatures, weather compensation, commissioning, accurate heat loss, simple system design, MID approved heat meters, onboard manufacturer monitoring, performance guarantees, consumer protection and what comes next for OpenEnergyMonitor. If you are thinking about getting a heat pump, take a look at my Trusted Heat Pump Installer Directory. I’m continuing to build it out with installers I would personally trust, and there is also a guide on how to choose a good installer. Links mentioned in this episode: OpenEnergyMonitor https://openenergymonitor.org/ HeatPumpMonitor.org https://heatpumpmonitor.org/ OpenEnergyMonitor Community Forum https://community.openenergymonitor.org/ John Cantor https://johncantor.uk/ Heat Pumps for the Home by John Cantor https://www.amazon.co.uk/Heat-Pumps-Home-John-Cantor/dp/1785007793/ 📊 Real-world UK energy data, analysis and tools: 👉 https://energy-stats.uk 🔥 Need help choosing a trusted heat pump installer? 👉 https://www.trustedheatpumpinstallers.co.uk/ ⚡ Switch to Octopus Energy (we both get £50): 👉 https://mickwall.octopus.energy/ 🎙️ Energy Unwrapped Podcast: 👉 https://energy-stats.uk/energy-unwrapped-podcast/

Want to save more with your home battery? In this episode of the Energy Unwrapped podcast, I'm joined by Richard Eyres from PredBat to look at one of the most powerful home battery optimisation platforms available today. I've personally been running the open-source version of PredBat within Home Assistant for around 18 months, using it to automatically optimise my home battery against solar forecasts, electricity tariffs and household demand. It has genuinely saved me money, but it's always been aimed at enthusiasts. Now there's a commercial version designed for everyday homeowners. Richard explains how PredBat Cloud works, demonstrates the onboarding process live, and shows how it can help homeowners save more with their home battery by using solar forecasts, weather data, machine learning and dynamic electricity tariffs. We also discuss:• The history of Batpred and how it became PredBat• Why Home Assistant users love the open-source version• The new cloud platform and simplified setup• The 12-month savings guarantee• Solar forecasting and machine learning• Intelligent Octopus Go smart charging• Preventing your home battery discharging into your EV• Local hub vs cloud connectivity• GivEnergy support• Axle Energy virtual power plant integration• Why independent optimisation may be the future of home energy 🔗 PredBat referral: https://predbat.com/ref/mick-wall 🔗 Axle Energy referral (£25 joining credit): https://vpp.axle.energy/landing/grid?ref=R-ZWPYRZOD 🔗 Trusted Heat Pump Installers: https://www.trustedheatpumpinstallers.co.uk/ 🔗 Energy Stats UK: https://energy-stats.uk 🔗 Switch to Octopus Energy (we both get £50): https://mickwall.octopus.energy/ 🔗 Energy Unwrapped Podcast: https://energy-stats.uk/energy-unwrapped-podcast/

Thinking about a heat pump from Heat Geek? In this episode of the Energy Unwrapped podcast, I sit down with Aadil Qureshi, CEO and co-founder of Heat Geek, to walk through the complete Heat Geek customer journey. We cover everything from the initial online estimate through to surveying, heat loss calculations, LiDAR scanning, Zero Disrupt design, installation, commissioning, performance guarantees and long-term support. My Heat Geek Affiliate Link:https://upgrades.heatgeek.com/c/mick-wall (You won't pay any more, but I may earn a small commission, thank you) Trusted Heat Pump Installers Directory: https://www.trustedheatpumpinstallers.co.uk/ 📊 Real-world UK energy data, analysis and tools: 👉 https://energy-stats.uk ⚡ Switch to Octopus Energy (we both get £50): 👉 https://mickwall.octopus.energy/ 🎙️ Energy Unwrapped Podcast: 👉 https://energy-stats.uk/energy-unwrapped-podcast/

Emilie Romain was talking about heat pumps on YouTube before almost anyone in the UK knew what they were. In this episode of Energy Unwrapped, Mick sits down with the OG heat pump content creator to hear how an accidental career pivot led her to front EcoBubl's videos in full overalls, why she thinks too many people gatekeep renewables by keeping it technical, and what it's like returning to an industry that's finally caught up with her. They also get into women in the trades, the shifting public mood around heat pumps, and Emilie's new role at Midsummer Energy helping homeowners find solar. A great listen for anyone on their own renewable energy journey. 📊 Real-world UK energy data, analysis and tools: 👉 https://energy-stats.uk 🔥 Need help choosing a trusted heat pump installer? 👉 https://www.trustedheatpumpinstallers.co.uk/ ⚡ Switch to Octopus Energy (we both get £50): 👉 https://mickwall.octopus.energy/

This episode is a little different — recorded LIVE at The Heat Pump Show in Newark (April 2026), where I joined an expert panel discussion on what’s becoming known as:⚡ The Holy Trinity ⚡Solar PV + Battery Storage + Heat Pump Hosted by Simon Roberts from Heatio, this conversation dives deep into how these technologies work together to reduce running costs, improve comfort, optimise energy usage, and reshape the future of home electrification. Joining me on the panel were: 🔹 Andy Rankin — Midsummer 🔹 Daniel White — MCS 🔹 Sean Hogan — Aventus Eco We discuss: Solar + battery + heat pump integration Smart tariffs & energy optimisation Running costs vs upfront costs Home batteries & energy storage Heat pump comfort & efficiency Consumer education Future energy systems Energy as a service The future of electrified homes A huge thank you to Midsummer for organising The Heat Pump Show and inviting me to be part of the panel. Special thanks as well to Aventus Eco and Refurb & Retrofit Magazine for kindly allowing me to use recordings from the discussion. Aventus Eco: https://aventuseco.com/ https://www.youtube.com/@aventus-eco Refurb & Retrofit Magazine:https://www.refurbandretrofit.com/ https://www.youtube.com/@refurbandretrofit The Heat Pump Show organised by Midsummer:https://midsummerwholesale.co.uk/ 📊 Real-world UK energy data, analysis and tools: 👉 https://energy-stats.uk 🔥 Need help choosing a trusted heat pump installer? 👉 https://www.trustedheatpumpinstallers.co.uk/ ⚡ Switch to Octopus Energy (we both get £50): 👉 https://mickwall.octopus.energy/

In this episode of Energy Unwrapped, Mick Wall is joined by Steph Willis from Spruce to unpack one of the most misunderstood parts of heat pump design: heat loss calculations. They explore why heat loss surveys matter, how outdated ventilation assumptions have led to oversized systems, and why many homeowners may have been quoted for larger heat pumps — and more radiator upgrades — than they actually needed. Topics include: - Fabric vs ventilation heat loss - Why old guidance produced inflated heat loss figures - The real impact on heat pump sizing and system costs - Air changes, blower door tests & infiltration - Why accurate surveys matter for installers and homeowners - How better heat loss calculations could reduce disruption and improve heat pump adoption A practical and honest conversation for homeowners, installers, and anyone interested in heat pumps, retrofit, and home energy efficiency. 📊 Real-world UK energy data, analysis and tools: 👉 https://energy-stats.uk 🔥 Need help choosing a trusted heat pump installer? 👉 https://www.trustedheatpumpinstallers.co.uk/ ⚡ Switch to Octopus Energy (we both get £50): 👉 https://mickwall.octopus.energy/ 🎙️ Energy Unwrapped Podcast: In-depth conversations with installers, engineers and industry experts — breaking down what actually works in UK homes. Alongside the podcast, you’ll find practical guides, deep dives and real-world performance data to help you make smarter energy decisions.

In this episode of the Energy Unwrapped Podcast, I’m joined by Claire Rowland from the Living Lab at Energy Systems Catapult. The Living Lab is a panel of over 5,000 UK households sharing real energy data, helping us understand how people actually use energy in their homes. We talk through what that data shows about EVs, solar panels, batteries and heat pumps, including which technologies people install first and how households build towards fully electrified homes. We also dig into how the data is collected, what it’s used for, and how it feeds into product development, research and even energy system planning. Claire explains how companies and policymakers use this real-world insight to design better services, tariffs and technologies. We reference this report during the episode:What can the Living Lab tell us about home energy technology adoption?https://es.catapult.org.uk/insight/what-can-the-living-lab-tell-us-about-home-energy-technology-adoption/ We also cover how you can get involved in the Living Lab, what’s involved, and what participants get back, from paid trials to early access to new technologies. If you’re interested in real-world home energy data and where UK homes are heading next, this one’s worth a listen. Want to take part in trials, share your energy data, or help shape the future of UK energy? https://www.livinglab.energy/ 🎙️ Energy Unwrapped Podcast — Real conversations about home energy, renewables, and making smarter choices as a UK homeowner. 📊 Data & analysis on my website: 👉 https://energy-stats.uk ⚡https://www.trustedheatpumpinstallers.co.uk/ ⚡ Switch to Octopus Energy (referral link — we both get £50): https://mickwall.octopus.energy/ 👉 https://energy-stats.uk/support-the-site 👉 http://buymeacoffee.com/SVHgIbUYM

In this episode of Energy Unwrapped, I’m joined by TJ Root from Octopus Energy to walk through the full journey of getting a heat pump, from the first online quote through to survey, design and installation. We talk about the Octopus Cosy heat pump, why it looks the way it does, how it is installed and what really matters when it comes to heat loss, radiator sizing and system design. There is also a good discussion around common concerns like noise, siting and R290 refrigerant. A big part of this episode is about getting the basics right. We get into why heat loss figures can vary, why gas usage is not always a reliable guide, and why slightly undersizing a heat pump can be a bigger risk than many people realise. If you are thinking about a heat pump, or just want to understand how the process actually works in a real UK home, this is a really useful one. Get £100 Octopus heat pump referral:https://tech.referrals.octopus.energy/ucMTeP8d Part of my Trusted Heat Pump Installer website: https://www.trustedheatpumpinstallers.co.uk/ 🎙️ Energy Unwrapped Podcast — Real conversations about home energy, renewables, and making smarter choices as a UK homeowner. 📊 Data & analysis on my website: 👉 https://energy-stats.uk ⚡ Switch to Octopus Energy (referral link — we both get £50): https://mickwall.octopus.energy/ 👉 https://energy-stats.uk/support-the-site 👉 http://buymeacoffee.com/SVHgIbUYM

The Future Homes Standard is finally here. From 2027, new homes in the UK will move away from gas boilers and towards heat pumps, solar and fully electric design. But is it enough… or are we still building homes that will need fixing later? In this episode, I’m joined by Nigel Banks from Octopus Energy to break down what the Future Homes Standard actually means in practice, and whether Zero Bills Homes are genuinely achievable. We talk through: What’s changing in new build homesWhy gas boilers are effectively being phased outHow much solar will actually go on roofsWhy we ended up with 2-panel installsHeat pumps, design, and common mistakesExport limits and grid constraintsWhether zero energy bills are realisticOne standout moment: in some cases, it’s now cheaper to install solar than slate roofing If you’re interested in heat pumps, solar, tariffs, or the future of home energy in the UK, this one’s worth a listen. 🎙️ Energy Unwrapped Podcast — Real conversations about home energy, renewables, and making smarter choices as a UK homeowner. 📊 Data & analysis on my website: 👉 https://energy-stats.uk ⚡ Switch to Octopus Energy (referral link — we both get £50): https://mickwall.octopus.energy/ 👉 https://energy-stats.uk/support-the-site 👉 http://buymeacoffee.com/SVHgIbUYM

Intelligent Octopus Go is changing, and it’s caused a fair bit of debate. In this episode, I’m joined by Alex Schoch, Group Director of Flexibility and Electrification at Octopus Energy, to explain what’s changing, why it’s happening, and what it means in practice. We get into the new 6-hour charging setup, how the charge cap works, and why most EV charging sessions are shorter than people think. But this goes much further than one tariff. We also talk about grid flexibility, how EVs and batteries are being used to balance the grid, why export rates are moving away from flat pricing, and how tariffs like Flux and Agile fit into that direction of travel. There’s also a look at vehicle-to-grid (V2G), how it works, and why it could become a big part of home energy in the future. If you’re using Intelligent Octopus Go, thinking about switching, or just trying to understand where tariffs and home energy are heading, this should give you a clearer picture. Find a heat pump installer with my Trusted Heat Pump Installer directory: https://www.trustedheatpumpinstallers.co.uk/ 🎙️ Energy Unwrapped Podcast — Real conversations about home energy, renewables, and making smarter choices as a UK homeowner. 📊 Data & analysis on my website: 👉 https://energy-stats.uk ⚡ Switch to Octopus Energy (referral link — we both get £50): https://mickwall.octopus.energy/ 👉 https://energy-stats.uk/support-the-site 👉 http://buymeacoffee.com/SVHgIbUYM

In this episode of the Energy Unwrapped podcast, I’m joined by Rhiannon de Wreede to talk about her journey into renewables, starting with a plumbing course and moving into heat pumps, system design and domestic energy. We get into what it’s really like retraining later in life, the challenges of breaking into the heating industry, and why training doesn’t always translate into real-world competence. There’s a strong focus on heat pump systems, design, and the importance of getting the fundamentals right. We also cover solar panels, battery storage, EVs and tariffs, along with Rhiannon’s own home setup and how real data helps build trust with homeowners. Finally, we talk about women in renewables, the barriers that still exist, and what needs to change to bring more people into the industry. If you’re interested in heat pumps, renewable energy, or thinking about a career change, this one’s well worth a listen. Find a heat pump installer with my Trusted Heat Pump Installer directory: https://www.trustedheatpumpinstallers.co.uk/ 🎙️ Energy Unwrapped Podcast — Real conversations about home energy, renewables, and making smarter choices as a UK homeowner. 📊 Data & analysis on my website: 👉 https://energy-stats.uk ⚡ Switch to Octopus Energy (referral link — we both get £50): https://mickwall.octopus.energy/ 👉 https://energy-stats.uk/support-the-site 👉 http://buymeacoffee.com/SVHgIbUYM

Are heat pumps noisy? In this episode of Energy Unwrapped, Mick Wall is joined by Jez Climas from City Plumbing to unpack one of the biggest questions homeowners ask about an air source heat pump. They talk through where heat pump noise really comes from, including compressors, fans, vibration, pipework and installation quality. The conversation also covers the MCS noise assessment, neighbour impact, quiet mode, hot water runs, maintenance, and why many modern heat pumps are much quieter than people expect. A practical episode for homeowners, installers, and anyone researching heat pump noise, air source heat pumps, and low temperature heating If you're getting value from my podcasts, and would like to support me in my efforts to help everyone, here are a few ways to do this: 1. Visit my Energy Stats UK website for a range of offers and different ways to support: https://energy-stats.uk/support-the-site 2. If you're thinking of switching energy supplier to Octopus Energy, use my referral code here and we'll both get a £50 credit to our accounts! https://mickwall.octopus.energy/ 3. Feel free to buy me a coffee :-) http://buymeacoffee.com/SVHgIbUYM 4. Like and subscribe to help other people find the podcast, thank you. Find a heat pump installer with my Trusted Heat Pump Installer directory: https://www.trustedheatpumpinstallers.co.uk/