Alpha has supplied its Magis M heat pump to a pioneering new heating system designed to tackle one of the biggest challenges in the transition to low-carbon homes – the effective retrofit of older, hard-to-heat properties.
The EnergyWall system takes a radically different approach by applying radiant heating to the external walls of a building. Powered by a heat pump, the system gently warms the structure of the home itself, using the thermal mass of the walls to store and emit heat internally, helping to maintain a consistent and comfortable indoor environment.
EnergyWall is one of the finalists in the Manchester Innovation Prize project for 2026. Led by AI firm Underheat, the prototype system has recently completed initial testing in Energy House 1 at the University of Salford.
The design of the system means that the flow temperature from the heat pump can be as low as 28oC to produce the required heating effect. This was one of the reasons that the Alpha product was selected, as it can provide flow temperatures of between 5 and 65 degrees centigrade.
Because the heat is being applied to the external walls, there are no cold thermal bridges and the issue of problematic internal condensation is removed. EnergyWall has the potential to provide an effective retrofit solution for Britain’s older solid wall building types.
Initial tests indicate that this technology has the potential to substantially lower heating costs compared with conventional systems, making it an attractive option for improving public sector housing and helping to tackle fuel poverty.
Evidence from recent testing of the prototype installation will be used as part of the submission for the Manchester Innovation Prize, the results of which are due to be announced in March this year. The successful technology will receive funding for further development.
Dan Wilden, National Renewables Manager at Alpha commented: “Given the sheer number of older solid wall properties in the UK, solutions like EnergyWall have huge potential.
“Retrofitting low-carbon heating into these homes has always been a challenge, but this approach offers a practical and scalable alternative.
“As the technology develops, there is also the potential to deliver cooling as well as heating, opening up new opportunities to address overheating in urban housing.
“It’s exactly the kind of forward-thinking innovation that we’re proud to support at Alpha.”