Video site tour of award-winning heat pump system at Port Phillip Estate and Kooyong Wines vineyard

The Australian Alliance for Energy Productivity (A2EP) has released a video case study of a heat pump installation at Port Phillip Estate and Kooyong Wines on the Mornington Peninsula which takes viewers step-by-step through the process of replacing a gas boiler in a business.

The Port Phillip Estate and Kooyong Wines site requires a significant amount of domestic hot water for its restaurant, accommodation and event venue. The previous gas boiler supplying the hot water was ageing and unreliable, potentially causing issues for guests and staff.

The new heat pump system supplied by local Dromana-based supplier, Energy Smart Water, is highly efficient with thermal storage providing back-up supply for times and the flexibility to heat water using electricity from the 100 kilowatt on-site solar photovoltaic (PV) system when the sun is shining.

Since installation, there has not been any interruption to the supply of domestic hot water and the operators estimate it is reducing annual gas bills by $6,000 to $8,000 annually.

“This award-winning system demonstrates the savings that electrification technologies such as heat pumps can offer businesses,” said Jarrod Leak, Chief Executive Officer of A2EP.

“Not only has the system slashed gas bills for this popular destination winery and venue, it is delivering non-energy productivity and quality of service benefits to the winery with a more reliable hot water service for its many guests and customers.”

The heat pump system is just the latest initiative by Port Phillip Estate and Kooyong Wines to reduce its carbon footprint and environmental impact. Other actions have included the installation of the 100-kilowatt solar PV system on the roof, 500,000 litres of rainwater storage tanks, and water recycling on the site.

Businesses interested in heat pumps for reducing their energy costs and emissions can use A2EP’s free Heat Pump Estimator online tool at www.heatpumpestimator.com to generate valuable initial information to inform conversations with consultants and suppliers.

More technical details about the system and installation can be found on A2EP’s FutureHeat website, which features heat pump and thermal storage case studies for a range of commercial and industrial applications.