Episode 15: R290 in Focus – the future of heat pump refrigerants

What is driving the shift to R290 refrigerant? Listen to this episode for some of the answers. In this episode of the Net Zero Heating Show, Matthew Beales, one of Grant UK’s Regional Sales Managers, is joined by Kelvin Kelly from Business Edge Ltd, and Rob Dyer, a Technical Sales Support Engineer at Grant UK, to discuss the adoption of R290 refrigerant in air source heat pumps and what it means for installers. Plus, listen to on-the-ground insight from InstallerSHOW 2025 to hear interviews from installers who have worked with the Aerona 290 heat pump and its controls. 

What’s discussed:

• The differences between R32 and R290 refrigerant 
• What installers need to know about working with R290 heat pumps
• Legislation and standards 
• Feedback from installers who have fitted a Grant R290 heat pump in their homes

Useful resources:

Grant UK’s Aerona 290 heat pump range launched in 2024 and features five R290 heat pump models, available in outputs from 4kW up to 15.5kW – discover the range here: www.grantuk.com/professional/products/air-source-heat-pumps/r290/. For free heat pump training, Grant UK’s Training Academy deliver a 1-day Aerona 290 Heat Pump Installer Course – enquire here: www.grantuk.com/professional/training/courses/grant-aerona-r290-air-source-heat-pumps/.

Kelvin Kelly is the Training Director for Business Edge Ltd, Chairman of the Air Conditioning Industry Board Training and Skills Committee, and a Fellow of the Institute of Refrigeration. For over 40 years, Kelvin has been working in the refrigeration, air conditioning and heat pump industry and specifically in training and assessment for 35 years. He was involved in the creation of the current F-Gas assessment for two out of the three schemes in the UK and has also been involved in supporting training and assessment schemes in developing countries. 

Rob Dyer has been working in the heating industry for over 20 years, starting his career with specialising in controls wiring and HVAC systems in the commercial sector before moving into the domestic and commercial renewables sector as an installer. With experience in MCS installations, Rob has worked with a wide variety of renewable heating systems from biomass and solar PV through to solar thermal and air source heat pumps. In 2022, Rob joined Grant UK as their Technical Sales Support Engineer for the East of England and the Midlands, providing on-site heat pump and controls support for installers and other customers. 

This episode was recorded on 7th July 2025.