SRC Group partners with Energy Transfer on marine heat pump systems

SRC Group has entered into an agreement with Energy Transfer to pioneer electric heat pump systems for both newbuild installation and retrofits on ships, touting improved energy consumption, with a 3-MW installation already in operation.
Heat pumps offer efficiencies far greater than conventional electric heaters, since their main function is not to generate heat but to move it around - making it possible for heat pumps to deliver multiples of their energy consumption in heating.
By replacing conventional oil-fired boilers and chillers with a single system for onboard heating and cooling, the partners said that heat pumps could offer 11kW of combined heating and cooling output for every 1kW of electrical input.
Stefano Pitton, CTO of SRC Group, said: “This solution enables up to zero-emission heating and cooling during electric operation, while delivering lower upfront cost, major energy savings, and short payback times for shipowners.”
The system is designed as a compact, modular unit suitable for installation in space-constrained engine rooms. Thermal capacity ranges from 200kW to 3MW, with larger systems available on request.
Lucia Favaretto, co-founder of Energy Transfer, said: “Our heat pump technology is designed to maximise efficiency while minimising footprint and system complexity.”