Opinion

Q&A – Mitsubishi Electric

Mitsubishi Electric
What have you got planned for 2014?
I see this as a big year for product development with lots of exciting new functionality, control and products to extend the range and simplify things for installers.
The heat pump market has already come a long way, but we realise that as an industry, we still need to increase awareness of the benefits that renewable heating can offer. We will therefore continue reaching out directly to the market with our Ecodan range and plan a number of roadshows around the country, targeting installers, social housing providers and developers. 

What do you see as the growth area for renewables?
The domestic RHI launch should increase general interest in renewable technologies and the big growth area is likely to be in off-gas areas where the arguments for renewables in general, and air source heat pumps in particular, are very strong compared with oil, LPG and direct electric heating.

In addition to increased sales in the social housing, self-builder and off-gas areas – in part generated by the RHI, we expect greater increase in commercial applications of heat pumps, particularly for the educational and agricultural sectors, as well as increased interest in heat pumps for community and district heating schemes.

How is your company cutting its carbon footprint?
As a global organisation, we have been looking at all aspects of our operation, from lean manufacturing to the highest international standards, right through to the careful disposal.  Our recycling programme currently captures 99.1 percent of all materials from end of life products.

John Kellett is general manager of Mitsubishi Electric’s Heating Systems Division