The Alpha E-Tec Hybrid system combines the best of both world's - a renewable heat pump and a reliable gas boiler, ideal for the UK.
Reducing the carbon output – or ‘decarbonisation’ if you’re amongst scholars - of the heating systems in UK homes is at the forefront of industry leaders, Government and consumer mindset.
“Why?
…Because the rising temperature of the planet is your fault. It isn’t globalisation, worldwide transportation, air travel, agriculture, or China. The Government have confirmed, it’s absolutely the boiler in your house”.
Cynicism aside, our fossil-fuelled powered homes do collectively of course have something to answer for – and we’re starting to get some answers…
One such option is a hybrid heating system, like the Alpha E Tec hybrid boiler system.
Not only is a hybrid system a great way to reduce your carbon emissions, but it's also a great option for those who are concerned about the year-round reliability of an air source heat pump.
So how does this hybrid option from Alpha perform? In this review, we'll cover all key aspects of the system and provide our honest verdict for each.
PS This review also includes a walk-through video of one of the very first Alpha hybrid-heat pumps being installed in a UK property.
Ready to make your home more energy-efficient and cut down on your heating bills? Get a heat pump quote today from our trusted partners at Heat Geek here.
Alpha E-Tec Hybrid Boiler System Review
Keeping in the spirit of its full name, Alpha is proving an innovative company on the UK domestic market as they are one of a handful of brands to offer a Hybrid heat pump package.
In this review, we’ve analysed and scored the Alpha Hybrid Boiler with ratings in all of the most important areas for consumers, including:
Reliability
Performance
Warranty
Price
Main features of the Alpha Hybrid System Boiler
Key features of the Alpha E-Tec Hybrid include:
Hot water is on-demand, meaning you won’t need to use stored hot water.
The boiler featured is hydrogen blend compatible by up to 20%
Anti-freeze protection – no need to add chemicals like Glycol as is the case in many heat pump models.
Always choose the cheapest fuel source based on the current energy tariff.
Straightforward hydronic layout.
7-Year Warranty once all relevant warranty Ts and Cs are followed.
Simple installation without the need for internal disruption.
Reliability: 5/5
Trustpilot Reviews
To date, Alpha has amassed a staggering amount of customer reviews on Trustpilot.
As of July 2024, over 5,000 customers left an honest review.
The brand has an average rating of 4.7 stars out of 5, incredible for a boiler company that is relatively new to the UK market.
Good Homes Magazine Approved
The Alpha brand has won awards, including from the notable UK consumer publication - Good Homes Magazine.
Performance of the Alpha E-Tec 33 HB Boiler: 5/5
This wall-mounted condensing combi boiler from Alpha is almost identical to the standard Alpha E Tec Combi Boiler.
The only difference is the control board and some additional electrical BUS points so the boiler can be linked to the external heat pump unit.
As a standalone unit, its condensing heat output is rated at 29kw which would power up to about 20 radiators.
Its nominal domestic hot water output is rated at 32kW which is pretty punchy for such a compact combi boiler. You’ll get up to 14.1 litres a minute of hot water per minute.
Featuring a bulletproof stainless steel heat exchanger and Grundfos pump, this boiler represents unravelled value for money.
Without the assistance of the heat pump, this boiler still achieves over 93% efficiency.
Performance of the E-Tec EHP External Heat Pump: 5/5
Moving on to the heat pump component of this hybrid heating package, this model comes with a nominal capacity of 4kW.
It also has a better-than-average SCOP of 4.14, superior to the average figure of around 3.4 - and a minimum system flow rate of 500 litres an hour.
Check out the video below to see our Alpha hybrid heat pump installation case study in the UK:
But what is SCOP? This stands for the seasonal coefficient of performance.
This is an average measurement designed to reflect how effective a heat pump is over the course of a year.
Simply put, this powerful unit packs an efficiency rating of over 400%.
This gives us an A+ score in terms of ERP ratings, with the average being rated A.
The E-Tec heat pump has a net weight of 45kg, making it relatively lightweight and it can operate in temperatures between -15°C and 25°C.
As this is a smaller heat pump designed to supplement the gas boiler, the unit is compact and around half the size of a traditional heat pump.
Measuring in at 745mm (H) 845mm (W) 329mm (D).
Again, due to the compact size and lower output, the heat pump operates almost silently, officially rated at 37db.m
What also separates this unit apart from a traditional heat pump is that it has no requirement for an internal buffer tank or water storage tank.
It also has an inbuilt weather temperature probe connected to the combi boiler by a BUS data connection to maximise operational efficiency.
Efficiency
The Alpha Etec Hybrid Heat Pump boiler system is designed to achieve the maximum seasonal efficiency possible.
It does this by using a complex algorithm in conjunction with the external weather probe to control the output of both the internal combi boiler and external heat pump unit.
To set up the controller, the installing engineer will enter the customer's current electric and gas tariff unit costs. They will then connect the external weather probe.
This data is then used by the algorithm to determine the most efficient combination of the electrically powered heat pump and the gas-powered boiler.
The controller has the ability to modulate both the gas boiler and external heat pump burn rates down, automatically reducing the flow temperature in relation to the external temperature around the heating system.
This means there is no requirement for the end user to manually control the settings.
The internal combi boiler is rated at over 93% for seasonal space heating. It also offers an ErP hot water efficiency of up to 87%.
The external heat pump unit has a SCOP rate of 4.14 (over 400%).
Combined together, Alpha state the product will achieve a combined seasonal efficiency of up to 130% at a 55-degree flow temperature, rising to 160% at a 35-degree flow temperature.
What this means is that for every £1 you spend on energy, you’ll get an additional 30-60p worth for free.
Compared to a standard gas boiler which can achieve 93%, using the same calculation, for every £1 spent on energy, you lose 7p out of the flue.
Ultimately, Alpha claims this system can offer up to 60% savings on gas used for space heating.
It’s important to note that the high-efficiency heat pump is only able to aid the boiler in the production of the central heating water.
All domestic hot water generation for hot taps, baths and showers is produced by the high-efficiency gas combi boiler.
All in all, we award the heat pump a performance rating of 5/5.
More heat pump guides:
Controls & Features
While we’ve explored the performance stats of this hybrid heating system, what about the various additional features offered?
First and foremost, this hybrid heat pump solution offers instant hot water on demand via the high-efficiency combi boiler, meaning you don’t need to take up internal space for separate hot water storage.
Beyond that, unlike a traditional heat pump, you will not need to upgrade your existing heating system radiators or pipework for this system to function.
That being said, you would see greater efficiency gains if standard radiators were replaced for high output emitters with larger surface areas.
Why? This would allow the unit to run at lower flow temperatures.
Interestingly, you’ll also be glad to know that the E-Tec 33 HB boiler is a hydrogen blend boiler and can run on this fuel by up to 20% (i.e., it could run up to one-fifth on hydrogen and four-fifths on natural gas).
Learn all about hybrid heat pumps/boilers in our video tutorial below:
Smart Technology
The Smartech controls featured with this system provide a high level of heating and hot water efficiency.
These controllers replace a consumer’s existing standard or smart controller.
The Smartech controller is smartphone-enabled, meaning you can control the system settings and schedule from anywhere with an internet connection.
The controller is linked to the boiler, heat pump and also the Alpha web server.
The server is used to commission the system and enables the installing engineer to input customers' energy tariff data into the algorithm.
This data can then be used to ensure the heating system is operating in its most efficient settings.
If a customer’s energy tariff cost changes, updating the new data is a straightforward process which can be done by the customer using the online login.
Warranty Period: 5/5
The warranty is arguably the most important consideration when buying a new boiler/heat pump.
You want to know that the warranty offered is as long as possible so that if anything does go wrong with your boiler, the manufacturer will assist you in getting the boiler up and running as soon as possible, ideally at no additional cost.
Thankfully, the Alpha E-Tec is offered a 7-year warranty when purchased via Heatable.
Price Point: 4/5
The overall cost of having this system installed is likely to fall between £7,900 and £9,800 including the cost of the flue, pipework, lagging and fittings.
On average, it takes 1 – 2 days to install the new boiler and heat pump combination.
A benefit of this system is that by the end of the first day, the customer should have heating and hot water back on as the combi boiler will be able to supply this.
This is also useful in the event of a breakdown, if either the heat pump or boiler incurs a fault, the other unit will still function to provide heating.
The biggest disruption for a customer would be deciding where to install the external unit and which is the most practical route to run the connecting pipework.
The external unit can be wall or floor-mounted and only requires around 1 foot of free space around to meet specification requirements.
You won't need planning permission to install one of these Alpha Etec Hybrid units as they fall under permissible development rights.
You will, however, have to site the unit no less than 2m away from your neighbour's nearest habitable room window (either a lounge or bedroom).
Other features worth noting include:
This system comes with anti-freeze protection, meaning there are no requirements for expensive additives such as Glycol which prevent freezing.
A straightforward hydronic layout that is easy for a professional to install. Generally, installations would be completed within 2 working days, three days shorter than a traditional air source heat pump solution.
Due to the reduced requirement for the gas boiler to be used, carbon savings of up to kg of CO2 per year.
Our Verdict on the Alpha E-Tec Hybrid Boiler System: 5/5
Alpha has invested heavily in this product and its development.
Over 450,000 of these hybrid units were installed in Italy last year.
Similarly, Denmark and Holland both have a similar housing stock to the UK, which is now rolling out hybrid boilers in place of traditional gas boiler replacements.
A promising sign in the wider transition to decarbonisation.
Given the general efficiency of the UK housing stock, it's unlikely that without significant investment into insulation, building fabric or grant funding traditional heat pumps will become commonplace.
Hybrid technology offers a transition vehicle to decarbonisation.
Space heating accounts for approximately 40% of all home heating carbon emissions in the UK.
Dropping the gas demand which powers this by up to 60% represents significant savings in both carbon and utility costs.
We cannot ignore the requirement to improve our housing stock, but we need time to do so.
Therefore installing transitional products like this Hybrid heat pump enables consumers a way into the market at a much more affordable price point.
It's important to remember that the hybrid element of the system only supports space heating (radiators) and that gas usage for hot water production would remain the same.
Also, you would see an increase in electricity costs as the heat pump is powered by electricity, although its power demands are low (4kw, 16amp).
Also, if you live in a flat or a property with no suitable external space to site the heat pump, then this solution isn’t for you.
What the Alpha Hybrid Heat Pump product does guarantee is that it will always operate at the lowest possible cost to run.
It does this by using its complex algorithm combined with the weather probe and energy tariff data.
All in all, the E-Tec Hybrid Boiler System is set to be a great offering for those seeking to lower their energy bills and reduce their carbon footprint. We give it an overall score of 5/5.
Related heating/energy guides:
Alternatives to Gas Boilers in the UK
Air source heat pumps
Learn how heat pumps work in unnerving depth here
The ‘heat bit’
If your home is currently heated by a gas boiler, it isn’t quite as simple as removing this and replacing it with an air source heat pump without having to make further improvements (often substantial) throughout your property.
This is because of an air source heat pump design to run water at lower temperatures (flow rate).
Due to these lower system water temperatures – most homes will need to enhance the size of their radiators (more surface area, more heat) and existing radiator pipework.
Naturally, in older homes when pipework is embedded into walls or if you’re limited with space, it can be an absolute nightmare.
The ‘water bit’
Finally, the challenge of hot water production requires the installation of a water storage tank with an immersion tank to boost the water temperature to beyond that of what the heat pump is capable of producing without losing its remarkable efficiency.
Nearly two-thirds of homes in the UK run on gas combi boilers – meaning instantly produced hot water on demand with no tanks, or immersion heaters.
Instant hot water from combi boilers has been the underappreciated magic of most of our lives but like the legions of suffocated rabbits in top hats, the magic had a price – they’re gas guzzlers.
If you’ve already turned off at the thought of losing your instant hot water, jump to high-efficiency combi boilers here.
Adding a hot water tank or cylinder to the family will take a little getting used to and of course, require some further physical space.
Costs to remove a gas boiler and replace it with a typically sized 9kW air source heat pump start from around £8,000 and can rise to between £12,000 - £20,000 depending on further work required.
Electric Panel Wall Heaters
In spite of sounding like a failed indie band, they do represent another green alternative for homeowners.
They too, will need to be combined with a hot water storage tank run with an immersion heater and requiring some more space but there is one perk over an air source heat pump;
No upgraded pipework is needed – your walls are safe
No outdoor kit needed
The biggest challenge with an EPWH solution is electricity cost; a typical panel is rated at 3kW and the water tank/immersion heater is also rated at 3kW.
Electricity right now is 3-4 times more expensive than gas which means the cost to run such a system can be nearly double that of a traditional gas boiler system – there is the hope of course, these costs will fall before the ozone layer does.
Replacing your gas boiler with a fully electric system like this can cost between £3,000 - £6,000.
High-Efficiency Gas Boilers
Pound for pound, replacing an old inefficient gas boiler with a new, high-efficiency model is the most effective way to reduce your gas usage (and bills) by up to 30%.
The Energy Saving Trust say a typical homeowner living in a detached property with a G-rated (rubbish and old) boiler can save £840 on their energy bills.
In reality, the average person has a smaller home with a slightly less rubbish boiler but your savings are still likely to be substantial without the hefty outlay of some high-tech options.
Benefits of a high-efficiency gas boiler install;
Biggest hit on gas consumption Vs your £
Add on a smart thermostat for up to £180 further savings [source]
Internal home disruption is little to none
Booked, installed and up and running quickly [quote link]
Downsides include a side-eye glance from Greta Thunberg and you aren’t quite ‘future-proofing’ your property, although choosing a hydrogen-ready model could go some way to this.
Now, where it gets exciting…and affordable. Like the waltzers if you’re on crack.
Hybrid Heat Pumps
What is a hybrid heat pump boiler?
Simply, they’re a combination of a gas boiler (bear with us) and a heat pump. All are managed by a smart controller, powered by a complex algorithm – which you don’t need to worry about.
The boiler is a high-efficiency combi that produces heating and hot water, supported by a compact outdoor heat pump unit. They work in harmony to create maximum efficiency and only call upon the traditional boiler when absolutely necessary – the savings are remarkable.
Think hybrid electric cars. A car powered by a petrol or diesel engine and an electric battery motor. Designed to reduce both fuel consumption and NOx emissions.
Consumers still have the choice of a fully electric car however, cost, infrastructure and range limitations present barriers to entry for some people.
The hybrid presents a transitional opportunity for consumers looking to reduce their carbon footprint but aren’t quite able to go fully green.
This transitional technology has now come to home heating. It means you can be green without ripping your home to pieces and incurring substantial costs. That’s everything The Hulk ever dreamed of.
Some advantages of hybrid heat pump boilers;
Simple installation, almost as simple as changing your boiler
Large outdoor space not required
Instant hot water is still produced from boiler hardware
The featured boiler is also hydrogen-blend-ready
Blended hardware efficiency rate of 130%
Looking for a great deal on a new hybrid heat pump?
If you’re aiming to get the best deal on a new boiler, consider getting a quote from us, here’s why:
Gas Safe installation within 24 hours.
Thousands of satisfied customers with an average score of 4.9 on Trustpilot, surpassing the market leader.
Which? Trusted Trader: Heatable is proudly recognised as a Which? Trusted Trader.
Price match guarantee: We will match any like-for-like cheaper quote.
Flexible payment options, including interest-free finance.
Up to 12-year guarantee on selected boilers.
Fixed price guarantee: No hidden costs.
Save your quote and decide later.
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