Energy-efficient heat pump hot water systems (HPHWS) have been popular in Victoria. But what’s needed are more tradespeople with the skills and knowledge to design and install good quality systems.
On Friday, the Victorian Government flagged another round of free HPHWS training for plumbers and fourth-year apprentices under the Upskilling for Plumbers program.
“As demand for energy-efficient hot water system(s) continues to grow, it is imperative that we continue to upskill our workforce to support the growth in the renewable and clean energy sector,” said Victorian Minister for Energy and Resources Lily D’Ambrosio.
The half-day training is being delivered by the Plumbing Industry Centre for Climate Action. The locations and dates:
- Brunswick – 7 and 15 October
- Narre Warren – 29 October
- Geelong – 31 October.
More training sessions will be available until May 2025, including dates to be announced for Bendigo and Gippsland. Further information, including what will be covered in the training and how to enrol in a session can be found here.
The goal of the program is to train up 800 workers, with 110 plumbers and apprentices having completed the training since July 2024.
What Is A Heat Pump Hot Water System?
A heat pump hot water system scavenges heat from the air (even if it’s cold outside), transferring it to a refrigerant. This refrigerant is compressed to further increase the temperature and then via a heat exchanger transfers that heat to water stored in a well-insulated tank. Assuming a suitable location and system, a HPHWS can reduce a household’s water heating energy bill by about 70% – and is a great companion for a solar power system.
Read a summary of the pros and cons of heat pumps (and how they work). Or for a deeper dive, check out SQ Founder Finn Peacock’s guide to heat pump hot water systems. You’ll learn in much greater detail what these systems are, how they work, costs, and what to consider when choosing the right one for your home.
Heat Pump Incentives In Victoria
As well as training on designing and installing heat pump hot water systems, the Upskilling for Plumbers program provides education on incentives available through the state’s Solar Homes and Victorian Energy Upgrades (VEU) programs, as well as Federal support. Let’s take a quick look at those:
VEU Discounts
The VEU has provided discounts for households and businesses on a wide range of energy-efficient products since 2009. This includes discounts when upgrading a gas or electric hot water system. For example, the indicative discount for replacing an inefficient electric hot water system with an eligible heat pump hot water heater is $840. For upgrading a gas hot water heater, it’s around $490. More information here.
Solar Homes Rebate
Under the Solar Homes program, rebates (up-front discounts in practice) of up to $1,000 are available for eligible heat pump and solar hot water systems. All hot water installations must be completed by an authorised hot water retailer. More information here.
Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme (SRES)
You may be eligible for Small-scale Technology Certificates (STCs), virtual pieces of paper that can be cashed in and the value of which (minus admin fees) are usually offered as a discount. This is the same mechanism that forms the basis of Australia’s solar rebate and can reduce the upfront cost of a heat pump hot water system by about $750. But be aware only specific air source heat pump models are eligible for STCs.
Under the SRES, more than 652,000 air source heat pumps have been installed in Australia to date. More information here.
In Victoria, you can claim both the Solar Homes rebate and the VEU discount if you choose a retailer that is authorised to participate in both programs, and also STCs.
Whether you live in Victoria or elsewhere, as mentioned, Finn’s heat pump guide is a good place to get started learning everything you need to know about systems, costs and incentives across Australia.
About Michael Bloch
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