The Holy Trinity – LIVE at The Heat Pump Show

The Holy Trinity – LIVE at The Heat Pump Show

In this special live episode of Energy Unwrapped, recorded at The Heat Pump Show 2026, we explore the idea of the Holy Trinity: combining solar PV, battery storage and heat pumps into one connected home energy system. 

The panel discussion was hosted by Simon Roberts from Heatio and featured Andy Rankin from Midsummer, Daniel White from MCS, Sean Hogan from Aventus Eco, and myself. Together we looked at how these technologies work together, why time-of-use tariffs are becoming increasingly important, and how the future of home energy is shifting towards smarter electrified homes. 

A huge thank you to Midsummer for organising the event, and also to Matt Malloy from Refurb and Retrofit Magazine and Sean Hogan from Aventus Eco for kindly allowing me to use their recordings for this episode

What we cover in this episode

• what the Holy Trinity actually means
• why solar, batteries and heat pumps work best together
• my own journey to a fully electric home
• how I achieved a blended electricity rate of around 9.5p/kWh
• why smart tariffs matter as much as COP
• how batteries become a form of energy trading
• why EVs are often the “gateway” into electrification
• how battery storage has evolved over the last few years
• why intelligent control and automation matter
• the challenge of getting different technologies to communicate
• why the future needs open standards and interoperability
• energy as a service and the rise of “Zero Bills” homes
• why installers are increasingly offering full-package systems
• the importance of homeowner education and simplicity
• heat pump comfort vs traditional boiler heating
• the role of grants, tariffs and finance in adoption
• sodium batteries and the future of battery technology
• why the electricity-to-gas price gap still matters

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Full Transcript

Below is the full transcript for this episode, lightly edited for readability.

LIVE from The Heat Pump Show 2026

This episode was recorded live at The Heat Pump Show in Newark during April 2026. The panel discussion focused on the “Holy Trinity” concept, combining solar PV, battery storage and heat pumps into one connected home energy system. 

What Is the Holy Trinity?

The discussion starts with the origins of the phrase “Holy Trinity”, which I first started using around 2022 to describe the combination of solar panels, battery storage and heat pumps working together rather than as isolated technologies. 

My Own Journey to a Fully Electric Home

I talk through my own home setup, including adding solar in 2018, batteries, EVs and eventually a heat pump in 2022. The goal was moving towards a fully electric house while using tariffs, storage and smart controls to minimise running costs.

Measuring Success: Blended Electricity Costs

One of the key ideas discussed is looking at the whole year rather than individual days. In 2025, my average imported electricity cost was around 9.5p/kWh, achieved through a combination of off-peak charging, solar generation, export and battery arbitrage. 

Why Smart Tariffs Matter More Than People Think

A major theme throughout the panel is that running costs are no longer just about device efficiency. Time-of-use tariffs and intelligent control now play a huge role in reducing overall energy costs.

The Evolution of Solar and Battery Systems

Andy Rankin from Midsummer explains how the UK solar market has evolved through several stages, from early off-grid systems to feed-in tariffs, then battery storage, and now intelligent systems that actively respond to tariffs and grid conditions.

EVs as the Gateway Into Electrification

Several panel members highlight that EVs are often the first step into wider electrification. Once homeowners start charging overnight at 5p to 7p/kWh, they begin thinking differently about energy use, storage and tariffs.

Why Heat Pumps Work Better Alongside Batteries

The discussion also explores why heat pumps benefit from batteries and smart control. Rather than aggressively cycling heating on and off, batteries help provide stable, lower-cost electricity while allowing the heat pump to run more steadily.

The Challenge of Integrating Different Technologies

One of the biggest problems raised is interoperability. Most systems still operate independently, with no universal standard allowing heat pumps, batteries, EV chargers and tariffs to communicate seamlessly.

Why Home Automation Still Feels “Hacky”

I explain how my own setup currently relies on Home Assistant, tariff APIs, weather forecasts and automation logic stitched together manually. It works well, but it is still far too technical for mainstream homeowners. 

The Need for Open Standards

The panel discusses the need for open communication standards that allow all devices to work together regardless of manufacturer. This could eventually lead to platform-style systems that manage the whole home automatically.

Energy as a Service and Zero Bills Homes

Daniel White from MCS introduces the idea of energy as a service, where homes effectively become part of a larger virtual power system. The discussion references Octopus Zero Bills homes, where solar, batteries and heat pumps are packaged together with tariff optimisation. 

Why Installers Are Moving Towards Full-System Packages

Sean Hogan from Aventus Eco explains how many installers are increasingly delivering complete systems rather than individual technologies. Heat pump customers often return later for solar and batteries once they understand the wider benefits.

Heat Pumps and Comfort

A really useful section of the conversation focuses on comfort. Sean explains that the biggest selling point for many homeowners is not necessarily savings, but the stable comfort levels and lower humidity that properly designed heat pump systems provide.

Why Simplicity Matters for Homeowners

The panel repeatedly returns to the idea that this technology must become simpler for mainstream users. Most homeowners do not want to manually optimise tariffs and automation systems. The long-term goal is a setup that simply works in the background.

Grants, Finance and Upfront Costs

We also discuss the role of grants, including the Boiler Upgrade Scheme and additional cashback offers from some mortgage providers. Upfront cost remains one of the biggest barriers for homeowners.

Sodium Batteries and the Future of Storage

Andy Rankin also talks about sodium-ion battery technology and why it could reduce reliance on lithium while improving sustainability for home energy storage systems.

Why Tariffs Still Need to Change

Towards the end of the panel, all speakers agree that electricity pricing still needs reform. The electricity-to-gas price gap remains one of the biggest barriers to wider heat pump adoption, especially for people on flat tariffs.

The Renewable Quintessentials

The final section expands beyond the Holy Trinity into what I jokingly called the Renewable Quintessentials: solar, batteries, heat pumps, EVs and time-of-use tariffs. Together, these technologies form the foundation of the future electrified home. 

About the Energy Unwrapped Podcast

Energy Unwrapped is my podcast about renewables, home electrification and how energy technology works in the real world. You can browse all episodes, platform links and future updates on the main Energy Unwrapped Podcast page.

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