UK first: Clivet EDGE PRO transforms 1844 rural home from LPG to low-carbon heating
The first Clivet EDGE PRO installation in the UK is demonstrating the potential for heat pumps in challenging rural retrofits, replacing a 40kW LPG boiler with a correctly specified 16kW R290 heat pump in an historic Lincolnshire home.
The landmark installation has taken place at Gorse Cottage near Boston, the home of Simon Wardle and Diane Saunders of Ultimate Renewables Supplies, Clivet’s sole UK distributor.
And there can perhaps be no stronger endorsement of the technology — this is the second time Simon and Diane have chosen Clivet for their own home.
From 40kW LPG to 16kW EDGE PRO
Parts of Gorse Cottage date back to 1844, with several later extensions creating a five-bedroom, multi-generational property incorporating a two-bedroom annex.
Previously heated by LPG, the property had a 40kW boiler and large LPG storage tank. However, detailed room-by-room calculations established an actual design heat loss of just 14.58kW, enabling the system to be correctly specified with a 16kW Clivet EDGE PRO.
The project is a powerful demonstration of why accurate heat-loss calculations and system design matter — rather than simply matching a heat pump to the output of the boiler it replaces.
The UK’s first EDGE PRO
The new Clivet EDGE PRO is an R290 reversible air-to-water monobloc heat pump designed for high-performance residential applications and particularly suited to retrofit.
Using natural R290 refrigerant, EDGE PRO can produce water temperatures of up to 80°C, achieves A+++ heating efficiency at 35°C, and can operate in outdoor temperatures down to -25°C.
It also provides heating, cooling and domestic hot water from one system, with low-noise technology designed specifically for residential applications.
Minimal disruption — only three radiators changed
Despite the age and complexity of the property, the retrofit did not require wholesale replacement of its heating emitters.
Using the Minimal Disrupt approach, only three of the property’s 19 radiators needed changing.
The complete installation also incorporates Clivet Adia Zero Disrupt, a 300-litre Supercoil cylinder and whole-house booster pump, with equipment neatly housed in a purpose-built insulated external plant room.
£9,000 support for moving away from LPG
As an eligible off-gas-grid property moving from LPG to a heat pump, the project also benefited from the enhanced £9,000 Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant.
The timing is particularly significant for rural households reliant on delivered fuels. Simon and Diane had spent approximately £5,500 on LPG since October, and early operation of their new EDGE PRO system has already indicated substantial cost savings.
Moving away from LPG also gives the household greater control over future energy costs and reduces its exposure to volatility in fossil-fuel markets.
Confidence in Clivet
For Simon, the installation carries additional significance. As part of Ultimate Renewables Supplies, he works at the heart of the UK heat pump industry and has extensive experience of heat pump technology and system design.
Choosing Clivet for his own home — for the second time — is therefore a powerful endorsement.
Gorse Cottage challenges some of the most persistent misconceptions surrounding heat pumps: that older homes aren’t suitable, that every radiator needs replacing, or that a large existing boiler automatically requires a large heat pump.
An 1844 home. A 40kW LPG boiler replaced by a 16kW heat pump. Only three radiators changed. And the first Clivet EDGE PRO installed in the UK.
It’s a compelling demonstration of what can be achieved when good system design meets the right technology.
Project: Gorse Cottage, Boston, Lincolnshire Homeowners: Simon Wardle & Diane Saunders Distributor: Ultimate Renewables Supplies
Manufacturer: Clivet UK
System: Clivet EDGE PRO 16kW R290 + Adia Zero Disrupt Previous heating: LPG
BUS support: £9,000
