Modular Thermal Plant Pod (TPP) Heat Pump System Innovations for Lower-Cost Multi-Family and Commercial Building Retrofits

High costs and implementation challenges pose a serious problem to the electrification and decarbonization of multi-family and small-medium commercial buildings. Current efforts to retrofit HVAC and DHW systems rely on technologies that were never designed with the needs of Multi-family building owners or occupants in mind. Due to this technology mismatch, the results are expensive, inequitable, overly complicated, and end up using excessive amounts of high GHG refrigerants. Aris Hydronics is in the development of a novel Modular Thermal Plant Pod (TPP) system that is uniquely designed for multi-family and small-medium size commercial buildings. The ARIS TPP is a modular packaged combi heat pump system for heating, cooling, and DHW with integrated thermal energy storage. Each TPP provides for the full thermal energy needs of up to 12 individual units/apartments. The TPP system utilizes 50%-75% fewer heat pumps than business-as-usual electrification methods. Through innovative design and engineering, the M-TPP system is well-positioned to deliver significant cost compression and overcome barriers to heat pump adoption for multi-family and light commercial building electrification. Aris Hydronics will conduct targeted technical, energy, and techno-economic research to validate the feasibility of the TPP technology for use as a scalable, affordable decarbonization technology in multi-family buildings. The ARIS Combi Thermal Plant Pod (TPP) system with integrated thermal storage offers a unique and compelling solution to the technical and cost challenges facing building owners seeking to electrify their buildings, generate operational cost savings, and cut the associated emissions.