Reclaim Energy has introduced a new CO₂ split system heat pump hot water range, manufactured by Panasonic, to the Australian market, and Addison Appliances is now installing it across Melbourne. Natural refrigerant, a class-leading efficiency rating and one of the quietest units available.
In this article
Reclaim Energy has introduced a new CO₂ split system heat pump hot water range to the Australian market, manufactured by Panasonic, and it is one of the more significant releases in the category this year. Rather than the standard synthetic refrigerants used in most heat pumps, this range runs on natural CO₂ (R744), the same approach that has made CO₂ heat pumps popular in New Zealand and parts of Europe for years, now built and tuned for Australian conditions.
For homeowners, the headline news is simple: a heat pump hot water system with a higher efficiency rating, quieter operation, flexible split-system installation, and full smartphone control, backed by a 10-year parts and labour warranty.
Addison Appliances is now installing the new range across Melbourne. Here is what's new about it, how it stacks up between the two available outputs, and what to expect from the installation itself.
A quick studio run-through of what's new, how the CO₂ refrigeration cycle actually works, and what to expect from an installation.
Three things separate this range from the heat pumps most Australian homes are already familiar with: the refrigerant, the sound level, and the installation flexibility.
A heat pump hot water system does not generate heat the way a gas or electric storage unit does. Instead, it works like a reverse air conditioner, extracting ambient heat from the outside air and transferring it into your water, using only a fraction of the electricity that direct heating would require.
The outdoor unit draws in ambient air and compresses the CO₂ refrigerant, which raises its temperature significantly. That heat is transferred to the water inside the tank through a heat exchanger. Because CO₂ can be compressed to a much higher pressure than conventional refrigerants, it reaches higher water temperatures more efficiently. The Panasonic range produces hot water at 65°C without needing an electric backup element, even when the outside air temperature drops to −10°C.
The entry point into the range, built for standard-size households with everyday hot water demand. Same split-system design, same natural refrigerant, same smartphone control as the 6.0kW model, just sized for a smaller footprint.
The higher-output model in the range, built for larger households or homes with higher simultaneous hot water demand. This is the unit that carries the headline COP of 6.1, and a faster recovery rate for back-to-back use.
The heat pump itself only does half the job. The storage tank needs to match how many people are drawing hot water from it, and how often. Panasonic's tanks for this range are designed and manufactured in Australia, available in three capacities.
The right fit for most couples and small families, up to 4 people, with typical daily hot water use.
Suited to larger families, up to 6 people, or households where mornings mean several showers back-to-back.
Built for large households, 8+ people, multi-generational homes, or properties with consistently high hot water demand.
Every unit in the range ships with a Panasonic external controller and built-in Wi-Fi, linked to the Comfort Cloud app.
If your home also runs Panasonic air conditioning, both systems sit inside the same app. None of this requires an installer visit to change: once the system is commissioned, day-to-day control sits entirely in your hands.
Hot water is typically one of the largest energy costs in an Australian home, often accounting for a significant share of the total household energy bill. Because heat pump hot water systems use so much less electricity than gas or standard electric storage systems, governments continue to support the switch through several incentive schemes.
Every unit in the range is backed by the same cover, regardless of capacity or tank size.
Because this is a split system, installation looks a little different to a standard all-in-one heat pump. Here's what our team works through, from quote to handover.
Send us photos of the install location, and your switchboard if needed, and we'll confirm household size, setup and the best placement for the tank and outdoor unit, then quote the job. For more complex installs, we may arrange a site visit first.
Our in-house team handles the water connections, tempering valve, dedicated electrical circuit and refrigerant line commissioning without needing separate trades.
We connect the unit to Comfort Cloud and walk you through scheduling, temperature settings and usage monitoring before we leave.
Tell us about your home and we'll confirm the right model, tank size and rebate eligibility before anything is booked.