Heat pumps · UK

Panasonic Aquarea [WH-SDC16K9E8 / WH-UDZ16KE8]

The Panasonic Aquarea [WH-SDC16K9E8 / WH-UDZ16KE8] is an air-to-water heat pump with a SCOP of 4.46 (35 °C) and a sound power level of 65 dB(A). Under permitted development the limit is 37 dB(A) measured 1 m in front of the centre of a neighbour’s habitable-room door or window. Free-standing, the indicative minimum distance is 10.0 m; against a wall 14.2 m.¹

Last updated: 27 September 2026Technical specifications Rules in the UK ⇄ Compare this model

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SCOP (35 °C): 4.46¹
Seasonal efficiency: how much heat you get per kWh of electricity across a heating season.
Outdoor unit sound power: 65dB(A)¹
Official source
Refrigerant: R32¹
Official source
Type (source): Air-to-water¹
Official source
Rated output 35 °C: 13kW¹
Official source

Rules in the UK

Minimum distance to your neighbour

MCS 020(a) (England, permitted development since 29 May 2025)² · 1 m in front of the centre of a neighbour’s habitable-room door or window

Permitted development (MCS 020(a))≤ 37 dB(A) · LAeq,5min

Free-standing10 m

Against wall14.2 m

In corner20 m

Indicative calculation (hemispherical, no barriers). Not a substitute for an MCS 020 assessment.

Boiler Upgrade Scheme

Check conditions

£7,500 – £9,000³Fixed grant (England & Wales)

Fixed grant in England and Wales, deducted from your installer’s quote. £9,000 when replacing oil or LPG off the gas grid (until March 2027). Scotland: Home Energy Scotland grant instead.^4,5

Must be MCS-certified (product and installer). Check the Ofgem product eligibility list.
Rated output 13 kW; the scheme covers systems up to 45 kW.
SCOP at 55 °C: 3.4. The installed system needs a SCOP of at least 2.8 (MCS calculation).

Heat pump grants in the UK explained →

Technical specifications

General
Type (source)	Air-to-water¹
Compressors	1¹
Capacity control	Inverter¹
Performance
Rated output 35 °C	13 kW¹
Rated output 55 °C	13 kW¹
Efficiency
SCOP (35 °C)	4.46¹
SCOP (55 °C)	3.4¹
Seasonal efficiency ηs 35 °C	176 %¹
Seasonal efficiency ηs 55 °C	133 %¹
COP A7/W35	4.31¹
COP A2/W35	4.29¹
COP A-7/W35	2.89¹
SEER (cooling)	4.53¹
Noise
Outdoor unit sound power	65 dB(A)¹
Indoor unit sound power	46 dB(A)¹
Refrigerant
Refrigerant	R32¹
Refrigerant charge	1.83 kg¹
Electrical
Max. power input	11.09 kW¹
Connectivity & smart
SG Ready	Yes¹

How it ranks

SCOP (35 °C): better than 8% of comparable models in our database (Heat pumps · Air-to-water · 10–14 kW; n = 308).

Rank 283 of 309

Compared with every model on VersusIndex in the same group with a known value; equal values do not count as better. This says nothing about price, installation or reliability.

Variants

This model is registered in 2 combinations (for example with a different indoor unit or cylinder) with exactly the same performance. All figures on this page apply to each of these types. The part of the type number that differs is in bold; small differences (e.g. cylinder volume or anode) are listed after it:

Aquarea [WH-SDC16K9E8 / WH-UDZ16KE8]
Aquarea [WH-ADC16K9E8AN / WH-UDZ16KE8]

Compare with

Aquarea [WH-SDC16K9E8 / WH-UDZ16KE8]vsBoschCompress CS3800iAW 13 OE-T (CS3800iAW 13 O-T + AWEi)

Similar models

Other brands, same type and a comparable size.

Guides on heat pumps

How we collect and check this data →

Frequently asked questions

Can I install the Panasonic Aquarea [WH-SDC16K9E8 / WH-UDZ16KE8] without planning permission?

Under MCS 020(a) (England, permitted development since 29 May 2025) the unit must not exceed 37 dB(A) 1 m in front of the centre of a neighbour’s habitable-room door or window. With a sound power of 65 dB(A) that indicatively means 10.0 m free-standing, 14.2 m against a wall or 20.0 m in a corner. Your MCS installer must confirm this.¹

How much Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant can you get for the Panasonic Aquarea [WH-SDC16K9E8 / WH-UDZ16KE8]?

£7,500 in England and Wales, provided the product and installer are MCS-certified (£9,000 when replacing oil or LPG off the gas grid, until March 2027). The installer applies and deducts the grant from your quote.¹

Which refrigerant does the Panasonic Aquarea [WH-SDC16K9E8 / WH-UDZ16KE8] use?

The Panasonic Aquarea [WH-SDC16K9E8 / WH-UDZ16KE8] uses R32.¹

Sources

List of eligible heat pumps (BEG) — Bundesamt für Wirtschaft und Ausfuhrkontrolle (BAFA) · accessed 27 Sept 2026
MCS 020(a) (England, permitted development since 29 May 2025)
Boiler Upgrade Scheme: what you can get — GOV.UK · accessed 27 Sept 2026
Boiler Upgrade Scheme: guidance for installers (V5) — Ofgem · accessed 27 Sept 2026
Boiler Upgrade Scheme product eligibility — Ofgem · accessed 27 Sept 2026

Key figures