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Heat pumps · UK

Panasonic AQUAREA [WH-WXG20ME8 + WH-CME8L]

Panasonic AQUAREA [WH-WXG20ME8 + WH-CME8L]
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The Panasonic AQUAREA [WH-WXG20ME8 + WH-CME8L] is an air-to-water heat pump with a SCOP of 4.36 (35 °C) and a sound power level of 55 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 3.2 m; against a wall 4.5 m.1

Last updated: Technical specificationsRules in the UK⇄ Compare this model
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SCOP (35 °C)
4.361

Seasonal efficiency: how much heat you get per kWh of electricity across a heating season.

Outdoor unit sound power
55dB(A)1
Official source
Refrigerant
R2901
Official source
Type (source)
Air-to-water1
Official source
Rated output 35 °C
20kW1
Official source
UK

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-standing3.2 m
Against wall4.5 m
In corner6.3 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 20 kW; the scheme covers systems up to 45 kW.
  • SCOP at 55 °C: 3.6. 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
Compressors11
Capacity controldrehzahlregelung1
Performance
Rated output 35 °C20 kW1
Rated output 55 °C20 kW1
Efficiency
SCOP (35 °C)4.361
SCOP (55 °C)3.61
Seasonal efficiency ηs 35 °C171 %1
Seasonal efficiency ηs 55 °C141 %1
COP A7/W354.81
COP A2/W354.121
COP A-7/W352.991
SEER (cooling)4.451
Noise
Outdoor unit sound power55 dB(A)1
Indoor unit sound power35 dB(A)1
Refrigerant
RefrigerantR2901
Refrigerant charge3 kg1
Electrical
Max. power input15.1 kW1
Connectivity & smart
SG ReadyYes1

How it ranks

SCOP (35 °C): better than 13% of comparable models in our database (Heat pumps · Air-to-water · ≥ 14 kW; n = 208).

Rank 179 of 209

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.

Manufacturer documentation

External links to Panasonic's official website. The manufacturer may change or move documents; where they differ, the manufacturer's latest version applies.

Compare with

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Other brands, same type and a comparable size.

More from Panasonic

All Panasonic models (19) →

Guides on heat pumps

How we collect and check this data →

Frequently asked questions

Can I install the Panasonic AQUAREA [WH-WXG20ME8 + WH-CME8L] 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 55 dB(A) that indicatively means 3.2 m free-standing, 4.5 m against a wall or 6.3 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-WXG20ME8 + WH-CME8L]?

£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-WXG20ME8 + WH-CME8L] use?

The Panasonic AQUAREA [WH-WXG20ME8 + WH-CME8L] uses R290.1

Sources

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