Nesta and Renbee have collaborated on an AI-powered tool to empower installers
Nesta and Renbee have leveraged generative AI to address critical challenges in the UK heat pump sector.
The project, which began in April 2024 and concluded in December 2024, developed a platform called Installer Pal, an AI chatbot designed to support heat pump installers by providing instant access to practical advice, technical guidance and other essential resources.
Addressing barriers to heat pump adoption
The project began as part of Nesta’s aim to accelerate the adoption of heat pumps in UK households, which the company says has been hindered by a lack of available and confident installers.
Its engagement with industry stakeholders and installers found that newly trained professionals often struggle with technical challenges, and limited access to useful support materials exacerbates this problem.
To tackle these issues, Nesta partnered with Renbee, a platform for renewable installers, to explore how generative AI could be used to enhance productivity, boost confidence and improve the quality of heat pump installations.
Installer Pal
By integrating Installer Pal into Renbee’s platform, the chatbot can provide installers with assistance in real time, ensuring they can navigate complex situations with ease.
The project team conducted extensive research and user testing to identify three primary use cases where Installer Pal could have the greatest impact, including training, on-site assistance, and regulatory safeguarding.
Acting as a virtual mentor, Installer Pal can reinforce new installers’ training by enabling them to revisit key concepts and build confidence in their knowledge.
The chatbot also offers instant, situation-specific guidance, helping installers troubleshoot technical issues with specific technologies and make informed decisions without having to wait for senior support.
By providing fast access to the latest standards, such as MCS guidelines, Installer Pal can be used to ensure that installations are compliant and free from errors.
Impact of AI assistance
Nesta’s user testing revealed that Installer Pal has the potential to transform the installer experience, enabling tasks like retrieving heat pump dimensions or checking technical guidelines, which could take up to 30 minutes manually, to be completed almost instantly.
The installers surveyed praised the chatbot’s ability to validate ideas and clarify technical concepts, describing it as a valuable “co-pilot.” However, some feedback highlighted areas for improvement, including the need for more specific responses, enhanced usability across devices and better formatting for equations and images.
Evolution from prototype to platform
Using a systematic evaluation approach to measure metrics such as the effectiveness of data gathering, Nesta evolved the chatbot from a simple prototype to a robust tool integrated with over 30 industry documents
This growth was driven by feedback from industry stakeholders, leading to improvements in response accuracy, alignment with UK-specific terminology, and the inclusion of trusted resources like installation manuals and best practice guides.
Next steps
Following a technical handover from Nesta, Renbee says it plans to expand Installer Pal’s capabilities beyond information retrieval by including features such as assistance with form completion, for example Distribution Network Operator (DNO) applications, and interpreting schematics using vision embedding models.
The project team also aims to enhance the chatbot’s transparency by linking responses to specific document pages and incorporating images for better clarity.
For more information or to try Installer Pal, click here.
