Are you still relying on an old GEC Nightstor for traditional central heating, and considering an upgrade as it reaches the later stages of its lifespan? The ZEB heat battery boiler could be the smart, modern, efficient replacement you’ve been looking for!
The ZEB is a British innovation that transforms thermal storage into a powerful asset for homes and for the energy grid.
1. Smarter charging, lower running costs
The ZEB charges when electricity is cheaper and/or cleaner, using built-in smart controls. It also uses Machine Learning to optimise how much heat your home actually needs, so it avoids overcharging on milder days and only stores the energy required. GEC Nightstor units were fixed to static off-peak hours and could not automatically adjust to the weather or your routine, which could mean missed savings and unnecessary charging.
With the ZEB you get:
- automatic optimisation for smart tariffs
- learning algorithms that adapt to your heat demand
- charging behaviour that shifts with the carbon intensity of the grid
2. Compact and easier to install
The various GEC Nightstor models were typically large and heavy, meaning many homes gave up valuable space to accommodate their heating system.
The tepeo ZEB provides:
- a compact solution
- high-performance insulation to reduce local heat losses
- easy installation by a tepeoPro
3. Designed for a low carbon future
As the grid becomes greener and more renewable, flexible energy use becomes essential. The ZEB acts as a smart heat battery that helps balance the grid.
Where the Nightstor was fixed in its behaviour, the ZEB:
- optimises charging daily
- supports grid flexibility
- reduces emissions by storing low carbon electricity
Case study: Replacing a GEC Nightstor with a tepeo ZEB
Richard moved into his home with a GEC Nighstor heating system that had been installed 40 years ago. While the system had been working reliably, over time it began to require replacement parts – many of which were increasingly hard to source. The heating elements and electronic controller offered only basic functionality: a simple timer to turn the system on and off and to manually control charge-levels, with no intelligent automation.
The Challenge
Richard’s property has no gas connection, so replacing the old system with a conventional boiler would have been extremely expensive and highly disruptive. He was looking for a solution that could provide modern heating capabilities without the hassle of a major refit.
The Solution
Richard came across the ZEB heat battery boiler and immediately recognised it as a perfect fit. It offered a straightforward swap with minimal disruption, modern intelligent controls, and the efficiency of a low-carbon heating solution.
“For me, the swap was a no-brainer!” Richard, Kent
To hear from more tepeo customers, please visit our Customer Stories page.
A new generation of heat storage
The GEC Nightstor was a fantastic example of thermal storage technology and can be seen as the predecessor of today’s heat batteries. It proved that storing heat using off-peak electricity could work at scale. The tepeo ZEB takes that idea and brings it into the twenty-first century with advanced control, better efficiency, and a design that works with today’s dynamic and increasingly renewables based electricity system.
For anyone considering a home heating upgrade, replacing an old Nightstor with a ZEB is one of the simplest ways to cut costs, reduce carbon emissions, and futureproof your heating.
Want to see if a ZEB heat battery boiler is right for your home? Book a consultation with our team, and we’ll walk you through your home’s compatibility and the next steps toward smarter, more efficient heating!