Using VR and AR to Upskill Electricians and Heating Engineers for Heat Pumps and Clean-Energy Systems

Relevant case studies

Blog post: 19/10/2026 3:07 pm

Author: Spark Team

Using VR and AR to Upskill Electricians and Heating Engineers for Heat Pumps and Clean-Energy Systems

One of the fastest ways to expand the clean-energy workforce is not necessarily to create entirely new occupations. It is to help experienced tradespeople apply existing skills to new technologies.

The IEA has specifically highlighted the potential for established plumbers and electricians to upskill into areas such as heat pumps and solar PV.

However, an experienced electrician or heating engineer still needs familiarity with new system architectures, commissioning procedures, controls and fault conditions.

Bespoke VR and AR can help bridge that gap.

The experience problem

Classroom instruction can teach how a heat pump operates, but technicians eventually need practical confidence.

That raises several questions:

• Where can trainees repeatedly commission a system?

• How can common installation mistakes be demonstrated?

• How can unusual faults be generated on demand?

• How can technicians practise without occupying expensive training rigs?

• How can the same standard be delivered across dispersed teams?

Virtual systems can address many of these limitations.

A complete heat-pump installation in VR

A bespoke VR exercise could reproduce a complete domestic or commercial installation.

The trainee could examine:

• outdoor unit;

• indoor hydraulic components;

• buffer or hot-water storage;

• circulation pumps;

• valves;

• electrical supply;

• controls;

• sensors;

• emitters.

Before undertaking a task, the learner can visualise how heat, water, electrical power and control signals move through the system.

This is particularly valuable because VR is not constrained by physical walls. Pipework can become transparent, components can be isolated visually and system flows can be animated.

Commissioning as an SOP

Commissioning depends on completing multiple checks correctly rather than performing one difficult physical action.

This makes it well suited to procedural simulation.

A VR exercise could require the technician to:

1. inspect the installation;

2. confirm hydraulic configuration;

3. verify electrical connections;

4. check system pressure;

5. confirm sensor locations;

6. configure controls;

7. complete start-up;

8. review operating data;

9. identify abnormal readings;

10. complete commissioning records.

The system can deliberately introduce an error and assess whether the trainee detects it before commissioning continues.

Learning why installations underperform

A poorly performing heat pump is not necessarily a faulty heat pump.

The installation may have an incorrect control setting, flow problem, emitter issue or configuration error.

VR can teach systematic fault finding rather than parts replacement.

Different fault states can be activated automatically, providing repeatable practice that would be difficult to reproduce physically.

AR guidance on the real installation

The same technician can then use an AR application while commissioning or maintaining real equipment.

Depending on the solution, AR could help by presenting:

• component identification;

• electrical connection guidance;

• pipework flow direction;

• sensor locations;

• manufacturer-specific commissioning steps;

• target operating ranges;

• fault-code explanations;

• service checklists.

This can be particularly useful when technicians work across several manufacturers whose equipment differs in layout and interface design.

Connecting heat pumps to the wider clean-energy technician pathway

Heat pumps should not necessarily be isolated from other clean-energy training.

The electrical competence involved connects naturally with PV, batteries, EV charging and smart-building systems.

A technician training platform can therefore progressively introduce integrated installations.

For example, a later VR scenario could require the learner to investigate a property containing:

• solar PV;

• home battery;

• heat pump;

• smart meter;

• EV charger;

• energy-management system.

This is closer to the future technician's real working environment than separate product demonstrations.

Bespoke training rather than generic instruction

Spark develops bespoke solutions around the client's particular objectives.

That might mean replicating a particular heat-pump product, creating a housing-association installation scenario, reproducing a training centre or building a multi-technology technician curriculum.

Existing SOPs can become interactive workflows rather than remaining only as documents.

Conclusion

Clean-energy workforce growth depends partly on helping skilled tradespeople adapt quickly and confidently.

Bespoke VR can give electricians and heating engineers the repeated practical exposure needed to understand new systems before they work independently.

AR can then reinforce that competence with context-sensitive information during real installation and maintenance work.

To explore a bespoke heat-pump or multi-technology technician training solution, contact Spark.

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