Menlo Park: WaterDrop Pre-Manufactured Plug and Play Central Heat Pump Water System Proves Off-Site Construction Works
Moving from a hand drawn design to a handshake , it was an exciting day when WaterDrop systems “handed over” the reigns of the Waterdrop skids to the project’s maintenance team
Last month WaterDrop Systems completed installation and “handed over the keys” to a 14-skid pair project utilizing pre-manufactured plug and play heat pump water heater systems in Menlo Park, California. This project was the first large scale system manufactured by Small Planet Supply’s WaterDrop Systems.
At this monumental moment, it seemed like a good time to share the history of how these systems progressed from an idea to reality. We also thought it would be a great chance to give a virtual tour of the installed skids in Menlo.
Project Background
Original Design for rooftop skids by Shawn Oram | Slide courtesy of Ecotope
In January 2020, John Miles of Eco2 Systems LLC was approached by Shawn Oram, project engineer at Ecotope, with an intriguing challenge: Could you take the incredible energy-efficient power of SANCO2 heat pump water heaters (originally imported for single-family homes) to a large multi-family job to a job-site ready to install? More specifically, the challenge was to create a centralized heat pump water heater, integrating all components of a hot-water heating system into a single, crane-liftable skid. This design aimed to simplify installation and minimize the risks associated with on-site construction of a central heat pump water heater system, a novel approach at the time.
One of the 14-waterDrop Skid pairs at the Menlo Park Project
Despite initial interest in developing the product Shawn Oram and Ecotope envisioned, finding a company willing to take on this unique project proved difficult. This is where Albert Rooks with Small Planet Supply stepped in.
As a company based in Washington state selling SANCO2 heat pump water heaters and assembling on-site CHPWH systems using SANCO2 heat pumps, he saw potential in this innovative idea and stayed in touch both with Ecotope and Johns Miles as the design concept evolved. The project struggled to gain traction until Albert Rooks realized it could evolve beyond being a one-off prototype into a viable product line and business model.
In 2021, Small Planet Supply began developing this concept, analyzing the physical structure and functional design. The original idea of incorporating two wide doors presented challenges, particularly in varying building environments. Instead, Small Planet Supply adapted the design to create a more practical and versatile schematic. The objective was to build a system where the only work involved on-site was to connect water and power and then commission the system.
By 2022, Small Planet Supply were ready to quote the project to the installing contractor, Lovazzano HVAC Inc. in Menlo Park. Although the initial costs seemed high, the complexity and quality of the system justified the investment by Small Planet Supply. As a result of this decision to make this investment and the move from product sales to manufacturing, the WaterDrop Systems line became its own entity.
Development of the Prototype
To create a space where multiple skids could be manufactured, WaterDrop established the Eklund Innovation Center in Tumwater, Washington. The first task was the development of a prototype. The prototype served not only as a functional model but also as an educational tool for industry partners, demonstrating the efficacy of fully packaged heat pump water heaters. This hands-on approach allowed WaterDrop Systems to showcase the system's benefits directly, fostering industry acceptance and enthusiasm.
Full Project Construction
By late 2022, the WaterDrop team commenced the full-scale build, continuing through 2023. Despite being a new venture with new team members, the project progressed smoothly. The WaterDrop team gained valuable insights, incorporated new tooling, and expanded our product range, resulting in the comprehensive Water Drop line. Each step of the process—from design to deployment—was meticulously documented, enabling them to refine their methods and improve efficiency.
Transportation to the Project
In June 2023, skids were transported to Menlo Park and craned on top of the buildings in Menlo Park. (see pictures at the bottom of the blog post). While the skids were ready to run in 2023, there were some permitting scheduling delays and other activities needed to be finished before the commissioning could take place.
System Commissioning
In May 2024, Small Planet Supply’s team came down to assist (commissioning agent) in starting up the systems.
Product Line Evolution
As WaterDrop engineering innovation continues, the WaterDrop line expanded the types of centralized heat pump water systems available to include droplets (heat pumps and tanks are in different locations in a building and partial load models (WaterDrop heat pumps assume part of a load for a building that is trying incrementally move from fossil-fuel water heating).
Waterdrop skids being loaded on truck for transport to menlo park.
The lessons learned from this project have provided fuel for focused development. The journey to completion of the Menlo Park project underscores the commitment of WaterDrop Systems to innovation and to developing expertise in advanced, energy-efficient building systems.
The success of this project illustrates the ability to transform complex ideas into practical, market-ready solutions, reinforcing their position as industry leaders in prefabricated heat pump water heating systems.
This project demonstrates the potential for prefabricated systems to revolutionize the industry, offering scalable and reliable solutions for modern building challenges.
Now that’s a big waterdrop! WaterDrop skids being craned to the top of one of the menlo park buildings
As WaterDrop continues to innovate and expand their offerings, they remain dedicated to pushing the boundaries of what is possible in the realm of energy-efficient heating solutions, ensuring our products meet the highest standards of quality and performance.
If you’d like to know how you can use WaterDrop Centralized Heat Pump Water Systems for your project, you can visit the WaterDrop website or connect with them using their Contact Us page.
Upcoming WaterDrop Webinar | July 18
Albert Rooks will also be hosting a webinar on July 18 about changes and improvements in the WaterDrop line, including exciting innovations in the Droplet products as well as more load shift development.
Don't miss to learn more about the current and planned innovations for bringing carbon-free hot water to buildings everywhere.