Mycond BeeThermic 10 EVI vs Panasonic Aquarea 9 kW J Series: Comparison Based on HP KEYMARK Certificates

When a manufacturer prints "COP 5.2" on the box, that figure typically reflects a peak value measured under ideal laboratory conditions. HP KEYMARK is a different story entirely. It is an independent European certification scheme in which heat pumps are tested by accredited third-party laboratories following strict protocols defined in EN 14825, EN 14511, and EN 12102. There are no "optimal conditions" set by the manufacturer — only standardised measurement points, real compressor cycling behaviour, and standby power draw included in the calculations.

That is precisely why a Keymark certificate is the most transparent and reliable basis for comparing two heat pumps side by side.

For this article, two single-phase air-to-water monobloc units running on R32 refrigerant were compared: the Mycond BeeThermic MHCM 10 SU1A (certified in 2024) and the Panasonic Aquarea WH-MDC09J3E5 (certified in 2020). Both units share the same refrigerant and the same 1×230 V power supply; their rated heating capacity (Prated) in LT mode differs by approximately 12%.

One important caveat: the two certificates are separated by nearly four years and were issued under different versions of the Keymark rules — Rev 13 for Mycond and V15 for Panasonic. The SCOP calculation methodology may have changed between versions. This does not invalidate the comparison, but marginal differences in some figures should be read with that in mind.

2. Unit Identification

It is worth noting that the Panasonic certificate covers a broader range of operating modes: in addition to heating, it includes cooling (SEER 5.19) and domestic hot water production in combination with the DGC200 tank. The Mycond certificate within its scope covers heating only.

3. Rated Capacity and Design Parameters

Prated is not the maximum output — it is the calculated thermal capacity of the heat pump under the standard EN 14825 reference conditions. It indicates whether the unit is sized appropriately to meet the building's heat demand across an entire season.

• LT (Low Temperature) — supply temperature of 35°C: underfloor heating, fan coils, low-temperature radiators.
• MT (Medium Temperature) — supply temperature of 55°C: conventional radiator systems.

Mycond has a higher Prated in LT mode — 7.86 kW versus 7.00 kW for Panasonic, meaning more headroom when sizing against the building's calculated heat load.

Panasonic's WTOL of 55°C exceeds Mycond's 51°C. For systems with conventional radiators and steep heating curves, this additional margin can be relevant.

A note on Psup: this is not a physical electric heater inside the unit. It is a calculated residual — if the heat pump's thermal output at TOL falls short of Prated, the EN 14825 methodology fills the gap with a notional supplementary heater to ensure a fair SCOP calculation. The same piece of equipment may therefore show Psup = 0 in one mode and several kilowatts in another.

4. COP at EN 14825 and EN 14511 Test Points

EN 14511 measures the unit at two steady-state full-load operating points. EN 14825 provides a more detailed picture: five temperature points from sub-zero to mild autumn conditions, taking partial load operation and compressor cycling into account.

EN 14511 — rated test:

EN 14825 — seasonal test points (standard climate scenario):

At point A (−7°C), Mycond leads: COP LT 3.25 versus 2.80 for Panasonic — a 16% advantage. The EVI (Enhanced Vapour Injection) technology delivers real benefits at this temperature. In MT mode at the same outdoor temperature, Mycond also comes out ahead: 2.29 versus 2.17.

In the warmer operating points — B, C and D — the picture reverses. At +2°C, Panasonic's COP LT is 5.03 against 4.47; at +7°C it is 6.56 versus 5.70; at +12°C it is 8.47 versus 8.34. Panasonic consistently leads across all three milder points, and this is what drives its higher overall SCOP.

A word on cold-weather performance — and why it is not as straightforward as it looks.

At TOL (−10°C), Panasonic delivers 7.00 kW of heating capacity versus 5.41 kW for Mycond — a 29% gap. At first glance, this seems significant. But context matters here, and it is often overlooked.

In the vast majority of real-world installations in Central and Eastern Europe, the bivalence point is typically designed around −7°C. Below that temperature, the system switches over to a backup heat source — a boiler or an electric heater. For bivalent systems (which represent the majority of installations), performance at −10°C has minimal practical significance: the backup is carrying the load at that point, not the heat pump. The heat pump's COP below the bivalence temperature no longer affects the electricity bill.

Panasonic's capacity advantage at TOL is meaningful only for fully monovalent systems, where the heat pump covers 100% of the building's heat losses even on the coldest days without any backup. Such installations are considerably less common.

5. SCOP — Seasonal Efficiency

SCOP is a weighted average COP across the entire heating season, accounting for partial load conditions, compressor cycling, and parasitic consumption. It is the single most informative figure for estimating annual heating costs.

Panasonic wins — in both LT and MT. The LT gap is 0.43 points. To translate this into money: take your building's annual heat demand (kWh) ÷ SCOP = annual electricity consumption (kWh), then multiply by your tariff. Substitute both SCOP values and the difference in kilowatt-hours becomes immediately visible.

Panasonic's higher SCOP is primarily explained by its superior Cdh values at the warmer operating points (+2°C, +7°C, +12°C) — ranging from 0.940 to 0.980, compared to a fixed 0.900 across all points for Mycond. The Panasonic inverter maintains efficiency more effectively under partial-load conditions.

6. Annual Energy Consumption QHE and the Degradation Coefficient Cdh

QHE is a ready-made figure from the certificate: the number of kilowatt-hours of electricity the heat pump consumes per year under the standard EN 14825 climate scenario. It can be compared directly.

In LT mode, Panasonic consumes 681 kWh less per year — a difference of over 18%. Multiply by your electricity tariff and you have a concrete annual saving. In MT mode the gap narrows to just 139 kWh, a modest difference.

Cdh is the degradation coefficient that accounts for efficiency loss during compressor cycling. Mycond registers exactly 0.900 at every test point. Panasonic reaches 0.940–0.980 in the warmer range (+2°C, +7°C, +12°C): its inverter holds efficiency better under part-load operation. This is the primary driver of the SCOP difference between the two units.

7. Noise Levels

Sound power levels (LWA) are measured in accordance with EN 12102. Both units are outdoor monoblocs — there is no indoor component.

Panasonic is considerably quieter. A 7 dB difference in LT mode is not trivial — on a logarithmic scale, a 6–7 dB gap is perceived as roughly half as loud. To put it in everyday terms: Panasonic running sounds like a busy open-plan office; Mycond is closer to a vacuum cleaner running in the next room.

For installations adjacent to a bedroom, a terrace, or in dense urban surroundings, this difference is felt every day and every night.

8. Standby Power Consumption

The heat pump is not always actively heating. Between cycles it idles, waits, keeps the crankcase warm. Over a full year, even 20–30 "extra" watts add up to several hundred kilowatt-hours.

PCK is the crankcase heater that keeps the compressor oil warm. Mycond draws 40 W; Panasonic MT draws just 7 W. If the crankcase heater is not switched off in summer: 40 W × 4,380 hours (six months) = 175 kWh, versus 31 kWh for Panasonic MT. That is a 144 kWh difference from this single function alone — calculate that at your own tariff.

On the other hand, PTO — the mode in which the thermostat is calling for heat but the compressor has not yet started — draws only 19 W in Mycond, compared to 44 W in Panasonic LT. In systems that cycle frequently, Mycond has the edge here.

Overall picture: Panasonic in MT configuration is more economical across most standby modes. Mycond is at a disadvantage primarily in PCK, but wins on PTO in LT operation.

9. Summary Table

10. Analysis and Conclusions

The Panasonic Aquarea WH-MDC09J3E5 leads on most metrics: SCOP, annual energy consumption QHE, noise level, Cdh in mild conditions, WTOL, and crankcase heater draw. It is a well-balanced unit built for the conditions that dominate a typical heating season — outdoor temperatures between 0°C and +10°C, where the bulk of annual operating hours are accumulated.

That said, the Mycond BeeThermic 10 EVI presents a different picture in specific areas.

At −7°C, Mycond records a COP LT of 3.25 against Panasonic's 2.80 — a genuine 16% advantage. The EVI compressor earns its keep at that temperature. In MT mode at the same outdoor condition, Mycond leads again: 2.29 versus 2.17. Its Prated LT of 7.86 kW also provides more capacity headroom against the calculated heat load than Panasonic's 7.00 kW.

When Mycond is the justified choice:
A house of 120–150 m² with a bivalent heating system, where a boiler or electric backup kicks in at −7°C and below. In such a setup the heat pump handles 85–90% of the annual heat demand, and the coldest days are covered by the backup. The Qhe LT difference between the two units is 681 kWh per year — apply your own tariff and judge whether the equipment cost difference pays off. In regions where prolonged cold spells sit exactly in the −5°C to −7°C range, Mycond's COP advantage at that point works in its favour.

When Panasonic is the better choice:
A new-build with modern insulation standards and a low-temperature underfloor heating circuit. Every SCOP point translates directly into kilowatt-hours; 681 kWh per year is a tangible figure. Add placement near a bedroom or in a densely built area — the 7 dB noise gap is not an abstraction, it is daily comfort. WTOL of 55°C provides additional headroom for connection to non-standard or legacy systems.

Bottom line:
Both units carry Keymark certification, both are R32 monoblocs with inverter compressors and single-phase power. Panasonic leads on seasonal efficiency metrics in this comparison. Mycond holds its own where instantaneous cold-weather COP matters — and for certain system types, that is a genuine, not a manufactured, advantage.

The Qhe LT gap is 681 kWh per year. The noise gap is 7 dB. The COP gap at −7°C is 0.45 points in Mycond's favour. The numbers are on the table. The rest comes down to each customer's bill and priorities.

Reader Note

We aim for the highest possible accuracy in technical data. If you notice any inaccuracy or error in this article, please let us know via the feedback form at the bottom of the page. Your input helps us improve the quality of our content.

Technical Caveats

⚠️ SCOP does not include the efficiency of the heating system's circulation pump. If one is built in, verify whether its consumption is reflected in the PE figures in the report.

⚠️ SCOP_ref (not SCOP_on) is the legally binding figure for EU energy labelling purposes. The permitted tolerance between measured and declared SCOP is no more than −8% (EN 14825, Keymark rules).

⚠️ This report relates to the specific tested sample under specific laboratory conditions. Real-world efficiency depends on installation quality, hydraulic balancing, and correct control settings.

⚠️ Where the report states "variable outlet temperature", the supply temperature is adjusted based on outdoor conditions (weather-compensated control). This raises real-world SCOP compared to fixed-temperature operation.

⚠️ Keymark rule versions: Mycond — Rev 13 (2024), Panasonic — V15 (2020). Differences in SCOP calculation methodology and degradation coefficients between versions are possible.

Sources

1. HP KEYMARK Certificate No. 041-K088-09 — Mycond BeeThermic MHCM 10 SU1A, BRE Global Limited, 03.04.2024
2. HP KEYMARK Certificate No. 011-1W0400 — Panasonic Aquarea WH-MDC09J3E5, DIN CERTCO, 06.08.2020
3. EN 14825:2018 — Testing and rating at part load conditions
4. EN 14511:2018 — Air conditioners, liquid chilling packages and heat pumps for space heating and cooling
5. EN 12102-1:2017 — Measurement of airborne noise
6. Heat Pump KEYMARK Scheme Rules — heatpumpkeymark.com.