SOLAR THERMAL PANELS

Solar water heating systems use the sun’s free energy to heat fluid in panels on your roof. This can then be used to supply heat to your general hot water system or something more specific such as a swimming pool. Intelligent energy solutions provide solar water heating that will heat water even on a cloudy day.

When water heating is required, but sufficient energy from the sun is not available, it is usual for domestic systems to have a hot water back up system. A conventional boiler, combi boiler, geothermal or air heat pump heating system can then be used to add the extra heat the water requires.

Depending on specific usage, we would expect a properly specified solar water system to provide between 30 and 70% of your hot water needs over a year.

Types of Solar Heating Panels

There are a number of different types of solar panels. Solar panels can also be described as solar collectors. The UK typically utilises two types of solar collector.

  Flat plate Solar Collectors / Panels
  Evacuated Tube Solar Collectors

These types of panels are now described in more detail.

Flat Plate Solar Collectors / Panels

Evacuated Tube Solar Collectors

This type of collector has a narrow strip of absorber coated copper that is joined to a heat pipe. The heat pipe is filled with a liquid that is designed to transfer a large amount of heat. This absorber assembly is contained within an evacuated, weather proof, glass tube.

The vacuum ensures that heat does not escape through convection and conduction.

A number of these tubes are then assembled onto a manifold. This manifold carries the fluid that heats your hot water cylinder.

Solar Thermal Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI)

The government has outlined a new incentive scheme for heat generating renewables, this is a world first for this type of technology. Previously supplementary tariffs were reserved only for electricity generating technologies.

The new incentive is currently in consultation and is planned to come into law in April 2011. The scheme outlines a payment of 18p/kwh. For a typical home this will equate to a payment of around £250 per year. This is in addition to the energy savings made in your home due to the solar thermal system.

Solar Electricity Panels

Solar photovoltaic (PV) systems work in a similar way to the solar cells sometimes found on a calculator. The system uses the sun’s free energy to create electricity. A system can either supplement your existing electricity supply or be designed to provide the sole source of electricity for appropriate electrical equipment.

The sunnier the position the more electricity that can be generated. This often, but not always, means positioning the panels on a south facing roof.

Solar photovoltaic systems can be installed on both new and existing properties. Our trained team will survey your property and advise you about the best position to take full advantage of your potential solar energy. A well positioned 1kW peak power system will generate between 700 and 850 kWh of electricity per year. 1 unit of electricity is equal to 1 kilowatt hour (kWh).

Exported Electricity and FIT

Once the system is installed, the electricity generated will automatically be used in your home. If more electricity is being generated than is being used then the surplus is exported back onto the national grid. The governments Feed In Tariff (FIT) will pay 43.3p/kWh (systems less than 4kW peak power) for all electricity generated even if this electricity is used in the property. This then gives the system owner a further saving as they do not have to purchase the electricity that has been used from the PV system. Any surplus electricity is exported onto the national grid, the rate that is paid for this electricity varies between electricity suppliers.

These improvements to the export tariffs mean that the payback for solar photovoltaic panels is becoming very rapid.

Carbon Neutral

What is CARBON Neutral?

Any product produced has a Carbon Rating. This rating is the amount of Carbon that is released into the atmosphere to manufacture, transport and install the product offset against the Carbon saving that the panel produces during operation. For Instance:

Carbon Produced:

A Solar PV panel will have a number of factors:
Carbon used to Manufacture of the actual panel.
Carbon produced in transporting the panel to the UK
Carbon produced in transporting the panel within the UK to the Wholesaler and to your home
Carbon used in the installation process of the panel
Carbon used in associated works and manufacturer of component parts and materials

Carbon Saved

The Solar Panel does not produce any carbon in the production of Hot Water or Electricity
However, there is a saving in Carbon Production over typically methods of producing Hot Water and Electricity and this needs to be included as a saving.

Typically, a panel manufactured in Asia or the Far East will have a higher Carbon Neutral rating than a similar sized panel produced in Europe.

ALL our panels are sourced from within the European Market and from large, well known Manufacturers with many years experience in this market.

Therefore, our Carbon Neutral figures are far lower than other panels produced in Asia and the Far East.

AIR SOURCED HEAT PUMPS

Air to air heat pumps work in a similar way to air to water heat pumps, but instead of generating hot water, the heat from the compressed refrigerant solution is turned into hot air by the indoor unit which is distributed into the property. In addition, Greensource air to air heat pumps can also operate as an air cooler during warmer months and advanced air purification technology is particularly beneficial to allergy sufferers.

Greensource air to air features and benefits:

• Energy efficient – efficiency of up to 500% with a CoP of up to 5.0
• Compact design requiring only an outside wall
• Suitable for a wide variety of property types, including apartments and conservatories
• Quiet operation
• Easy to install and maintain by a qualified refrigeration engineer
• Can be used to provide cool air in the summer
• Active Ion-technology air purification technology, ideal for allergy sufferers
• Inverter technology – modulates with high demand, making it more effective
• Low maintenance
• Comprehensive 2 year* warranty

Ground Source Heat Pumps

Geothermal (Ground Source) Heat Pumps

Ground Source (or geothermal) pumps take heat from the ground and use it to heat water. This can then be used to provide a total heating solution throughout the year for both homes and commercial premises.

Just a metre beneath the ground the temperature typically varies between 7 and 12°C. This heat can be extracted and used for

Under floor Heating
Standard Radiators
Domestic Hot Water
Skirting board radiators

This heating system usually consists of a ground loop; either as a set of pipes buried in the ground or submerged in a body of water. The requirement for a ground loop often means that geothermal systems are installed in properties with large areas of land. However, Intelligent Energy Solutions can supply compact heat collectors designed to minimise space requirements. We even utilise bore holes and therefore make the benefits of a heat pump available to almost anyone.

Ground Source Heat Pump Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI)

The government has outlined a new incentive scheme for heat generating renewables, this is a world first for this type of technology. Previously supplementary tariffs were reserved only for electricity generating technologies.

The new incentive is currently in consultation and is planned to come into law in April 2011. The scheme outlines a payment of 7p/kwh. For a typical home this will equate to a payment of around £1200 per year, tax free. This is in addition to the energy savings made in your home due to the heat pump.