Products 41

News

Never fitted a heat pump?

Following the government’s announcement to significantly ramp up heat pump installations between now and 2028, LG has seen a surge in interest for their Therma V range of heat pumps, which are considered to be an easy transition for installers looking to either make the switch from traditional gas boiler fitting, or to add another string to their bow.

News

Government Heat Pump target – paving the way to fuel poverty?

The Government’s commendable plan to install 600,000 per year by 2028 has come under fire from both OFTEC and the Gas User Organisation, who have highlighted significant cost disparities between heat pumps and traditional technologies, along with confusion over what constitutes a ‘zero carbon ready’ home. Andrew Newman, technical director of the Gas Users Organisation, explains: “There are positive commitments in the 10-point plan towards future use of hydrogen as a green gas, and we need more clarity from the Westminster government that hydrogen-ready gas boilers are considered to be a ‘zero carbon ready’ option, as they should be, and therefore permissible in new builds after 2025. Gas central heating is incredibly popular with customers, because it is clean, convenient and relatively cheap. Furthermore, there is a strong correlation that shows that homes that lack a connection to the gas grid are more likely to be in fuel poverty.”

News

isoenergy owner, Compro Investments, acquires Marlec

Marlec Renewable Power is the oldest renewables company in the UK having been founded in 1978, and now also enjoys an international reputation and distribution network. It specialises in the design, manufacture and sale of micro wind turbines and the distribution of advanced solar PV technology. The company is known for a number of branded products. Its wind turbines are supplied to the marine sector as well as powering rail and road signage often in conjunction with its PV technology.

News

Heat Pumps – The heat is on!

Phil Hurley, managing director of NIBE UK commented; “The annual total for installations is 30,000 currently, so a massive ramp up is needed as well as up-skilling of existing plumbers and heating engineers to achieve the numbers needed for net zero targets.”

News

STA disappointed in exclusion of solar from Government’s plan

The Government has today published a 10-point plan for a green industrial revolution. Despite being the most cost-effective electricity generating technology for the foreseeable future according to the Government’s own forecasts, solar was noticeably absent from the Prime Minister’s announcement, which is largely a repackaging of policies already announced earlier this year.

Product

Baxi Heating commits to net zero operations and products

Leading boiler manufacturer, Baxi Heating UK and Ireland, part of BDR Thermea Group, has promised to revolutionise the way we heat our homes and buildings. The announcement coincides with the Prime Minister’s 10-point plan for a Green Industrial Revolution and places Baxi Heating at the heart of the ‘heating transformation’ that is required to achieve the UK’s climate targets.

Feature

10-point plan – the takeaway points

Boris Johnson has outlined his eagerly awaited 10-point plan for a Green Industrial Revolution, but which areas affect you?

News

UK to prosper from Biden $2tn renewables revival

Just a few days after the US officially withdrew the Paris agreement, newly elected president, Joe Biden, pledged to enter them back into it immediately, whilst also committing a colossal $2tn investment to a ‘green recovery’. Even prior to his election share prices for the solar/wind energy company NextEra exceeded the market value of oil giants ExxonMobil and Chevron signalling a shift in the zeitgeist.

Opinion

Renewables tax reform could boost deployment and provide jobs

A coalition of trade associations representing major British industries including retail, property, construction and technology, has written to the Chancellor to ask that renewable energy technologies such as solar PV and battery storage be excepted from business rates to boost commercial deployment and provide much needed green jobs. [1]

News

Future Fuels & Hydrogen Economy Virtual Conference

The Future Fuels & Hydrogen Economy Virtual Conference is taking place 9 – 10 November 2020. Explore the fundamentals around future fuels on the market from the industry’s leading experts.

News

STA comments on government response to CCC report

The Government has published its response to the Committee on Climate Change’s (CCC) 2020 Progress Report to Parliament, in which it revealed plans for a “comprehensive” Net Zero Strategy in the lead up to COP26. [1]

News

Industry reaction: offshore wind farms to power every home in UK

Boris Johnson has pledged that offshore wind farms will be powering every home in the country by 2030. We explore reactions from the industry to Boris’ plan to help the UK “build back greener”, announcing £160m to upgrade ports and factories for building turbines in Scotland, Wales, Teesside and Humber.

News

SolarEdge enhances portfolio with easy-install inverters

SolarEdge is enhancing its commercial portfolio across the UK and Ireland with the release of 30kW and 33.3kW three phase inverters for the 230V/400V grid, perfectly applicable for small-scale commercial installations.   

Opinion

NHBC Foundation explores implications of building low-energy homes

Current government proposals indicate that from 2025, newly built homes will not be allowed to be heated with the use of fossil fuels under the ‘Future Homes Standard’. This standard aims to significantly reduce the energy use of new homes and marks the beginning of the end for the traditional gas boiler.

Feature

MCS support certified contractors with new insurance offer

MCS have collaborated with the Independent Warranty Association (IWA) and undertaken system development to enable contractors to raise an IBG for their consumer at the point of raising the MCS certificate for an installation.

Opinion

Carbon Trust report is good news for heat pump installers

A new report from the Carbon Trust, ‘Heat pump retrofit in London’, shows how heat pumps will have a critical role in tackling emissions from London’s buildings and delivering the Mayor’s 2030 net zero ambitions. If the Government does step up the investment, and deliver the policies needed to support this route, it would generate a significant amount of work for both installers of heat pumps and those involved in improving the energy efficiency of buildings.