Solar 12
The Telford-based company signed a deal earlier this year with Yorkshire-based GTEC to deliver industry-accredited training for its customers and clients in installing renewable electrical energy storage systems.
The new range builds on the heat pump manufacturer’s plans to offer customers a smarter and more connected home.
It goes without saying that the transition to a net zero economy is complex. As we shift our reliance on fossil fuels and depend more and more on intermittent renewables, we face the mammoth task of creating an energy system that is both flexible and able to cope with an increase in demand.
Offering a broad portfolio of solar components for residential and small commercial PV plants and EV chargers, the German B2B online marketplace is well-positioned to support Ireland in its energy transition.
The industry body will make the claim during the launch of its roadmap, titled Lighting the way, outlining the roll oit of solar projects over the next eight years. The report urges Westminster to set out policy and regulatory changes for the solar sector, which would allow the industry to deliver 40GW of operational capacity.
With the intention of developing a solar PV learner curriculum, the Solar Skills London project aims to create a series of introductory workshop for potential new solar industry trainees.
The PV installations were installed under the Local Authority Delivery of the Green Homes Grant, the only segment of the scheme that is both still running and that PV is eligible for.
Located on the outskirts of Swindon, the off-gas Oakfield development, a 239-plot development, is being managed by property developers, Igloo Regeneration, and construction partner, Mi-space, and the first homes will be available in 2022.
There are a number of additional steps which installers should take when scoping a successful retrofitting project within public buildings like schools. These include:
Following on from the case study shared earlier this week, Max Halliwell, communications manager, residential heating, Mitsubishi Electric & vice chairman of the UK’s Heat Pumps Association tells us more about using heat pumps and solar PV to retrofit a school in Gloucestershire, as well as his views on the retrofitting opportunity for installers.
This first of three posts in our retrofitting mini-series showcases the project, highlighting what you need to know about retrofitting using renewable technologies.
This Wiltshire home was extended to transform the property into a five-bedroom house. When the homeowners started this project, they decided to take the opportunity to add a renewable technology into their heating system by utilising the additional roof space being created by the extension. A Grant solar thermal system was chosen and installed, helping the family to not only significantly reduce their carbon footprint but also lower their monthly heating bills.
They are now inviting tenders from MCS certified installers of air source heat pumps, ground source heat pumps, Solar PV (photovoltaic) and energy storage systems to install both national and regionally.
The move provides the foundation for further growth for the roof-integrated solar specialist as it prepares for rapid growth driven by changes to building regulations and its expansion into international markets.
Smart metres have the power to coordinate and hold to account the many other smart products that are starting to infiltrate our homes, such as PV, EV charging and smart heating systems. The arrival of so-called ‘agile electricity tariffs’, whose price varies half-hourly in relation to the wholesale price of electricity, are just one manifestation.
The Marden-based company specialises in green technologies such as solar panels and EV charging points for domestic and commercial properties.
Giles came into the solar business by accident. Working for a social housing developer, paired with a lifelong passion for saving energy and doing things more efficiently, Giles homed in on the idea of people being more sustainable and self-sufficient. ‘I grew up in a rural area, so efficiency has been instilled into me from a young age’, he explained.
Electric car charging points haven’t been an element architects, developers and electricians alike, have had to factor into their designs and drawings, until now. Charge points have suddenly become less an optional extra and more a key feature which has to be considered, as much in the 1st and 2nd fix stages than the latter. For a while now, Electric Charge Points ‘AKA EV chargers’ sat in the same domain as ancillary optionals such as Alarm systems, CCTV systems, and security tech. An area an electrical installer might delve into from time to time, though not the main source of their workload. The bulk of such work instead shared and distributed with specialist security technicians with advanced network installation skills. However, unlike security technicians whereby a basic skill set in electronics and technology might get you by, EV Installers require their 18th Edition and relevant electrical qualifications to proceed. Where there is still is a niche opportunity for electrical companies to focus the bulk of their attention over to ‘EV installations’, general electrical companies right across the board can benefit from this new work stream, with the added confidence that ‘DIY and self-installation’ is off the table for the foreseeable. The EV industry is swiftly moving past the stages of early adoption, with the mass market consumers waiting in the wings. This was helped by Boris Jonson’s announcement in late 2020 for the ban on the sale of fossil fuel cars from 2030. This gives electrical installers an open goal opportunity to positively shift some of their focus over to these new green technologies and innovations in preparation for the great wave. Companies such as myenergi, a dynamic powerhouse in green tech solutions, are putting emphasis on consumers achieving energy independence and less reliance upon the national grid system. Their flagship product the zappi electric vehicle charger, the market frontrunner, Eco Friendly EV charger in the world compatible with PV, Solar and renewable systems, inspiring other manufacturers not only focus on ‘the charge itself’ but actually how the electricity is generated in the first place. The zappi works as a stand-alone plug and play charger connected to the grid but teamed up with their solar diverter (the eddi), consumers are able to utilise the zappi’s green ECO modes and charge their vehicles using 100% self-generated green energy. It’s this mindset and drive towards genuine tangible change away from pollutants amongst businesses and consumers alike, which is pulling together green smart technology, renewable energy and progressing technologies such as electric vehicles. Award winning companies such as myenergi have been key players in pulling these sub technologies together and adopting new tech terms such as Eco-Smart and Green Tech. Network smart technology was also forced together as a requirement by OLEV and OZEV whereby electric vehicle chargers have to be future-proofed and connected to the internet. A move towards the ‘internet of things’ which is gradually coming to fruition. The zappi charger leads the way in its ability to adapt and update with automatic firmware updates, whereby all myenergi devices are connected over the smart hub device wirelessly. The addition of the wireless harvi sensor makes the zappi one of the easiest devices on the market to install with less need for fishing long CT cables. zappi also offers PEN protection and doesn’t require earth rods which means no digging up driveways, better aesthetics and quicker installations all round.
The new subsidiary, located in Ballycastle, will be spearheaded by Pearse McHenry, a longstanding business partner of myenergi. The move will bring the brand’s product range to the masses, helping residents benefit from a more sustainable lifestyle, as well supporting the government’s commitment to cleaner living.
Two 50MW solar projects have secured planning permissions this week. The first, being EDF Renewables’ Sutton Bridge solar photovoltaic project, granted permission by South Holland District Council and the second being Pegasus Group’s solar and battery storage scheme near Telford.
The webinars, hosted by OFTEC and in partnership with MCS, consist of three short sessions developed in response to feedback from technicians and will primarily focus on heat pump technologies.
Rumours have surfaced today that the Green Home Grant Voucher Scheme (GHGVS) will be scrapped in Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s budget announcement, coming next week. Highlighted by nearly 20 organisations representing or working within energy efficiency and low carbon heating sector, scrapping the scheme will put jobs in jeopardy and endanger the UK’s abilities to reach net zero targets at risk.
Over £165 million of Heat Networks Investment Project (HNIP) funding has been awarded since the scheme opened for applications in 2019. The most recent recipient is Kent County Council who has secured £2,478,000 to support the development of a low carbon heat network in Maidstone.
“It’s a unique architecture. Rather than sandwiching solar generating materials between glass or other substrates, we take a polymer substrate and in it we create microstructures that are smaller than a human hair to create a dense pattern of solar cells – it’s the same process used to make the holograms you see on credit cards.”