Press Releases

January 2008

With the Government's renewed drive towards energy efficiency in the face of the very real effects of climate change, renewable technologies are again coming to the forefront of the heating industry. Paul Massey, managing director, Ideal Boilers, looks at the opportunities for local authorities and renewable technologies.

Concerns regarding diminishing fossil fuels have long been publicised by both the Government and the heating industry and have resulted in a number of Government-led directives and campaigns supporting the wider use of sustainable, or renewable, heating solutions. Examples of these directives include the UK Government’s proposal for a legally binding agreement that it will reduce carbon emissions by 2050 under the draft Climate Change Bill, whilst the European Union has publicly stated its ambitious target that by 2010 12% of energy supply should come from renewable sources. The 'Code for Sustainable Homes' is also placing pressure on housing providers, stating that all new homes must be carbon neutral by 2016. Whilst there has been some initial confusion amongst both local authorities and developers regarding what ‘carbon neutral’ actually means, this latest piece of legislation is yet further proof of the Government’s commitment to tackling climate change.

Given all the evidence above, there is certainly a very strong case in favour of the use of renewables and this will undoubtedly have an effect on those providing social housing in the UK. Many UK authorities have already reacted positively to the Government’s legislation and are beginning to harness renewable technologies, such as solar panels, heat pumps and biomass boilers. Unsurprisingly, given the significant savings that can be made both in terms of carbon emissions and running costs, solar panels are proving to be the most popular amongst those local authorities adopting new technology. The benefits seem clear. By harnessing solar energy, running costs are thought to be reduced by as much as 60% and up to a tonne of carbon dioxide can be saved every year. For social housing providers, solar is also one of the most accessible forms of sustainable heating for both new build projects and existing housing stock.

It is clear, therefore, that a combination of these associated benefits and increasing pressure from Whitehall will continue to drive the market for solar, with more manufacturers bringing product to market. However, it is important to remember that sustainable products need to be just that - sustainable. Not just in an environmental sense but in a practical sense too. The payback period on certain products is too long at the moment, although clearly prices may come down as the market matures. Appropriate support packages, such as training, also needs to be in place in order to equip installers and specifiers with the skills and knowledge they need to install and maintain this technology. It is not just a case of being the first to bring a new product to market but making sure that they are both proven and reliable, complementing those systems already available.

This is something the team at Ideal strongly believes in and whilst we understand that solar panels are not entirely new to the industry, our main priority over the last 12 months has been developing a solar solution that will offer maximum benefits to our customers. As a result, significant investment has been made at our state-of-the-art research laboratory in Hull during this period and we are now confident that our Ideal Solar solution will offer customers one of the most efficient and easy to fit systems on the market.

Ideal Solar is designed to complement an existing hot water storage system, with a typical solar system providing around 50%-60% of an average household’s domestic hot water over a year. The solar collectors feature a selective coating to enhance energy absorption, achieving 95% efficiency levels. This means that even on cloudy days, diffuse radiation can be captured by the solar panels, reducing boiler usage in winter. In the summer months, it is possible that all hot water energy needs can be obtained. Ideal Solar can be roof mounted to obtain maximum energy from the sun, with a range of additional fixing arrangements are also available so the panels can be fitted on any property. This includes optional fixing kits for flat roof and pitched roof with slates or rosemary tiles. There is also an option for inset mounting kits, which are specifically designed for the new build market, enabling the solar panel to be embedded so it sits flush with the roof.

Available in three packs to suit most applications, each Ideal Solar pack includes flat plate collectors (one for small properties, two for average households and three for larger properties), roof fixing brackets and rails, an expansion vessel with hose and bracket, controller, pump station and 20 litres of solar fluid. To complement our product offering, information on Ideal Solar can also be found on Installer Connect Training Vans, which are touring trade counters throughout the UK.

Renewable technology is still a growing business and although it is still early days for this market it will not be all that long before sustainable heating becomes commonplace on properties across the UK. Therefore, it is vital that we continue to ensure that the products we deliver are the right ones and that the backup is there to support it.