The government Feed-in-Tariff (FIT) is a scheme that is paid by energy suppliers for every unit of electricity generated from solar photovoltaic (PV) panels. This includes both units generated for on site use and any additional units that are exported to the national grid. Once you have signed up to the FIT scheme the amount paid is guaranteed for 25 years for solar PV, is linked to the Retail Price Index and is tax-free (compared to only 20 years for other technologies in the scheme).

Currently the generation tariff is set to 43.2p/kWh for retrofit solar PV systems <4kW but this will remain only until April 2012. Isoenergy strongly believes that such a good rate per kW is unsustainable at current rates of PV adoption. In short, panels need to be installed, tested and commissioned before April next year to guarantee the current rates. After April the government will have reviewed the FITs and they are likely to drop significantly each year.

The exporting tariff is presently set at 3.1p/kWh and this is unlikely to change, but the generation tariff is worth significantly more and therefore the drop will have a large impact.

Both the ‘Department of Energy and Climate Change’ and ‘The Energy Saving Trust’ say that the government review will “Be completed by the end of the 2011, with tariffs remaining unchanged until April 2012 (unless the review reveals a need for greater urgency)”.

The message from our solar PV engineer Patrick is “install now rather than later in order to see the greatest return on your investment and to take full advantage of the FIT scheme.” Finally, only PV systems installed by MCS accredited installers such as isoenergy will be eligible for FIT payments.

The appeal of gas powered plants is that they have a short and relatively low-cost construction time and as argued by a Department of Energy and Climate Change spokesman “the transition to low carbon energy can’t just happen overnight” and gas would allow flexibility to support more sustainable technologies whilst maintaining the security of electricity supply. I agree that gas would give renewable energies a greater time frame in which to expand so their location and choice of energy type could be considered thoroughly and then applied to the best suited areas. However, it is critical that gas plants aren’t glorified as the cure to the energy crisis but that they are seen more to be a sideways step giving us a chance to proceed more easily with more sustainable technologies, such as those installed by www.isoenergy.co.uk

Another fear is that an increase in gas plants will result in fuel prices increasing again. Whilst there is evidence to suggest that renewable energies lower the fuel cost and when one in five households in the UK is classed as being in fuel poverty this has surely got to be an important concern. Thus, it would seem sensible to look further into installing low-carbon energies not only on a national scale but also on a household scale as these technologies will lower energy bills. An example of this idea being employed on a university scale can been seen most recently at Newcastle University where over the past four months they have been drilling a 2000 meter deep borehole to harness geothermal power. On the 27^th June they finally reached a suitable source and hot water is now being brought up to the surface. Another university that has embraced renewable technology is Southampton University which no longer relies upon the National Grid for power but produces it itself mostly through photovoltaic solar panels which are installed on many of the campus buildings.

From a recent article in the Guardian, it has been stated that Europe is ‘falling behind’ in the green investment race. It is said that this is due to a bumper year in which places around the world have started in investing in renewable energy themselves, such as those installed by www.isoenergy.co.uk

Last year, there was an increase in green technology investment in the world by one-third to a total of $211bn. A huge amount of this boost came from China spending almost $50bn mainly in the use of wind farms, this has confirmed China as the ‘world’s green energy king’ if you will.

This growth of green technology investment was also strong in places such as India, Latin America and other countries in the developing world as well. But it seems as if Europe’s green investment is declining as it decreased by one-fifth to $35bn. However, Europe has given a sign of hope in small-scale renewables, mainly solar power in Germany. From this information it seems quite worrying that in the developing world where they are increasing their investment in green power whereas Europe – which during 2010 had the world’s largest economy from their GDP – is doing the complete opposite, and I think at the least it should keep its investment constant rather then letting it decline.

Connie Hedegaard, who is the climate chief of Europe, has asked for a much larger proportion of the EU’s budget to be devoted to spending related to the climate, and so by doing this she hopes to help retain Europe’s edge in this rapidly growing green economy. She asked that at least 20% of the EU’s budget should be spent on climate-related issues such as helping to cut emissions.

Now, I think that asking for a proportion to go towards this is a great idea as it will guarantee that Europe will be back up there near the top in the green investment race, but at the same time I also believe that 20% is a lot of money and should not be spent so rashly in schemes trying to help the environment especially in the economical situations that we are dealing with.

She states that ‘This significant increase reflects that it is a key political priority for Europe to tackle climate change by transforming Europe into a clean, competitive low-carbon economy.’ And I acknowledge that and can say it makes sense, but like I also said 20% is a lot of money and we are quite aware already that green investment is a key political priority which is important in the present and future, but I don’t think we need to go to the extreme of spending 20% of the EU’s budget to reflect this and so we should take the green race into consideration and ask ourselves whether we think it is reasonable to agree to what Connie Hedegaard is saying.

Key to these fears are the limited impact the IEA has had on oil prices by releasing extra from it’s reserves, a drop of 9c per barrel to be exact. The reason for this was apparently to counter loss of supplies in Libya, but also comes after Opec (the cartel that produces almost half of the world’s oil) refused to increase production despite Western pressure.

The IEA’s supply will always be limited and it’s influence stemmed by the amount of oil it can hoard, but this another clear demonstration of the unavoidable and consistent rise in oil prices.

Regardless of the IEA and Opec’s spats, it is just as plausible that Opec’s refusal to increase production is more than motivated by profits. The squeeze on oil supp

lies can be a major factor. The increasing scarcity of oil will hopefully finally start to make an impression on Western governments, that still offer a comparatively good deal when passing fossil fuels on to consumers.

With the Renewable Heat Incentive due to start imminently, and evidence like the aforementioned article, the increased profitability of heat pumps becomes more apparent. For large, country properties running on oil, the escalating costs needn’t be a concern if an initial investment is made in micro generation.

For more information on how to stem oil dependency, head to www.isoenergy.co.uk or call 01293 821345

(UPDATE)

True to initial concerns, the IEA and Opec quibble has caused the price of oil to start rising rapidly amidst concerns that output from the cartel may actually decrease rather than stay at current levels, which are unfavourable to Western powers.

This decision is an extra boost for the FIT before implementing the recently announced plans to fast track a review of solar farms and large scale system, which will likely see great reductions in tariff levels for systems that the government feels is missing the point of the FIT.

For now, a typical 4-10kW solar pv system will get a bump from 36.1p per kW/h to 37.8p. Head over to isoenergy’s Feed in Tarrif FAQ section for a full table of the updated rates.

New Isoenergy Website

The new isoenergy website is now live. Some of the new or improved features include:

• More information, in an easily digestible format
• Up to date information on all grants and tariffs available
• Details of how our renewable technologies work
• A downloads section
• An improved FAQ section
• Redesigned case studies both on the website and to download
• Information on isoenergy’s service and heat pump repair department
• More pictures
• Easier navigation
• And much more

Head over to isoenergy now to see what has changed. With the rapidly changing landscape of the renewables industry, the new site is an essential element in making sure isoenergy can provide clients with proof of our continued success and quality.

Feel free to comment on the site, or let us know via isoenergy’s twitter account what you think.

You should consider a heat pump if you live in a:
• Well-insulated existing property that cannot access the gas network. Heat pumps have the potential to reduce running costs compared with oil, direct electric, LPG, or coal, and can provide substantial carbon savings over the lifetime of the installation.
• New-build property.

How to get the best performance from a heat pump
• Ensure your dwelling is insulated as much as possible (e.g. cavity and loft insulation) prior to a heat pump being installed
• Install the heat pump with low temperature under-floor heating or properly sized radiators
• Insist upon understandable, user-friendly controls.

What to expect from a heat pump
• Since heat pumps provide a lower temperature heating compared with boilers, radiators will be warm rather than hot
• A house with radiators may heat up more slowly
• The heat pump will run for longer hours than a conventional boiler but if properly controlled will switch on and off with the heating requirements of the house
• A properly sized and installed heat pump should be able to provide all of a household’s domestic hot water, but many systems are installed with a supplemental electric immersion heater.

What was not mentioned in the summary, and yet has been the main talking point of the research, was that of all the systems tested, the peak COP achieved was only 3.2, with both Ground Source and Air Source averaging a COP of 2.2. This is a far cry from the manufacturer’s claims in the product literature, which frequently claims between 5 and 7. The report itself recognises that none of the results achieved were as successful as similar tests held in Europe.
So why have the UK’s Heat Pumps failed and is this all bad news for the UK’s renewable targets?
The primary causes for the poor performance are three fold; cheap or unsuitable equipment, incorrectly installed systems and the differences in the British climate. This is then often compounded by complicated controls that the user cannot effectively manage. Overall, it paints a relatively grim picture of the level of expertise and understanding of the technology in the UK. Although it does not bode well, there is a positive aspect to the findings for Justin Broadbent, MD of isoenergy who have been designing and installing heat pump systems since 2005, “I think people’s confidence in Heat Pump’s has been damaged, but it does finally prove what we have been trying to say at isoenergy for years – you simply can’t get away with throwing in any old cheap bit of kit and expecting it to work.”
Isoenergy has been extolling the virtues of higher quality, more efficient and longer lasting systems. The systems are installed by an in house team of highly qualified engineers and are then supported with a thorough post-installation service policy. These have been core principles at the company, but are evidently being lost along the way by other installers. It is for that reason, and hopefully to prove the true potential of Heat Pumps, that isoenergy are hoping to be part of the EST’s next stage of research.
It may be an uncertain time for Heat Pumps, but if this wobble will result in only the best installers being trusted with an important part of the UK’s micro generation future, it will be well worth it in the long run, both environmentally and financially for the system’s owners.

The full publication of the findings has been delayed again until later this year, but it is expected to illustrate a variable quality of the heat pump sites examined.

The EST, who will be producing the study, has claimed that they want to iron out the variations in data before publishing the study, although this has not quelled speculation about a “scrapped or scaled back” version of the RHI.

However, ministers such as Charles Hendry and Greg Barker have recently reaffirmed the Coalition’s commitment to supporting the installation of heat pumps.

For more information call 01293 821345 or click here.

Cavity Wall Insulation stores the heat within the inner walls, bouncing it back into the room and holding it for longer. This gives you a more even temperature and gets rid of the draughts that come down from the walls.
• The cavity is located between the inner and outer brickwork of the property
• The main materials used by NIA(National Insulation Association) installers are Mineral Wool (Glass or Rock Wool), EPS Bead (Polystyrene bead), U F Foam
• Cavity Wall Insulation can lower your heating bills, lower wear and tear on your boiler and reduce global warming and climate change
• CIGA (Cavity Insulation Guarantee Agency) issue an independent 25 year guarantee covering defects in materials and workmanship.
• The recommended cavity width is 50mm
• Cavity Wall Insulation can give you an annual saving of around £115
• There are a number of grants and schemes available to home owners which can substantially reduce the cost of installing these products.
• Costs around £250 to install, with an annual saving of £115 and a payback of about 2 years.

Draught Control. Uncontrolled leakage of air through gaps in dwellings, in general results in unnecessary heat loss and discomfort to the occupants from draughts. One of these routes is through gaps around windows and doors, and draught proofing can greatly reduce this leakage. On cold windy days, draughts can be easily identified, by holding the back of your hand close to the perimeter of the door or window you will soon locate where the cold air is coming from. However, it’s not just cold windy days when you will be losing your valuable heat, as the warm air you build up inside your property is leaking through gaps all of the time. This can have a profound effect, with a typical home losing up to 20% of its heat air leakage.
• Draught proofing is one of the most inexpensive and effective energy efficiency measures for the home – yet it is too often overlooked. Only a quarter of the 22 million dwellings in the UK are adequately draught proofed. Yet draught proofing offers the quickest return, frequently paying for itself within a year and then saving year after year.
• Draughts can cause major discomfort in the home, and for the elderly and very young this can be risky to health. Many older buildings in particular have poorly fitting doors and windows. Draughts cause cold damp air to be forced in as the warm air is drawn out. A lower temperature is acceptable in a draught free atmosphere.
• There are many types of materials available – from brushes, foams and sealants to strips and shaped rubber or plastic. There are also often grant and offers available for draught proofing or other energy saving measures.
• Draught proofing materials also guard against ingress weather and dirt which can damage internal decoration.
• Good quality Draught proofing can also help reduce noise penetration.
• Only durable draught proofing should be fitted and supplied by NIA members. As tested by the BSI to last for ten years. A 20-year guarantee is available on BS products supplied by DPAA manufacturers. A low quality product may have a very short lifespan and is poor value for money and effort.
• Show your NIA installer where the draughts are coming from in your home. There are many types of product – for around windows (sash, metal, timber); external doors (including weather bars for door bottoms); internal doors – particularly kitchens, bathrooms and main living areas; the loft hatch, and even letter boxes, key holes and cat flaps! Products are made in many materials and can be aesthetically pleasing.
• Always take into consideration the permanent ventilation requirements for fuel burning appliances.
• If you are applying a total package of insulation, avoid completely sealing the building. Omit sealing kitchen and bathroom windows to let out the steam and create sufficient ventilation. Instead seal the inner doors to these rooms. Do not interfere with air vents for fires and heating appliances.
• Costs around £200 to install, with a payback of roughly 8 years.
Loft Insulation. As much as a third of the heat you pay for could be escaping through your roof. Most loft insulation materials work by preventing the movement of heated air through the material. The Government say that you cut your energy bill by up to 20% through effectively insulating your loft.
• Loft insulation is located between the joists on the loft floor of your property. Roof Insulation is located between the tiles and the rafters.
• The recommended depth for loft insulation is 270 millimetres for glass wool, 250 millimetres for rock wool or 220 millimetres for cellulose.
• Loft Insulation can help lower your heating bills, lower wear and tear on your boiler and reduce global warming and climate change
• Loft Insulation can give you an annual saving of between £45 to £150
• There are a number of grants and schemes available to home owners which can substantially reduce the cost of installing these products.
Solid Wall Insulation. The UK’s housing stock is estimated at approximately 24.5 million dwellings, of that approximately 36% consist of non-cavity wall construction – solid brick, solid stone, pre 1944 timber frame and non-traditional, i.e concrete construction.
The benefits of solid wall insulation
If you live in a home with solid walls, 45% of your heat is escaping through the walls, costing you money. Insulating the walls will dramatically reduce heat loss in the winter
What is a solid wall?
• 9” masonry walls and other non-traditional construction types such as single leaf masonry, >9” walls (e.g. thick stone walls)
• Concrete walls, metal or timber panels and some mixed wall types (e.g. Where the ground and first floors are constructed of different materials)
• BRE estimate that around 7% of unfilled cavity wall stock cannot receive CWI.
• High rise flats (at least 6 storeys high) – esp. 1953-1972
Advantages:
• Can help with condensation problem
• Makes your home warm and cosy
• Reduces fuel bills
• Saves up to 45% of heat loss
• Minimum disruption for the householder
• Internal Wall Insulation: quick and easy to install, improves the thermal efficiency
• External Wall Insulation: Improves appearance of the building
Disadvantages:
• Expensive to treat in comparison to loft and cavity wall insulation
Facts: Solid Wall Houses
• Solid wall construction, non-traditional construction and non standard cavity are the categories that are most difficult to treat for insulation.
• Most of these houses are privately owned, with 65% belonging to the Private Rented Sector.
• 6.6 million properties have solid walls which represent 31% of the total housing stock.
• 48% of the 326,000 high rise flats in England have solid walls.
• Solid Wall properties tend to be more difficult and expensive to improve in terms of adequate insulation and heating.

Example GSHP concept diagram

With summer upon us and long overdue breaks being desperately sought, what better way to relax by the pool than by knowing that it’s being heated via an efficient, cost effective and renewable system? Be it Air Source Heat Pumps (ASHPs), Ground Source Heat Pumps (GSHPs) or Solar Thermal, an environmentally friendly solution is easier than you might think, according to Justin Broadbent, MD of isoenergy.
Rather than specifying a system similar to traditional gas or oil boilers, which switch on and off, reducing efficiency and increasing costs and wear, isoenergy designs the systems to be working at 80% of their capacity to heat the pool. This ensures that the system runs consistently, consuming less energy. For example, for a 10m x 10m pool with an average depth of 2m, the yearly savings by using a heat pump are £2600 vs natural gas, £3000 vs Oil, £5600 vs LPG and a whopping £6600 vs electricity.

To install the most appropriate system for your needs and to ensure that heat pumps garner a reputation for efficient and reliable green energy, it is important to abide by a series of principles that we recommend to anyone thinking of heating their pool.

Outdoor pools are better suited to ASHPs because it results in a simpler system, with a more direct transfer of heat. Also, the higher air temperature in summer and the lack of any recovery time means that it is the most efficient solution.

Indoor pools are better suited to a GSHP, although it is important to oversize the amount of ground collectors, especially if the system is also heating the property. During the summer, it is also possible to draw heat from the house and place it into the pool, helping to cool the house. Furthermore, a well designed system can distribute energy to other specific areas in the property. This is not limited to pools, and can include wine cellars and saunas for example.

Justin Broadbent has consistently extolled the virtues of insulation in houses, and it is no different with pools. In new builds, to make the pool an efficient thermal store, we recommend insulating around and underneath the pool itself. Much as heat pumps thrive on well insulated, consistently heated homes, the pumps thrive on an efficient pool.

Solar thermal now also provides a viable heating solution for a pool. A pool can be heated by a set of panels only 40% of the size of its surface area. Solar technology is one of the fastest advancing areas of renewable technology and now includes panels specifically designed for pool heating.

Once installed, the system can provide extra peace of mind knowing your pool is an efficient and green addition to your heating system. For more information call 01293 821345 or click here.