Surface Power breaks RHI commercial tariff record in UK with meter reading at 566 kWhrs/m2/yr. (OFGEM meter as per RHI)

Surface Power DTES Thermal technology, is really changing the face of how building energy can be produced. The output of Surface Power’s DTES is so far ahead of old style solar hot water panels, that it is capable of producing between 300% and 2000% more metered (delivered) energy per sqm. This is according to the official UK study’s that the Energy Savings Trust & others have been documenting about the poor performance of old style solar hot water vacuum and flat plates systems in the same location.

In fact, in a recent study by Sheffield University, this Surface Power commercial RHI system is producing 2300% more RHI metered units versus a building studied for a year in a comprehensive performance study completed end 2012. All these systems are located in Northern England.

To put that into context how important that Surface Power advantage is; it would make payback 23 times quicker.

This is why Surface Power’s DTES thermal can not only replace old style solar hot water but also heat pumps. In fact, instead of installing a heat pump and solar hot water, a DTES system will replace both in just one installation and ONLY gets it’s energy from “daylight”. DTES is the only technology designed for direct central heating integration and it is now well proven how powerful and successful it is.

Word of Warning: In 2008, a UK solar installer was prosecuted by Trading Standards for conning people into thinking that you could use old style standard solar hot water panels for central heating use, they were subsequently closed down, featured in newspapers and on BBC Rogue Traders and fined heavily in court for deception. Installers can sometimes get carried away with performance claims BUT other times they can be acting fraudulent on purpose to con you out of your money; ALWAYS, ALWAYS, MAKE SURE the stated manufacturer of any product or system is STANDING OVER “all” information an installer tells you. This is the quickest way to find out if you are being conned.

This performance result above from Northern England for a DTES thermal system for a commercial RHI project, to put some numbers on it; a 250 sqm metre installation at 566 kWhrs/m2 receives a payment this year of £13,159 rising each year for the next 20 years plus added inflation increases achieving an outstanding payback of 6-7 years.

This commercial system performance result is a TSE (Total System Efficiency) yield of 54%, a long way ahead of heat pumps and old style solar hot water panels. Surface Power domestic systems typically yield more than 60% TSE with 68% being measured in a 18 month study.

Have a look at this customer system in Northern England this very morning (this house has NO boiler): the DTES thermal array is already at boiler temperatures, and all this is just using DAYLIGHT, that’s what DTES thermal can do which regular solar hot water can’t.

Explanation of TSE: This measures the available energy from the sky divided into the metered energy received into the storage. In the example above, 1044 kWhrs/m2 of energy is available from “GOD”, and metered output was 566 kWhrs/m2, that is 566/1044 = 54% TSE. (this method of calculation is technology agnostic), it is all about PROOF, NOT PROMISES.

Read more about Surface Power DTES here

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-22031871

Here is a benchmark of a Surface Power solar system.

Weather is sunny but temperature is cold 5C (41F). 2nd April. Time: 13:20.

Instead of publishing the long awaited proposals for the UK’s Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) last week, HM Government outlined the next steps in the implementation of the UK’s national heating strategy, first published last year.

The proposals make grim reading for the UK’s oil heating industry. Heating oil is effectively set to disappear from the UK’s energy mix by 2025. Around 900,000 homes in England, 430,000 homes in Northern Ireland, an estimated 120,000 homes in Scotland and 113,000 homes in Wales currently depend on heating oil in the UK. Most of these homes are in rural areas, beyond the reach of the gas network. A smaller number of homes in rural areas are dependent depend upon other fuels for space and water heating, including LPG and solid fuel. And if the government is to be believed, all those homes are going to have to find something else to replace their existing heating systems with over the next decade or so.

Underlining the extent of the crisis now facing the UK oil heating industry, DECC’s proposals didn’t even mention B30K Bioheating Oil. Developed by OFTEC and championed by its Director General, Jeremy Hawksley, B30K was at one point described as a ‘drop in’ replacement for traditional kerosene fuelled heating oil systems. Its omission, serves to add weight to the concerns expressed by some, over the ability of OFTEC to lobby effectively on behalf of the industry it purports to represent.

Speaking at the publication of the proposals, Energy & Climate Change Secretary, Ed Davey said, “If we can increase the use of low carbon heating in our homes, businesses and across our economy, we can help reduce our dependence on costly carbon intense fossil fuels. Last year we launched the UK’s first ever heat strategy, to get us on the right pathway to decarbonisation and today we have published an update on the progress we have made so far, alongside a new set of actions specifically targeted at industrial heat, urban heat networks and heat in buildings.

“Many homes and businesses across the UK have already switched away from fossil fuels and are using kit like biomass boilers, heat pumps and solar thermal panels to provide heat, thanks to Government support, and I want to ensure even more householders and organisations get on board.”

At rural installations, ground source and air source heat pumps appear to the technology of choice for future heating systems – displacing existing oil fired central systems in the process. By 2017, it is projected that ground and air source heat pumps will have overtaken heating oil. Oil fired central heating systems are set to all but disappear by 2025.

Ironically, the proposals come just weeks after OFTEC claimed many renewable technologies were ill-suited to replace existing oil fired systems. Noting the already high levels of fuel poverty in rural areas, ‘independent’ research commissioned by OFTEC allegedly showed that air source heat pumps would typically cost more than £300 a year more to run than a modern, condensing oil fired boiler. The same research also revealed that whilst ground source heat pumps could save heating oil users over £100pa, the payback period for homeowners and householders switching from an oil fired system was almost 123 years.

OFTEC did not offer an immediate, formal response to DECC’s proposals. However, on Twitter, OFTEC did say it hoped a recent presentation made to the House of Common’s Energy Select Committee would change DECC’s thinking. But as one experienced oil boiler technician readily admitted, ‘…it doesn’t matter what the Select Committee decide or don’t decide… knowing what you know, would you opt for an oil fired boiler today?’

Gas Stockpile Drain Prompts Price Rise Fears

Households have been forced to increase their heating usage as the freezing weather continues, pushing the demand for gas to 20% higher than normal in March.

Gas stocks were reportedly just 10% full at Britain’s largest storage facility on Thursday night, compared to 49% this time last year.

Energy prices will soar if Britain is forced to make up the shortfall by importing more liquefied natural gas from elsewhere, an energy expert has warned.

Andrew Horstead of the energy consultancy Utilyx told the Times: “There is immense pressure on the existing infrastructure.

“We are almost maxed out from imports through pipelines. The big concern is that there is very little flexibility left in the system.”

He added that Britain would struggle to cope if a technical problem caused an unscheduled North Sea gas field to shut down.

Matt Osborne, risk manager at energy consultancy and brokerage firm Inenco, told Sky News that wholesale prices had spiked about 20% overnight, prompting the industry to respond quickly.

On Friday morning gas prices for within-day delivery then jumped more than 50% above Thursday’s close following the closure of the pipeline linking Belgium to Britain after a pump failed at Bacton, Norfolk.

Downing Street said Prime Minister David Cameron is “confident” that the UK’s gas needs will continue to be met.

A spokesman said:  “The absolute key thing on this is that supplies are not running out.

“The gas market is how we source our supplies and that market continues to function well.

“The Prime Minister’s key concern is that gas supplies continue. It is absolutely clear that supplies are not running out.”

Asked if the Prime Minister was confident that this would remain the case, the spokesman replied: “Absolutely confident.”

Britain is more vulnerable than other countries to gas shortages because of its limited storage capacity, which holds just 15 days’ worth of energy supplies.

But a Department of Environment and Climate Change (DECC) spokesperson insisted that “gas supplies are not running out”.

The spokesperson said: “Storage levels are low at the moment – as you’d expect towards the end of winter – and the UK gas market is tight.

“But the market is responding as it is designed to do – gas prices are rising and supply is being maintained accordingly.

“Gas storage would never be the sole source of gas meeting our needs, so it is misleading to talk purely about how many days’ supply is in storage.”

However, the gas fears come as the head of the energy giant SSE warned of the “very real risk” of the lights going out in Britain.

Ian Marchant said the Government was underestimating the problem, as he announced plans to cut back on power generation at five sites because the stations are either uneconomic or coming to the end of their lives.

He said: “It appears the Government is significantly underestimating the scale of the capacity crunch facing the UK in the next three years and there is a very real risk of the lights going out as a result.”

He said the energy watchdog Ofgem had recently expressed real concern about the reduction of the UK’s generation capacity margin that would follow expected plant closures in the next few years, predicting a 1-in-12 chance of the lights going out.

Mr Marchant added: “It is unlikely that the majority of the reductions in generation capacity and the delays to new investment we have announced today will have been included in this analysis.

“(This) highlights that the situation is likely to be even more critical than even they have predicted.”

The DECC spokesperson added: “We are in close contact with National Grid, who are able to step into the market to source gas and increase incentives on gas suppliers if they think there is a risk of a supply shortfall.”

Well done to all those experienced solar thermal installers who completed the Solar Central Heating January course’s in Dublin and Croydon.

Solar Central Heating Installations are now approx 50% of all Surface Power installs and even hitting 80% of install choice in Northern England in some areas. NOTE THAT ALL OUR TRAINING NOW INCLUDES THE SOLAR CENTRAL HEATING COMPONENT AS STANDARD.

Our course’s up until February in Croydon have been fully booked for some time BUT there are a couple of spaces left for the Dublin course on the 26th February but we do finally have open space available again from March in the UK and Ireland and we will soon announce course calls for Las Vegas, USA and Toronto, Canada.

You can register on the link below your interest in training at anytime. (If you think you may have registered before, then don’t worry about registering more than once)

We have also added another 2 solar central heating cylinder manufacturers (total 4) who produce the special cylinder required for Surface Power Solar Central heating and they are conveniently spread out across the UK and Ireland for easy access. We will shortly be announcing a supply chain in North America for this special solar central heating cylinder as well.

(Please note, these cylinder specifications should NEVER be used on regular Solar Collectors due to overheating risk in summer, they are ONLY to be used with Surface Power solar thermal systems and subject to design approval).

Surface Power’s Solar Central Heating systems are unique in the world as the science used can heat smaller cylinders to higher temperatures in challenging weather without overheating in hot weather. This patented technology is a key breakthrough in how Solar Thermal technology can be used for Solar Central Heating even regular radiators in an old house.

Customers should also note they can contact us directly and we will place their enquiry directly with an approved installer who we will work with on your installation design for optimum performance.

Training Link to Register: http://www.surfacepower.com/training.html

Customer Enquiry: http://www.surfacepower.com/sales.html

PROOF, NOT PROMISES. www.surfacepower.com

Reprinted with permission…

This is a summary of a number of “up to 2 year” study’s into metered and certified data from known Solar Thermal Installations in Europe. These are the top performing ones below. It compares performance of Solar Thermal Central Heating systems side by side as being reported by University or Solar Research centres, etc. The metering and certification of real-time performance of Solar Thermal in Europe is only a new element in the industry but as many new generation “Thermal Feed in Tariffs” require heat metering (only in europe yet), it’s important to understand this area. (Solar Central Heating systems run your radiators as well as provide hot water).

Solar Central Heating is a growing area but how much energy is being achieved in reality. In this analysis of all the information, we have taken a number of study’s to put a framework under it using “available light energy” as the benchmark. This is the theoretical energy falling on a sqm of ground per year, i.e. 1044 kWhrs/m2/year in central UK for example, 1350 kWhrs/m2/yr in Southern Austria and so on.

Explanation: If your heat meter tells you that you achieved 900 kWhrs/m2/year delivered into your cylinder, then you would have achieved a yield of 90% total system efficiency in that location with 1044 kWhrs/m2/yr.

But, the solar thermal industry admits itself that it knows little about these actual “delivered energy” yields in practice, the industry has lived on theory and exaggeration from questionable sales practices for years but that’s all set to come to an abrupt end as Heat Metering standards becomes widespread to calculate Heat Tariff Payment policies for the new EU Heat Tariffs under the RED (EU Renewable Energy Directive) (similar to Solar PV FIT’s but for heat) and for HPPA’s, Heat Power Purchase Agreements more common in places like the USA and Canada.

We have gathered the data from a number of manufacturers and this is how they compare. The study is not designed to be scientific but it using actual performance “achieved” data from long term study’s on actual installations in Europe.

Here’s what the results tell us about the top ones. (note, many manufacturers will not get involved in performance trials, it seems to be the same few who are putting themselves forward all the time)

We have also looked at detailed reports on Solar Thermal Central Heating installations in Switzerland which has a good weather pattern and they report on a number of these installs, up to 70% hot water contribution and up to 7% central heating contribution.

Clearly, the time has come to look more closely at the evidence of performance. A recent study in the UK by Sheffield University on a new build project of 23 homes with the same solar hot water systems installed, went from 23% total system efficiency in the best house to 2% total system efficiency in the worst with payback of hundreds of years. 

Reprinted by Permission…

Comment by Surface Power.

The manufacturer identified above as No 1 is a Surface Power SP501 PRO system and the results used are from a 2 year metered study on a customers installation conducted in 2010-2011 for RHI.

What’s important to understand is how important this extra power is to reducing your oil and gas bill and also at your return on investment.

If you were to pay 5,000 of your hard earned money for this system below (listed above as a system from manufacturer No 2):

 Then you could pay 2.67 times more OR 13,366 of your hard earned money for the Surface Power system above and you would still achieve the same payback. Because a Surface Power Solar Central Heating system is so powerful, you get the quickest payback.

To get the highest yield on RHI and other Heat Feed in Tariffs, you need to maximise the overall system efficiency. The result is quicker payback, lower risk, higher oil & gas savings. It’s your money. Ask your installer for manufacturer’s proof.

The HIGHER the overall system efficiency, the more MONEY in your pocket……….

Surface Power, PROOF, NOT PROMISES….

www.surfacepower.com