Thermodynamic, Solar Heating, Geo Thermal, Air Source Heat Pumps & Alternative Technologies.
Our sister operation G2Techk, installs the latest solar heating, air source heat pump & geo thermal, ground source heating systems. Some of our solutions can work with a conventional gas, electric or hybrid boilers. We can also use solar P V panels and a PV energy diverter system to heat hot water into an immersion system. This means you use either the energy from the sun’s natural heat or that collected from ground or air to heat your home. This in turn saves you cost on ever increasing fossil fuel dependence.
Thermodynamic Heating
Thermodynamic panels are recent to the British market, but are becoming popular because of their efficiency and reliability, as well as their ability to operate in conditions which are unsuitable for solar thermal collectors, for example, at night or during wintertime.
A thermodynamic water heating system is a simple solution for reducing heating and gas bills. Only a heat collector panel and a compressor need to be installed and connected to your already existing hot water tank, and the system is already up and running. The panel/s can be installed on a wall, cutting down costs of roof installation.
The technology behind thermodynamic panels is based on simple heat exchange. Similar to the back of a fridge that is very hot that heat is used to heat the water. It is also similar to air-to-water heat pumps, the heat from the ambient air is collected through a special fluid that and, with the help of a compressor, heats up the tank for domestic hot water. This results in a very low-cost source for hot water for your kitchen and bathroom sinks, tubs and pools, and other appliances.
Solar Thermal Heating
The benefits of solar water heating is that you get hot water throughout the year although you’ll need to heat the water further with a boiler or immersion heater during the winter months. Reduced energy bills are obvious as sunlight is free, so once you’ve paid for the initial installation, your hot water costs will be reduced. You are reducing your carbon footprint. Solar hot water is a green, renewable heating system and can reduce your carbon dioxide emissions.
How do solar water heating systems work?
Solar water heating systems use solar panels, called collectors, fitted to your roof. These collect heat from the sun and use it to heat up water which is stored in a hot water cylinder. A boiler or immersion heater can be used as a back-up to heat the water further to reach the temperature you want. ( See Our Panasonic Fuel Cell next generation boilers below)
There are two types of solar water heating panels:
Evacuated tubes
Flat plate collectors, which can be fixed on the roof tiles or integrated into the roof.
Geothermal Energy
Geothermal energy has been used for thousands of years in some countries for cooking and heating. It is simply power derived from the Earth’s internal heat. This thermal energy is contained in the rock and fluids beneath Earth’s crust. It can be found from shallow ground to several miles below the surface, and even farther down to the extremely hot molten rock called magma. These underground reservoirs of steam and hot water can be tapped to generate electricity or to heat and cool buildings directly.
A geothermal heat pump system can take advantage of the constant temperature of the upper ten feet (three meters) of the Earth’s surface to heat a home in the winter, while extracting heat from the building and transferring it back to the relatively cooler ground in the summer.
Geothermal water from deeper in the Earth can be used directly for heating homes and offices, or for growing plants in greenhouses. Some U.S. cities pipe geothermal hot water under roads and sidewalks to melt snow.
There are many advantages of geothermal energy. It can be extracted without burning a fossil fuel such as coal, gas, or oil. Geothermal energy is always available, 365 days a year. It’s also relatively inexpensive; savings from direct is reported to be as much as 80 percent over fossil fuels.
Ground Source Heat Pumps
Ground source heat pumps (GSHPs) use pipes that are buried in the garden to extract heat from the ground. This heat can then be used to heat radiators, underfloor or warm air heating systems and hot water in your home. A ground source heat pump circulates a mixture of water and antifreeze around a loop of pipe, called a ground loop, which is buried in your garden.
Heat from the ground is absorbed into the fluid and then passes through a heat exchanger into the heat pump. The ground stays at a fairly constant temperature under the surface, so the heat pump can be used throughout the year. The length of the ground loop depends on the size of your home and the amount of heat you need.
Longer loops can draw more heat from the ground, but need more space to be buried in. If space is limited, a vertical borehole can be drilled instead.
The benefits of ground source heat pumps Could lower your fuel bills, especially if you replace conventional electric heating Could provide you with income through the government’s Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) Could lower home carbon emissions, depending on which fuel you are replacing No fuel deliveries needed Can heat your home as well as your water Minimal maintenance required Unlike gas and oil boilers, heat pumps deliver heat at lower temperatures over much longer periods.
During the winter they may need to be on constantly to heat your home efficiently. You will also notice that radiators won’t feel as hot to the touch as they might do when you are using a gas or oil boiler.
Air source heat pumps are usually easier to install than ground source as they don’t need any trenches or drilling, but they are often less efficient than ground source heat pumps.
Water source heat pumps can be used to provide heating in homes near to rivers, streams and lakes.
Air Source Heat Pumps
Air source heat pumps (ASHPs) absorb heat from the outside air. This heat can also then be used to heat radiators, underfloor heating systems, or warm air convectors and hot water in your home. Different from a ground source heat pump, an air source heat pump extracts heat from the outside air in the same way that a fridge extracts heat from its inside.
It can get heat from the air even when the temperature is as low as -15° C. Heat pumps have some impact on the environment as they need electricity to run, but the heat they extract from the ground, air, or water is constantly being renewed naturally.
The benefits of air source heat pumps are
Lower fuel bills, especially if you are replacing conventional electric heating
potential income through the UK government’s Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI)
lower home carbon emissions, depending on which fuel you are replacing
no fuel deliveries needed
can heat your home as well as your water
minimal maintenance required
can be easier to install than a ground source heat pump.
Unlike gas and oil boilers, heat pumps deliver heat at lower temperatures over much longer periods.
During the winter they may need to be on constantly to heat your home efficiently. You will also notice that radiators won’t feel as hot to the touch as they might do when you are using a gas or oil boiler.
Panasonic Fuel Cell Boiler Combined Heat & Power (CHP) System
2018 Innovation of the Year: Technology – Physical and also Home Energy Product of the Year, at the Energy Awards ceremony in London. The awards ceremony brought together over 600 of the most senior operators in the energy market, both local and international, to recognise and celebrate the very best of the energy industry. For more information, see Energy Awards 2018.
This is the latest innovation in boiler heating technology. It provides simultaneous heating and hot water using advanced fuel cell technology to convert hydrogen into energy. This offers you independence from rising electricity prices. i.e. As it heats your home, the excess energy is converted to electricity to help give you free spare power for your home.
The system combines heat and power generation on a very small footprint and offers considerably higher electrical efficiency than that available through current combined heat and power (CHP) solutions; making it the ideal future-thinking energy centre for modern family homes. The Panasonic Weismann system has had already more than 200,000 installations in Japan. It is a perfectly matched heating system with gas condensing boiler, DHW (Domestic Heat & Water) cylinder and control unit for maximum reliability.
With ever increasing fuel bills and the need to be as eco-friendly as possible, it’s important that we all look for ways to save fuel and carbon emissions – and money!
All gas boilers are now required to be condensing boilers and this represents a huge step forward in environmentally friendly heating.
The Benefits:
Fuel savings of up to 35% compared to conventional boilers.
There is a way to save even more – up to 15% in fact – using a simple outdoor sensor and some very clever Weather Compensation controls, available. Remote Control technology is available for the system.
You’ll not only save up to 15% more fuel each year but you’ll also enjoy an incredibly comfortable home – with a pleasant indoor temperature – whatever the weather.
Up to 30% lower energy bills compared with gas condensing technology is reported on the system.
Protect the environment through lower CO2 emissions
Increasing independence of electricity prices by generating power on site
Compact design with a small footprint
Efficient and environmentally responsible technology of the future
High operating convenience via tablet or smartphone
Government subsidies available
PACE funding available
Energy efficiency class: A++
Energy efficiency class, DHW ( Domestic Hot Water) heating: A
Solar Hybrid PVT Panel of Power & Hot Water Combined.
You might want to consider installing Solar Photovoltaic-Thermal, or PV-T for short.
PV-T is a hybrid solar panel combining the functionality of solar thermal collectors and solar PV in one panel. The panels create not only electricity but also produce hot water for use in the home. Two functions from one investment!
Hot solar PV panels produce less electricity.
Contrary to popular belief, solar PV panels actually work more efficiently in cold sunny weather. People often assume that hot sunny conditions are the best, but actually as solar PV panels get warmer, they become less efficient. In fact, for an average PV panel, each degree warmer the panel becomes, it will become around 0.5% less efficient. So in the UK, where the dark solar panels regularly hit 70-800c, this could mean a 25% decrease in efficiency at peak time.