Heating up the solar market
Ideal Stelrad is heating up the solar market by launching an energy efficient and simple to install solar water heating system – Ideal Solar.
Specifically introduced to further extend the company’s comprehensive product offering, it now means installers, specifiers, social housing organisations and local councils have a ‘one stop shop’ for all their heating needs. This includes Ideal Solar, along with Ideal Boilers’ market leading range of HE appliances and Stelrad’s extensive range of radiators.
Graham Williamson, business director of commercial heating at Ideal Stelrad, said: Ideal takes its environmental responsibility seriously. We have always been at the forefront of developing systems to reduce energy consumption, leading the change to highly efficient condensing boilers in the 1980s.
Whilst we understand that solar panels are not new to the industry, our main priority over the last 12 months has been developing a solar solution that was going to offer maximum benefits to our customers. 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 complements an existing hot water storage system, with the solar collectors featuring 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.
The flat plate collectors are roof mounted to obtain maximum energy from the sun, with a range of additional fixing arrangements 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.
Continued Williamson: We understand that solar is still a relatively new concept in the UK commercial heating market and installers are still getting to grips with the technology. Ideal Solar has been designed with this in mind. The technology is straightforward, offering installers a high quality solar package that is easy to select and install, backed up full technical support and training.
To help installers get up to speed, Ideal Solar is offering a three-day dedicated solar course at its training centre in Hull, where installers can become accredited members of the Solar Trade Association following successful completion. To complement this, information on Ideal Solar can be found on the company’s Installer Connect Training Vans, which are touring trade counters throughout the UK.
For more information visit www.installerconnect.com or call Ideal Solar’s technical support team on 01482 498663.
For reader enquiries, colour separation requests and invoices please contact Karen Jones on tel 01482 498402, fax 01482 498621 or email Karen_Jones@idealboilers.com