Renewables market heating up
Renewable technologies are growing in popularity in the commercial heating industry as the Government steps up its drive towards energy efficiency. Graham Williamson, business director of commercial heating at Ideal Stelrad, discusses the solutions available on the market and their suitability for the commercial sector.
The last few years have been a really challenging time for everyone involved in the heating industry. Along with increasing competition in the marketplace, a trend has emerged that is seeing more end-user customers preferring to repair their existing appliance rather than replace it with a more energy efficient system.
Whilst these issues are putting increasing pressure on those operating in the commercial heating sector, the main challenge that installers and manufacturers have had to get to grips with have been the changes to the Building Regulations. Ultimately, the drive to improve the energy performance standards in buildings and reduce carbon emissions outlined in Part L2A and L2B have changed the face of the industry.
The obvious shift has been the move from standard efficiency (SE) to high efficiency (HE) boilers since the regulations came into effect. This is clearly highlighted by the increase in demand for commercial condensing appliances, which has grown by X% in the last X years (GW to advise) in an otherwise flat market.
However, the move towards condensing boilers was only going to be one of the first steps in helping the Government meet its target of reducing carbon emissions. The fact is, advancements that have been made in condensing boiler technology has virtually reached its limit. Any significant increases in appliance efficiency in the future will be increasingly difficult.
It is therefore essential we understand that to achieve an ongoing reduction in carbon emissions, greater focus and emphasis must be placed on developing new greener technologies, such as renewables. This is even more important given that concerns regarding diminishing fossil fuels, coupled with the impact that climate change is having on the environment, continue to lead the news agenda.
There are now a number of renewable solutions on the market, such as solar, ground source heat pumps (GSHP), biomass, biofuel and micro combined heat and power (mCHP). However, careful consideration must be given to each of these when looking at their suitability in a commercial and industrial application, as many are currently not cost effective options.
Biomass energy for example involves burning wood and can be used to produce heat for space and water heating and electricity. Whilst the UK has some of the largest examples of the use of biomass to generate electricity in Europe, it is actually very expensive (up to eight times more than a condensing boiler), and should only be looked at if the source of fuel is in a 25 mile radius of the commercial property. This is because anything outside this radius will become to push the transport costs up too high to make it viable. Currently though, the majority of the UK’s biomass is being imported from Eastern Europe.
One sustainable solution that is growing in popularity, with many manufacturers bringing new products to market, is ground source heat pumps (GSHPs). The problem with GSHPs in the commercial sector is that to gain the maximum benefits of this technology, it must be installed in a property that is well insulated. Unfortunately, the vast majority of commercial and industrial buildings in the UK are not. Therefore, for the real benefits of heat pumps to be maximised, buildings would have to be build with heat pump technology in mind.
At Ideal Stelrad, we have been researching and developing sustainable products for many years at our state-of-the-art research laboratory in Hull. During this period, significant investment has been made and we are now confident that out of all the renewable solutions available, harnessing the sun’s energy through solar power is the most effective.
This is one of the main reasons why we have introduced a new energy efficient and simple to install solar water heating solution – Ideal Solar. We understand that solar panels are not new to the industry, but our main priority over the last twelve months has been developing a solar solution that was going to offer maximum benefits to our customers.
Suitable for both commercial and domestic applications, Ideal Solar further extends our comprehensive product offering, giving installers and specifiers 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.
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, reducing boiler usage in winter, whilst in the summer, 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 fixed on any type of property.
Overall, renewable technologies are a growing business and will present installers with great income opportunities moving forward. However, just like when condensing boilers were introduced into the commercial market, as an industry it is essential we carefully consider the application and the requirements for installing renewable technologies in their own right.
Sustainable products need to be just that – sustainable. Not just in an environmental sense, but in a practical sense as well. Currently the payback period on many products is too long, although prices may come down as the market matures.
To help installers make a more informed choice and get up to speed, Ideal Solar is offering a three-day accredited training course at our 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 Ideal’s Installer Connect Training Vans, which are touring trade counters throughout the UK.
For more information visit www.idealcommercialboilers or www.stelrad.com. Alternatively, email commercial_heating@idealboilers.com or call the commercial heating team on 01482 498 690.