Renewable Heat Incentive “Premium Payment” figures released

Hello everybody – the weekend is coming and the Renewable Heat Incentive is on its way!

The RHI is a payment for generating heat from renewable sources (e.g. heat pumps and solar thermal). Like the Feed-in-Tariffs (for solar PV/wind turbines), it is set by Government.

Tariffs will be paid from July 2011 for non-residential systems and October 2012 for households. Until then, households may be able to benefit from what is called the Premium Payment (however there are some caveats which we will come to…)

The RHI Premium Payment is like a grant for household renewable heat installations installed after August 2011 and before March 2012 (the household RHI doesn’t start until probably October 2012).

The agreed Premium Payment levels can be seen below:

RHI Premium Payments

Ok so the caveats to this payment are…..

Except for solar thermal, which is available to any householder, other technologies are only available for households not currently using gas heating. So if you are replacing a gas boiler then you cannot receive the Premium Payment – which is a shame as a lot of people use gas to heat their home. The government’s thinking we believe (rightly or wrongly, you can decide for yourself…), is that they are focusing on the people who run their homes on direct electricity and oil which is currently more expensive than gas to heat your home.

Householders must certify that this is their main home (not too difficult!) and that they have basic energy efficiency measures in place (loft insulation to 250mm and cavity wall insulation, where appropriate).

Both the product and installer must be MCS (or equivalent) certified (just like the FIT).

 

If you want more information on this or would like some more impartial advice we suggest going to http://www.rhincentive.co.uk/ as this is a really good website that explains what can be quite a complicated process.

Ok thats it for this week – have a great weekend!

The Integr8 Team (please follow us on Twittter @Integr8_LTD for all the latest news and events happening with us.

Integr8 @ Danfoss Heat Pump Product Launch

Integr8 we kindly invited by Danfoss Heat Pumps to the unveiling of their new air source heat pump, the AQ, at their HQ in Sheffield.

First we went to The Quadrant to see the heat pump on display with the 3 different control units, the mini, midi and maxi (see photos below)

The mini controller for the AQ

The Midi and Maxi controller unit (with 180L hot water tank) for the AQ

The actual heat pump (below) was fully “on” at the time but only when you got up close could you actually hear anything – my freezer back home make more noise! Very impressive.

The AQ

We then went back to Danfoss AQ where they have another one working at the office. Our MD can be seen standing next to it (on the left).

Another working AQ system outside Danfoss HQ

A lot of current air collection units can be a bit unsightly, but we really like the design of this one. What do you think? It has a certain Scandinavian sleek look to it don’t you think?

Thanks for reading!

The Integr8 Team

Domestic Solar PV rules the roost for Feed-in-Tariff so far

The feed-in-tariff, or FIT, (introduced in the UK in April 2010) has led to an explosion in Solar PV installations at the domestic level. The main reason for this is the current generous tariff for domestic projects (43.3p/kWh for retrofits under 4kW).

The most popular technologies using FIT in the last year

The full Ofgem report of this can be seen at http://tinyurl.com/5rrcvml

With the amount of solar installers out there, it has become a very competitive market, which is good for the public as they can shop around for the best deal quite easily but the cheapest is not always the best.

You wouldn’t go into a car dealership and ask for a 2 litre car and take the cheapest option would you? It’s about knowing the options – you would know that you want a BMW or a Ford and you look accordingly. It’s a similar situation with Solar PV.

Integr8 can help you decides whether you want a middle range PV system (good value for money and a quality product) or a high-end PV system (one of the best performing on the market with the best efficiencies) Do you want a Ford Focus or an Audi R8?? Sorry for the car analogy but its a good way of explaining it!

At Integr8 we pride ourselves on offering a wide range of PV panels for our clients, and only stock quality products that meet the needs of our clients. Whatever your budget/roof space available we will work with you to find the best solution for you.

Have a great weekend - if this is something you have read about yourself and are keen to learn more just drop us an email at info@integr8x.co.uk

The Integr8 Team

First photos on site @ Welford

Work began today at Welford-on-Avon installing the new AQ air source heat pump from Danfoss. Here are some initial photos from the site:

“A superb elevated river frontage scheme of six, four bedroom luxury detached homes with far-reaching views” is what is written on the sign just outside this development - and Integr8 are proud to be a part of it and installing renewable energy into each of them.

Integr8 on site at Welford

 

The Maxi Controller indoor unit from Danfoss

 

 

 

 

 

Heat Pump Award Photos

Photos form the National Heat Pumps awards can now be seen on their website http://www.national-heat-pump-awards.co.uk/

It was a bit like the Oscars but with heat pumps….. and no famous actors! Still an enjoyable night though. Next year will Integr8 be receiving a prize?.. who knows!

Guests arrive at the ICC before the award show begins

The setting for the event - with Kings of Leon tracks and special lighting effects - who needs the Oscars!

We were kindly invited by one of the event’s sponsors, Jaga (@JagaUK). Our Technical Sales Specialist, Neil Oliver, can be seen below (centre).

Neil Oliver (centre) of Jaga at the awards show

This was our table (below), a mixture of Jaga staff members, local government members, and staff from the underfloor warehouse in Leicester and NG Bailey in Birmingham.

Our table

Final mention to comedian Fred MacAulay - arguably the highlight of the evening, also very entertaining throughout the awarding of prizes.

Comedian Fred MacAulay

That’s enough photos from us…. see you soon!

The Integr8 Team

We. Did. It!

Ladies and Gentleman, Integr8 have a very special announcement to make:

On the 23rd of July 2010, we were audited by the Microgeneration Certification Scheme. It was tough, it was strenuous, but we all pulled together and we got through it. And today, we can report that we are officially accredited by the Microgeneration Certification Scheme! And we did it in record time too.

How this affects you? Well, glad you asked. In its very early days the renewable energy industry was risked becoming a rogue industry.  There were no rules about how to install, nor were there regulations about who could install. This led any Tom, Dick or Harry to write ‘Solar Panel installer’ on a van and pass off as an expert. Not any more.

The MCS authority is backed by the government. It is a series of very strenuous conditions which has to be met in order to achieve this accreditation. More importantly, if you as a customer want to benefit from all the incentives which are out there – you need to have your project signed off by an MCS accredited installer. That would be us.

Let’s just make one thing clear. We’re not saying in any way that if a company not MCS accredited they’re automatically a cowboy or bad. You just need to be careful who you choose. You need to have a good rapport with them, and you need to trust them.

It’s a great day for us. We’ve achieved the MCS accreditation – and it’s Friday. What could be better.

Have a great weekend.

Two jobs, one week

It’s Friday today, and we’re feeling good here at Integr8. We have successfully completed and handed over two jobs. One in Welford-Upon-Avon, the other in the Lake District.

The job in Welford was great for us. A Danfoss Air Source Heat Pump, a 1.6 kW Thermasol Solar PV system, all inclusive with a Sunnyboy inverter. We even threw in a free sunnybeam portable monitor for the client.  Add in the underfloor heating, and we were left with quite a substantial project.

The Lake District was just as good, with a 10 kw Danfoss ground source heat pump, as well as underfloor heating.

Photos of the job are available here

That’s about it for now. We’ll be back next week with all our news, and some hints and tips. Until then, have a great weekend people

Ground Source? Air Source? Choices, choices, choices…

Choosing the right heat pump for your property can be a tedious task. Weighing off price versus efficiency and initial cost versus payback time is important but the first thing that should be considered is the type of heat pump to be installed.

When comparing ground source heat pumps (GSHPs) to air source heat pumps (ASHPs) the first question you have to ask yourself is whether you have enough space in your garden for a ground loop to be installed. If the answer is yes and you don’t mind your garden being dug up, air source as well as ground source heat pumps are an option for you. If the answer is no, you can disregard ground source systems and focus your time and energy on finding the right air source heat pump.

If both are an option for your property you will find it interesting to know that GSHPs have proven to be more efficient than ASHPs. The reason for this is simple: at certain depths, the ground temperature remains fairly constant throughout the year whereas the air temperature drops significantly during winter, making GSHPs perform more efficiently. This means that, for every kWh of electricity used, GSHPs produce more units heat than ASHPs. As a result, ASHPs save less CO₂ emissions than GSHPs.

Additionally, GSHPs will have lower running costs than ASHPs. This is mainly because the ASHP will be situated outside, hence being exposed to harsh weather conditions such as frost and rain. This will account for higher maintenance costs throughout the heat pump’s lifetime.

Last but not least, GSHPs are usually a little quieter than ASHPs. This is because an ASHP has an outdoor unit with a fan whereas the equivalent of an outdoor unit for the GSHP doesn’t use a fan. However, one could say that the difference in the level of noise is negligible because the loudest that a heat pump will get is comparable to a big, American-style fridge.

Nonetheless, much can be said for choosing an air source heat pump over a ground source system. First of all, there is no need for ground works to take place when fitting an air source heat pump, making it cheaper and less labour intensive to install. The savings made during installation phase will compensate for the slightly higher running costs of the heat pump.

A very general rule of thumb is that in climates where the temperature differences between the seasons don’t vary too greatly, the favour would go ASHPs. Considering the British climate, where temperatures generally lie between 0 °C and 25 °C an air source system would be very attractive as the extra costs associated with the installation of a GSHP might not be justified.

ASHPs are compact and easy to install without impacting your garden or plot of land. Especially if you are installing a heat pump as a retrofit for an existing building in an urban area, an air source heat pump provides a very compatible solution.

So ultimately, the choice is up to you. GSHPs and ASHPs are the technology of the future with each having its pros and cons. The decision to go for one or the other will solely depend on your needs and the resources available.