Why Choose Heat Pumps
Recent advances in the performance of leading makes of ASHPs mean that they are now capable of producing water which is hot enough simply to be coupled up to existing central heating and hot water systems without costly and disruptive adaptation.
Why Choose Heat Pumps
Heat Pumps are seen as the most cost-effective form of renewable technology ( - Professor David McKay, Chief Scientific Advisor to the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC)).
Why Choose Heat Pumps
RHS have two high temperature heat pumps – one produces hot water to 65⁰C and the other to 90⁰C.
Why Choose Heat Pumps
In general terms, using an Air Source Heat Pump (ASHP) to replace fossil fuels will produce the following energy cost savings:
- From natural gas to ASHP - 25%
- From Oil or LPG to ASHP - 55%
Why Choose Heat Pumps
For the ultimate cost reduction, the installation of heat storage (currently large hot water tanks) will enable the production and storage of most of a 24 hour day’s heat requirement using off-peak production on very low cost tariffs, the savings with storage would be some:
- From natural gas to ASHP - 50%
- From Oil or LPG to ASHP - 82%
Why Choose Heat Pumps
Air-source heat pumps harness heat from the air so that the efficient modern heat pump would normally reduce the temperature of the air passing through it by 4 degrees C. In doing so, the modern ASHP typically produces 3-4 times as much useful heat from 1 kilowatt of fuel than a boiler fuelled by mains gas, oil or LPG
Why Choose Heat Pumps
Heat Pumps are now able to meet the full heating requirements of buildings even down to -20⁰C., so they no longer need to be backed up with supplementary heating.
Gov Accredited Installations
The Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) has been established by the Government and the regulatory authorities to ensure that those companies supplying and installing heat pumps are properly accredited, and audited annually.
Gov Accredited Installations
RHS has obtained full accreditation against the rigorous standards of the Government-sponsored Microgeneration Certification Scheme, covering the design, specification, installation, commissioning and maintenance of the systems in question.
Gov Accredited Installations
MCS accreditation is confirmed only after the applicant has demonstrated that they have the relevant experience and competency of design and specification; and have successfully carried out installations, commissioning and maintenance of heat pump applications.
Gov Accredited Installations
Government Grants and Incentives are not paid unless the Heat Pump installation has been carried out by an MCS accredited organisation.
Case Study
Heat Pump Case Study – Hostel at Newmarket
Project Overview
In 2010 we were requested to tender for a prestigious project in Newmarket.
The project was the renovation and extension of a hostel to accommodate some 32 international students who attend a 5 month live-in course on racehorse management and care.
Mitsubishi and Dakin were the preferred heat pump suppliers, but they had no models which would match the technical specification, without expensive boosting.
The renovated building required water for sanitary (domestic hot water) use at 60⁰C and heating at 55⁰C at ambient temperatures down to -15⁰C. And that the heating water temperature should be ambient temperature compensated.
It was required that there would be no electric temperature boosting nor double compression.
Our heat pumps turned out to be the only ones to match this specification.
Photo of Hostel
The Design
We designed a modular set up using 4 x 3 phase heat pumps of 14kW each. These would be controlled by the building management computer on a cascade basis for optimum efficiency.
Photo of Installation
The pipework is of reverse return design.
Adjacent to the heat pumps we included a 200 litre inertia tank. This adds necessary volume to the system and reduces cycling and thereby reduces electricity consumption, and unnecessary wear and tear.
Photo of Inertia Tank
We also incorporated a by-pass and shut off valves so that we could start up and test the heat pumps and our controls before the rest of the building was finished. This ensured that once the builder’s heating engineers had completed and tested their work, the heat pumps were immediately ready for service.
The building design required that the heat pumps transfer their heat via a heat exchanger in the plant room. This was a good design as it limited the extent of the heat pump’s water to a closed circuit of about 100 litres plus the inertia tank of 200 litres requiring 60 litres of glycol insertion to provide protection down to -20⁰C.
The installation has been commissioned and met the required temperatures at the hand-over test.
Financials
Cost of the system (excluding civils) £42,000 plus VAT at 5%
Running cost p.a. had the project been on oil at $100 per barrel £12,153
Running cost p.a. on electricity £4,500
Savings p.a. £7,650
Pay back 5.5 years
This installation is available for inspection
The client has recently built a visual shield around the plant –
Photo with wooden surround
Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) - Update
Posted: Friday, 22 Jul, 2011 - 17:10
Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) - update
On 24 June 2011 Ofgem published detailed guidance on accreditation and eligibility for the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) scheme.
The RHI is a new government scheme designed to encourage the uptake of renewable heat. The scheme is the first of its kind in the world and will provide £860 million of subsidy between 2011 and 2015, more than double the amount of funding allocated to the Feed in Tariff Scheme.
Tariffs will be paid on the basis of the metered heat produced by eligible installations. The tariffs have been calculated to provide a return on the additional capital invested of 12 per cent. Tariff rates will be adjusted every year in accordance with the UK Retail Price Index and will continue for up to 20 years from the date of accreditation. The RHI will be introduced in two phases. It is expected that support will be available to eligible installations from September 2012.
For the latest technology high temperature Air Source Heat Pumps (ASHP) used for heating buildings and hot water production, the Return on Investment when replacing natural gas will be about 12%, but when replacing oil, electric heating or LPG, will average 40%.
There is a comprehensive review being undertaken by the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) on the relative performance, efficiencies and operating temperature window of the various accredited ASHPs. This will be completed for September 2012, and the RHI grants will then commence to be paid.
All heat pump systems installed by us, Renewable Heat Services, since August 2009 are eligible and will qualify for the Renewable Heat Incentive. The grants for the installations completed before the commencement of RHI payments will have their 18 years of payments commencing from late 2012.
