The
speed of rising temperature is the rate
at which the water is heated per hour
in degrees
celsius.
The COP is also based on daylight hours.
The COP can drop by around 22% during the
hours of
darkness.
Is
This a Heat Pump?
There have been many arguments as to
whether this is a heat pump or not and
opinions are divided. The system does
have the thermal solar keymark on it
and it qualifies for the RHI payments,
which means that those good people at
DECC are of the opinion that it is a
thermal solar system and not a heat pump.
Our thermodynamic system does not require
mechanical ventilation using fans that
can be expensive to run as well as being
quite noisy. Unlike heat pumps they will
work at very low temperatures. They have
a COP of 4 at 0 degrees Celsius and as
high as 7 in warmer weather which is
far better than any heat pump or thermal
solar system on the market today.
The system uses a refrigerant liquid
which is passed through a solar panel
where it absorbs the heat from the atmospheric
temperature. The heated liquid evaporates
and is passed through a thermo block
via a compressor. This heated gas then
passes through a heat exchanger where
it transfers the heat to the water in
the cylinder before cooling and reverting
back to a liquid where the process is
repeated
Does
this qualify for the RHI,
What is the Renewable Heat Incentive
(RHI)?
In an effort to reduce the carbon emmissions
in the UK the government has set up a
number of incentives to encourage the
homeowners and businesses to install
a variety of renewable energy products
and systems.
The introduction of the renewable heat
incentive in particular was launched
for the commercial market in November
2011.
The RHI is specifically for technologies
that produce heat. The production of
heat accounts for around 49% of the total
UK energy consumption.
The aim is to be producing 12% of this
energy cost by 2020.
The cost of installing renewable energy
sources is generally more expensive than
traditional heating methods and fossil
fuel and the government have therefore
setup the RHI to compensate for this
higher cost.
For domestic installations, the renewable
heat incentive premium payment is a one
off lump sum of £300 for the thermodynamic
system as it comes under solar thermal
and once this is applied for then the
homeowner will automatically qualify
for the RHI payments which are due to
be launched in June 2013 and will be
paid annually for 20 years. The RHI will
be backdated to the time of install.
.JPG) |
For commercial applications of the thermodynamic
systems there is no RHIPP payment. The
RHI however, is paid quarterly and is
based on the amount of heat generated
by the thermodynamic panels. The system
is metered and at present (June 2012)
pays 8.9 pence per Kwt the RHI payment
is index linked and is for 20 years from
the date of installation.
The RHI payment was set, based on relatively
inefficient solar thermal systems that
are available. The fact that the thermodynamic
atmospheric system works 24 hours per
day 365 days per year in all weather
conditions down to -15 degrees celsius
means that the returns from the RHI payments
can make this a very lucrative investment
opportunity.
Phase One
Domestic – A one off premium payment
of £300 pounds on installation
of the thermodynamic system.
Commercial – This began in November
2011 is available for the no domestic
sector and includes all businesses,
schools, hospitals, hotels, nursing
homes, public
sector buildings and council offices.
It is currently set for a term of 20
years.
Phase Two
Domestic
- annual payment will begin in the summer
of 2013 and
is expected to be a fixed payment for
a 20 year term.
Meaning
they do not need direct sunlight.JPG)
