Thermodynamics....

[Gavin A]

I would agree that space heating's a different kettle of fish to water heating.

You're right that there have been too many instances of companies who don't know what they're doing installing stuff like exhaust air heat pumps and expecting them to actually produce energy as opposed to merely recylling it, then wonder why the systems end up running largely from the immersion heater because the heat load of the building exceeded the maximum theoretically possible energy the heat pump could possibly extract from the outgoing air.

So I'd agree that it's important to get this right for anything involving heating. In the test install we're doing, it's being used in conjunction with a wood burning stove with back boiler, and they still have the existing gas boiler integrated, and there have been no promises made about heat delivery from the panel - it's primarily there for water heating, but may as well use additional heat if it's available when the power is available from the solar pv.

 

[solarfred]

Lot's appear to be selling in Ireland where money is in short supply and the climate is slightly worse than UK so a "solar panel that works in wind and rain and at night" goes down quite well. I have some real life data but it is not scientific as there are several "models" and they are not comparing apples and apples.
Most confirm they have hot water 24/7 as per the salesman patter. But then so do I with an immersion and it didn't cost me €4,000+.

 

[phil_davison]

We've installed a couple of the Energie systems in the North East. The data being collected at the moment seems to suggest that they've been mega during the summer months, constant supply of hot water, but we have had 1 phone in the last week saying that it doesn't seem to be getting up to full temp. Overall though the customer is very happy with the system and is glad we've fitted a by-pass valve on his combi to flick when the the TD isn't up to temp.
We've got another install going in this week at the request of the customer, so we'll have even more info to talk about in the near future. Its not something that we are mass installing but its a technology defo worth looking at in my view, even without the current MCS approval.

 

[v lowery]

We've installed a couple of the Energie systems in the North East. The data being collected at the moment seems to suggest that they've been mega during the summer months, constant supply of hot water, but we have had 1 phone in the last week saying that it doesn't seem to be getting up to full temp. Overall though the customer is very happy with the system and is glad we've fitted a by-pass valve on his combi to flick when the the TD isn't up to temp.
We've got another install going in this week at the request of the customer, so we'll have even more info to talk about in the near future. Its not something that we are mass installing but its a technology defo worth looking at in my view, even without the current MCS approval.

hi Phil, you fitted in the NE was it for a company why did you need to fit thermodynamics back to the combi boiler all paperwork says "hot water 24/7". I have had system since 2012 and its costing £500 a year to run and after checking mains gas bill before fitting my hot water bill was £140 or less. any resend updates from customers. thanks.