A North West solar panel firm is offering a new technology which once linked with electric solar panels, can help dramatically cut gas heating bills.
BSOLAR based in Halsall near Liverpool, is encouraging people to both invest in solar electric panels and a new piece of technology, EMMA (Energy and Micro-Generator Manager) - a system that converts the electricity generated from solar panels into power to heat the hot water tank.
Peter Bladen, director of BSOLAR said: “Solar electric or photovoltaic panels as they are known represent one of the best green investments you can make, with the government guaranteeing you an income for the electricity you generate. On average the panels will pay for themselves in 10 years then start giving you a profit year on year for at least another 15 years. Not only this; they will provide you with free electricity during the day.
“The only issue with the electric panels is that they won’t cut the costs of your gas heating bills. If you want to do this, you’d have to consider other ideas, such as solar thermal panels or heat pumps. The EMMA device is a new development which can get round this, the technology channels surplus electricity to heat your hot water tank via the immersion heater. This means you need to use less gas for heating the hot water for the house.”
Peter is installing the system on his own house and estimates that it could save as much as £200 a year on hot water bills. At a cost of just £2000 fully installed this device is cheaper and more effective than solar thermal installations. He said: “I currently have electric solar panels on the south and west facing roofs of my home. Under the government feed in tariff scheme I have a guaranteed income of up to £1600 a year from the panels, which means they will pay for themselves in under 10 years then start generating a healthy profit.”
“The only problem with his current system is I don’t benefit from the free electricity the panels generate during the day. You seem what most people don’t realise is the government’s feed in tariff scheme gives you an income for the electricity generated, regardless of whether it’s used. In my house the panels are generating electricity in the day which I could use for free, but as no one is home most of this usually just goes straight onto the national grid.
“With the new EMMA device I can now benefit from this free electricity. It will use the power generated in the day to heat my hot water tank, which as a result which dramatically reduce the amount of gas I need to use to heat the house.”
Peter added: “Solar panels are one of the best investments you can make, particularly in the current climate, and now with the EMMA device available which will help cut your heating bills, they make a sound choice for people looking to cut the cost of their bills and become more eco friendly.”
Peter Mallinson, Swindon around 1 year, 7 months ago