FETA’s Terry Seward brings you up to speed on the role of heat pumps as an effective means of exploiting renewable energy.

As part of its drive to reduce carbon emissions across its estate, the National Trust has replaced two oil-fired boilers at Sudbury Hall in Derbyshire with two 150 kW STU wood-pellet biomass boilers from Hoval. They were specified following a feasibility study by Lorien Engineering Solutions and visits to local Hoval installations.

Green Gate Mechanical Services is promoting its ability to offer a full design-and-build service for renewable energies throughout the UK on its new web site. Russell Warren of Green Gate says that the company has recently expanded its renewable-energy department in recognition of growing demand in the building-services sectors.

Air- and ground-source heat pumps are now officially recognised as sources of renewable by the EU Directive on the Promotion of Renewable Energy Sources, following its publication in the Official Journal.

Marchweeke Farm in Devon has installed a water-supply system powered by wind and solar energy. The farm specialises in home-produced meats and poultry which are delivered direct to customers’ homes.

Nigel Blandford draws on 25 years’ experience in the biomass sector to offer practical advice on getting the best from biomass boilers. He is currently managing a £750 000 project to increase the uptake of biomass energy systems in the north west of England.

Calorex heat pumps have been installed, or are now being installed, in over 2400 homes throughout the UK. The saving in CO2 is significant, as sales director Tony Barnes explains: ‘At a conservative 3 t per year per house, that is over to 7000 t per year.’

The DHW requirements of a school in Derbyshire are met by a combination of solar thermal and continuous-flow water heaters.

Solar energy is combined with oil to deliver domestic hot water for the new dormitory block at Brymore School of Rural Technology in Somerset. This school educates boys from 13 to 17 and differs from many other secondary schools by offering hands-on experience for learning through its organic working farm and gardens.

Azure Natural Energy Systems has notched up its second Heat Pump Award. The company, which is an approved installer of Dimplex heat pumps, won the installer of the year award, adding to its success last year as joint winner of the non-domestic installation of the year category.

Renewable energy is potentially inefficient. It is how you apply it that is the key to reducing carbon emissions, as Steve Cooper explains.

Heat-pump specialist Dimplex has welcomed the extension of phase 2 of the Low Carbon Buildings Programme until April 2011. An additional £45 million has been allocated to the LCBP, £35 million of which has been directed to phase 2 (the public-sector stream). The extension of the scheme will support the development of renewable technologies until the introduction of feed-in tariffs and the renewable-heat incentive.

Biomass boilers made by HDG in Germany are available in the UK through Euroheat. The range includes wood chip, shavings and pellet firing with outputs in single boilers up to 200 kW and the ability to be installed in modules.

Solar thermal is an accepted part of the micro-generation market — but how do you get the best from it? Paul Honeyman offers his advice.