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Keston Rising to Meet Lpg/Solar Demand

While we love to complain about the weather, the UK still has enough sunshine to make solar water heating a practical solution when partnered with another water heating source, such as lp gas.

Even if diffused through clouds, the UK still gets enough sun that the energy can be collected and used by a solar heating system. But, due to the unreliable nature of the British climate, solar power is not a total solution and must be partnered with an alternative water heating source, such as lpg gas, in order to provide hot water all year round.

Keston Boilers was one of the first UK manufacturers to deliver a completely future ready boiler range, Qudos, which links with an auxillary heating source, such as solar, to ensure the most efficient technology is managing hot water requirements. Qudos is fully lpg enabled, allowing consumers the option to further enhance their carbon cutting measures.

John Forster, sales and marketing director for Keston, said: “There is no doubt that the solar thermal market is growing fast. After a number of false dawns, increased funding for the consumer and clear initiatives from the Government regarding renewables, including the Microgeneration Strategy and the Low Carbon Buildings Programme, mean the simplicity and accessibility of solar make it a prime contender in the water heating market.”

Keston solar qDuet is a prefabricated solution incorporating a pre-piped, prewired system with a Qudos 28S modulating condensing boiler, 210-litre spa twin double coil cylinder, and all associated controls for lp gas fired heating, hot water and solar thermal hot water. Keston solar panels come as pre-packaged kits, two or three panels designed for either flat or pitched roofs and available with or without Keston qSpa Twin 210 or 300 litre unvented cylinders.

For more complex projects, Keston offers any combination of components within the solar pack to suit individual requirements. A differential controller that automatically switches the system on if the temperature of the panel is higher than that of the hot water storage cylinder controls each solar pack.

Over a year, a solar thermal heating system will supply about 60 per cent of the hot water requirements of an average house. During the summer, a solar heating system can supply virtually all the hot water needed, with water temperatures up to 70-85C. Even in winter, the system can reduce water heating costs by around 20 per cent.

John said: “Solar thermal has the advantage of being one of the oldest of the renewable solutions so has been tried and tested over many years. With regulatory forces behind it and growing awareness of the need for energy efficiency in the home amongst consumers, the demand for solar is steadily rising. As a result, installers need to be prepared to meet customers’ requirements in order to remain competitive.

“For those consumers without access to mains gas who wish to further enhance their carbon reducing measures, lp gas produces lower greenhouse gas emissions compared to other alternative energy supplies in every application it is used, from stationary applications, such as water heating, space heating, cooking and industrial boilers, to transportation applications. In combination with renewable sources, lpg gas can improve energy reliability while reducing overall lifecycle costs.

“For installers, upgrading their skills to include solar makes business sense and is a relatively simple process. A solar powered heating system uses skills and technology derived from a standard system, although additional health and safety precautions need to be employed in positioning and fixing the roof panels. The main difference is the water cylinder, as a twin coil tank is required – one coil to carry hot water from the condensing boiler as usual, the other to carry hot water from the solar panel. When combined with a future ready heating system, such as Qudos, the controls monitor the level of hot water received from the solar panel and, if it is insufficient for the building’s needs, will instruct the boiler to supplement the supply.

“Whilst solar thermal installations are not complex, they do need to be done correctly. Keston’s prefabricated systems allow for minimum error but, to cover all angles, training and assistance in both specifying and installation techniques is available.

“Keston’s solar kits feature all the necessary equipment to install a fully functional solar thermal hot water system. Combined with Keston’s range of problem solving products and services, which include its unique flue requirement – simply 50mm PVC-C, standard kitchen wastepipe, providing a low cost and long-length flueing option – and weather compensation technology, Keston can provide renewable solutions where others can’t.”

Contact Keston Boilers on 0208 462 0262 www.keston.co.uk

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