Truly affordable hot water has arrived in the UK and is set to take over from traditional hot water heaters that use gas or electric, and even existing solar thermal and PV systems. Ultima Solar of Chelmsford, Essex, has been given sole distribution rights in the UK for the Thermodynamic Panel, which is made in Spain.
Ultima Solar specializes in the manufacture and distribution of renewable energy products that enhance the green environment, and the new Thermodynamic panels and hot water cylinder system is the first of a raft of new renewable products that the company plans to introduce onto the UK market. This very exciting product combines tried and tested technology with an innovative system concept to produce hot water for a fraction of the cost of water heated using more traditional fuels.
They system comprises just two main components — an aluminium black-coated panel that is fitted externally either on the roof or wall and a cylinder and compressor unit housed in a fully insulated casing along with the necessary electronics. The system works in a similar way to a heat pump or fridge as it uses a non-toxic and ozone-friendly, sealed refrigerant to transfer heat to the domestic hot water. Its main source of energy is extracted from the outside air and includes solar, wind and rain.
Once the panel has extracted the energy from the atmosphere, it heats the refrigerant turning it into a gas, which is compressed to produce the heat that is transferred to the water held in hot water cylinder. The panel is capable of collecting the energy from both sides of the panel and this cycle is constantly repeated giving hot water at 55°C on-tap, 24/7. An added bonus is that the panel doesn’t have to be south facing; whether it’s facing south, east, west, or even north, it will still produce hot water!
The specially designed cylinder is made from high quality stainless steel and is for use on an unvented system. It is available in three capacities – 100 litres, 200 litres and 300 litres, catering for virtually all domestic hot water needs. A further feature that makes the Ultima Solar Thermodynamic cylinder superior to other products on the market is that the coil carrying the refrigerant is wound around the outside of the cylinder. This patented design means that the refrigerant cannot ever come into contact with the domestic water.
Commenting on the launch, Alistair Smit, Director for Ultima Solar (pictured above), said: “We are all very excited about this new product and have high expectations for it in the UK. It ticks all the boxes for a green, environmentally friendly product that will also give the end-user huge savings in their fuel bills. Statistics from a BRE (Building Research Establishment) report** reveal that 84% of domestic energy consumption is used for heating and hot water, and that energy consumption accounts for a massive 71% of domestic CO2 emissions. Thermodynamics is the future for hot water heating and is poised to change the way we heat hot water, not just in the UK, but also throughout the world.
“Running costs are impressive, with a week’s hot water for a household costing less than the price of a pint of beer! Furthermore, it can be installed in just one day, giving minimal disturbance to the customer.”
