Could renewable energy from rivers and lakes replace gas in homes?
In a exclusive article by The Independent on Tuesday 8th April 2014, it is being suggested that renewable energy from rivers and lakes could replace gas in our homes.
“In the first system of its kind in the UK, a heat pump in the Thames will provide hot water for radiators, showers and taps in nearly 150 homes and a 140-room hotel and conference centre in south London, saving 500 tons of carbon emissions from being released every year into the atmosphere.”
H.D. Services Ltd believe that water from underground aquifers is one of the most efficient, environmentally friendly and effective renewable heat sources – it is the reason we expanded into the renewables sector.
The Independent went on to say:
“Mr Davey has asked officials at the Department of Energy and Climate Change (Decc) to draw up a nationwide map showing where renewable heat can be drawn from water to explore the potential of heat pumps.”
While the article is predominantly about the use of standing water (lakes, rivers etc) here at HD Services Ltd we know that ground water is also a fantastic source of renewable heat and that Open-Loop ground source heat pumps offer some of the most competative efficiencies in the heat pump market place. For more information on the efficiencies of SOLECO heat pumps, please click here.
While the installation in Richmond utilises the heat retained by the water in the Thames, it is important to remember that one of the advantages of utilising ground water is that it may be suitable to feed a domestic water supply, subject to analysis. This is not possible with the installation at Richmond.
It is also worth pointing out that the Ecodan heat pump being used is not a dedicated Open-Loop Heat Pump, which means the overall efficiency of the heat pump will be affected. SOLECO heat pumps are designed to use ground water as a heat source, therefore efficiencies are consistent.
To read the full article in The Independent, please click here.