How to Get the most from Your Renewable Energy Sources: Sunamp Heat Batteries
As specialists in designing extremely energy-efficient homes, at ACA we are often on the lookout for exciting new forms of energy-saving technology. Right on our doorstep in East Lothian, Sunamp design and produce non-toxic, compact Heat Batteries that can store heat from a variety of applications – including many renewable and low-carbon technologies.
We’ve been quite intrigued by Sunamp as it has developed; it has emerged as a sensible option for Self Builders who want to get the most from their renewables. The Heat Batteries deliver heat and hot water on demand, and work with the likes of Photovoltaic (PV) panels. Earlier this year we put our questions to Sunamp’s Joan Pisanek, to find out a little bit more, and here’s what she had to tell us about the Sunamp Heat Batteries:
Can you talk us through how the Sunamp Heat Batteries work?
Based on the same principle as hand warmers, Sunamp Heat Batteries contain inorganic, non-toxic, salt based Phase Change Materials (PCM) which absorb and release thermal energy during the process of melting and freezing. When a PCM freezes, it releases a large amount of energy in the form of latent heat at a relatively constant temperature.
What are the biggest benefits of installing a Sunamp system in a Self Build home?
Sunamp Heat Batteries are easy to install, modular, flexible and space saving. They deliver high flow-rate hot water on demand, as well as dramatic efficiency gains and cost savings.
Not only that, the Sunamp system beats hot water tanks and electric batteries for size, power and price. The bespoke design can be tailored to meet exact requirements – and it is also easy to add additional storage to a system in the future if required.
HAVE YOU SEEN OUR PROJECT IN NORTHUMBERLAND?
Have a look at our low energy project in Northumberland that was built from Structural Insulated Panels and has installed an air-source heat pump.
Are there any other systems like Sunamp, or is it unique?
There are other phase change materials out there such as Palm Oil, but we haven’t seen any that work. We’ve spent many years developing this, working with some of the best experts in the field.
Can the Sunamp Heat Batteries be installed easily retrospectively, or is it best to plan its inclusion at design stage with architects?
Whilst it’s best to be able to plan for the system at design stage, it’s not difficult to retrofit the storage, as it can be used with a large number of heat sources.
We’ve completed a number of retrofit projects in social housing where we’ve changed the equipment in a cupboard without changing anything in the rest of the property. It is possible to include additional storage at the outset or add to the system at a later date.
Does the Sunamp system require regular maintenance, and how long will the battery last?
It’s a sealed system and there’s really not a lot that can go wrong, although we recommend an annual check just to ensure that filters are clear and electrolytic scale inhibitors, where required, are functioning.
The red cells are linked but not interdependent on each other, so in the unlikely event that a cell malfunctions the system will still work, with a little less capacity, until the cell can be replaced.
It has a very long life and we offer a 10 year warranty on the cells. Accelerated lifecycle testing is already over 14,000 cycles. Each cycle includes a charge and discharge which represents 35 years with no degradation.
HAVE YOU SEEN OUR PROJECT IN GLENEAGLES?
Have a look at our project in Gleneagles that has installed an air-source heat pump and featured in ‘Building the dream’ TV Show run by Charlie Luxton.
What does it cost for a Sunamp system, and do you supply PV panels too?
The prices range from £1,700 for a 5kWh system, to £7,500 for a 40kWh store (excluding VAT and Install). We work with our partner Edison Energy, based in Glasgow, to provide a complete package including design and installation.
What are the typical financial paybacks over, say, a 20 year period?
The smallest Sunamp heat battery, SunampPV, will pay back in under ten years if installed with an existing SolarPV system. Larger systems will vary depending on what it’s being integrated with.
For example, we installed a large battery system with an air source heat pump in an all gas, 275sqM, 5 bedroom home in Edinburgh; saving around £1,200 per annum in fuel costs. The full install cost was £17,500 so payback was less than 15 years.
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Do they require specialist servicing?
No, and there are no installation requirements such as FGAS or MCS.
What is the desired heating system set-up (i.e. Airsource heat pumps, UFH, etc.)?
Sunamp Heat Batteries can work with any renewable system. It was designed to work with any heat source, so it will also work with Ground or Water Source heat pump, Solar thermal, Wind turbine or BioMass.
Most of our experience has been with SolarPV, Air Source Heat Pump and Grid Electricity, often with the three working together.
SunampPV works very well with SolarPV, and a gas combi, or as an electric water heater.
SunampStack works incredibly well with an ASHP. Our material melts at 58°C so we need a temperature of 60°C-62°C to melt it and for that reason we’ve chosen to work with the Daikin Altherma High temperature heat pump on a number of installations. The ASHP operates on the off peak tariff and the SunampStack stores the thermal energy to provide hot water and heating at any time.
It can feed directly into a wet radiator system, or be blended down for UFH, as well as supplying domestic hot water for baths and showers from the same battery. It’s very versatile.
New build properties typically need low levels of heat and lots of hot water, whereas older properties need more heat. We can configure the battery to fit the need.
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Where do you see Sunamp in 5 years?
We’d like to see Sunamp become a Global name, and we are really excited about the future. There are just so many different ways to use the technology and heat stores; currently, systems for cars, buses and boats are all being developed.
Are there any other technologies that you are working on that you could tell our readers about?
We have started a project to palletise/containerise heat stores, and then move it to another location. This development will enable us to make use of waste heat and energy from stranded assets such as constrained wind turbines.
You can find more articles about other renewables below:
We’d like to thank Joan and the Sunamp team for their time and contribution to this week’s blog. If you would like more information about Sunamp products, click here!
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We are launching a new ITV program about home renovations and designs later this year. The filming is under way already and I just wondered whether you could help by sharing our details with some of your clients please? Or my contact number for anyone keen to get involved! We are looking for contributors all over England who are about to undergo a home renovation of any sort.
We are willing to mention any companies with thanks at the end providing us with contacts.
Twofour Broadcast is an award-winning TV production company known for shows such as Educating Yorkshire (Channel 4), The Real Marigold Hotel (BBC 2) and our recently aired series Chopping Block (ITV).
We’re currently looking for people who might want their current home renovation project featured on a brand new ITV1 daytime Homes series.
What makes this show different to other property renovation shows like Grand Designs for example, is it aims to focus primarily on the ‘before’ and ‘after’ of the owners’ renovation. By nipping out a lot of the build process in between, each programme can showcase several properties rather than just one – giving more inspiration and transformations for the viewer to be amazed by.
It would be perfect if we could get some people who have just moved into a house and are now looking to renovate their property – even if it’s just kitchen or the back garden. We would then compare the added value.
The show will briefly get to know the owners and find out why they want to carry out the work on their home and what advantage it will eventually give them. It will then cut straight to beautifully finished product in all its glory, with the owners proudly showing off their new renovation. There will be pre and post renovation valuations to act as a viewers’ guide to which types of work may give a more favourable return on investment. All in all its an entertaining and informative look at the varying types and scales of renovation we Brits carry out each year around the country.
Mid-afternoon shows like this on ITV can see more than a million people viewing so it can be a great place to shout about things and be seen.
I hope this has given you a bit more insight to the exciting new series we’re making and the people who can make it happen?
Our time frame for the renovations and shooting are between now and October for the work to be done by.
If you have any further questions please don’t hesitate to contact me on my number below.
We would be very grateful if you could share our facebook page.
Our facebook link is https://www.facebook.com/thehomegameitv/?fref=ts
My very best regards,
Marija Bersey
Tel. 01752727459
Mob.07811840323
http://www.twofourbroadcast.com
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Plymouth Office
Twofour Studios | Estover | Plymouth | PL6 7RG
switch + 44 (0) 1752 727 400 | fax + 44 (0) 1752 727 450
London Office
Kingsbourne House | 229-231 High Holborn | London | WC1V 7DA
switch + 44 (0) 207 438 1800 | fax + 44 (0) 207 438 1850
Cardiff Office
Gloworks | Heol Porth Teigr | Caerdydd/Cardiff | CF10 4GA
switch + 44 (0) 292 245 0000
This email and any attachments are confidential. If you are not the intended recipient, please notify the sender immediately by replying to this email, and then delete it without making copies or using it in any way. Twofour accepts no legal responsibility for the contents of the message. Any views expressed in the message are those of the sender and may not reflect the views of Twofour. Although any attachments to the message will have been checked for viruses before transmission, you are urged to carry out your own virus check before opening attachments, since Twofour accepts no responsibility for loss or damage caused by software viruses
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http://www.twofourbroadcast.com
@TwofourTweets
Plymouth Office
Twofour Studios | Estover | Plymouth | PL6 7RG
switch + 44 (0) 1752 727 400 | fax + 44 (0) 1752 727 450
London Office
Kingsbourne House | 229-231 High Holborn | London | WC1V 7DA
switch + 44 (0) 207 438 1800 | fax + 44 (0) 207 438 1850
Cardiff Office
Gloworks | Heol Porth Teigr | Caerdydd/Cardiff | CF10 4GA
switch + 44 (0) 292 245 0000
This email and any attachments are confidential. If you are not the intended recipient, please notify the sender immediately by replying to this email, and then delete it without making copies or using it in any way. Twofour accepts no legal responsibility for the contents of the message. Any views expressed in the message are those of the sender and may not reflect the views of Twofour. Although any attachments to the message will have been checked for viruses before transmission, you are urged to carry out your own virus check before opening attachments, since Twofour accepts no responsibility for loss or damage caused by software viruses
Thanks for the comment and your email, we will speak to a couple of our clients and get back to you.