Northern Solar Presentation – 12th August at 8 Sydenham Ave
A small group of people from Transition Town Liverpool (TTL) and The Avenues Neighbourhood
Network (TANN) is planning to install domestic solar thermal heating panels (for water heating) with
the aid of whatever grants are available to individuals and community groups. We understand from
a previous meeting with the Chester based Solartwin representative, that NWDA (North West
Development Agency) offers 50% grants and a representative from the Energy Savings Trust,
Heather, told us that additional individual grants of £400 are available from EST. Typical installation
costs are £3,500 falling to £1,350 if both grants are awarded. At a recent meeting, Northern Solar, a
government accredited Liverpool based company talk us through the benefits of solar thermal
heating in general and their installation in particular and offered to mount a demonstration using
small working models which will be arranged as soon as possible.\\
The Northern Solar installation uses evacuated tubes filled with glycol (a sugar derived substance)
which transfers heat extremely efficiently and heats the water cylinder via a heat exchange unit.
Installation costs would include new, where possible, larger water cylinders. Combi boilers can be
fitted with components to make them compatible and huge efficiency savings( up to £700 p.a) can
be made on combi running costs over and above the savings from solar heated water. Solar panels
cut the average heating bill by 1/3 and even in February to October the Northern Solar system will
heat water to an adequate temperature. On cloudy days even in winter a cylinder temperature of 45
degrees can be achieved. Unlike the Solartwin system which uses a direct heating system and silicon
tubes, Northern Solar panels need to be refilled with antifreeze every three years at a cost of £65.
Both the Solartwin and the Northern Solar representatives emphasised that householders will need
to change their heating habits to gain the maximum benefit form solar thermal. Cold fill machines
can be adapted to take hot water and electric showers replaced by mains shower systems on vented
cylinders and supplementary water heating systems must be used at the right times of day.
The next step for those interested in joining this “Energy Co-operative” is to contact one or both of
these companies to get an individual survey and estimate and to keep in touch as a group via our
group e-mail. I will contact NWDA to check out the community grant situation. Please talk to your
friends and neighbours about this so we can get a solid group together and maybe proceed to other
energy saving projects.
Information souces
Northern Solar Bill Tyrer “Dallium” 01695 423802
Solartwin Ben Parker 01244 403407 Energy Savings Trust www.enerysavingtrust.org.uk
Solar Trade Association (registered trade body)
Green Streets –British Gas- Working for Communities (20 members)
The Heat project gives information on available grants theheatproject.co.uk
Blue orchid Management Consultancy (to locate available grants)
Theheatproject.co.uk
REAL (Renewable Energy Group Lancashire) Northern Solar’s Bill Tyrer is a representative on this
body which gives grants to small businesses)
Dinah Dossor 8 Sydenham Ave Liverpool L173AX 0151 733 8282