BSEE-JAN22-PG26.qxp_Layout 1 08/12/2021 09:47 Page 26


BSEE


t’s been a tough couple of years for businesses, as COVID-19 restrictions have hit customer inquiries, reduced earnings and made even the simplest transactions complex.


Solar PV is emerging as a key renewable­energy technology for businesses on the road to Net Zero. Neal Goddard, sales manager for Solarwatt UK and Ireland, explains why


Yet despite inflation fears and post- Brexit uncertainty, the economy is rebounding strongly and businesses are investing to ensure they’re well placed to grow. Much of that activity is directed at energy. If it wasn’t there already, November’s COP26 talks aimed on climate change have put sustainability at the top of the business agenda. A growing number of misfortunes, from drought and flood to crop failure and migration, are blamed on global warming. Polls show public and consumer concerns over Britain’s environmental future are rising.


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The UK has committed to bring all greenhouse gas emissions to Net Zero by 2050, so we can expect new laws and regulations affecting companies large and small. People are not only looking at their own and their governments’ behaviour in all this – they’re watching business behaviours too.


Smart companies are turning to clean energy to save money and lessen reliance on utility suppliers while also showing they care for customers, staff and other stakeholders by reducing their CO2 emissions.


Many are choosing rooftop- generated solar photovoltaic (‘PV’), not least because it provides the cheapest electricity in history (source: International Energy Agency). Despite sometimes cloudy skies, the UK and Ireland have more than enough sunlight to power PV panels.


Solar took off in 2010 with the introduction of the Feed-in Tariff. The Government subsidy prompted spending by householders and businesses keen to make money selling electricity back into the grid. Technical improvements and increased affordability meant that when ministers closed FiT to new applications in April 2019, solar was firmly established as a green energy technology.


Investment lagged Europe, but rising energy prices and reduced reliance on North Sea oil and gas have gradually led to a rethink, and while 2021 saw record growth in rooftop solar capacity (source: Solar Energy UK), we’re a long way from green-energy investment levels in, say, Germany.


Solar has become progressively more attractive to businesses for several reasons. Many are worried about energy prices, which have risen fast. There are also growing concerns over supply, given the UK’s partial reliance on energy imports and the transition from fossil fuels to electricity, not least for electric vehicles.


For most entrepreneurs, the focus is on the bottom line, so any opportunity to address revenue- sapping fluctuations is worth exploring.


Taken together, a number of technical improvements have transformed PV performance, such as bifacial panels, which produce power on either side; half-cell modules, producing higher outputs; and energy management software, to optimise electricity flows in a building.


Glass-glass panels or ‘modules’ have proved transformational. Since 1998, we’ve been developing PV panels whose electricity-generating


RENEWABLES Solar PV leads businesses to Net Zero


solar cells are protected, front and back, by a stable glass sheet. The modules are very light yet extremely resilient, durable and produce stable yields.


All Solarwatt glass-glass modules are manufactured exclusively in Germany and we’re now the European market leader in this technology. The panels are popular – we added a further production line at its Dresden headquarters this year – part of a €100m investment programme.


Business and public-sector customers value enjoy a 30-year warranty on both product and performance and free, give-year FullCover insurance. This


considerably de-risks any investment and reassures users about our standards of quality and support. Solarwatt systems are installed in factories, offices, stores, farms, schools and government offices. Innovation that benefits customers is crucial. One of our models is licensed in Germany as a construction material, adding numerous options for eco-conscious firms.


Smart battery storage allows users to store energy generated by day


for later use, when you need it. Combined, the best systems solar and storage solutions can deliver up to 80% self-sufficiency. The modular and expandable Battery flex system, developed with the global auto manufacturer BMW, allows firms to add capacity as their business grows.


Another solar driver that’s growing is sector coupling, where renewable technologies complement each other to cut emissions and control costs, so electricity solar-generated on site can both power air source heat pumps and recharge EVs. Our work is about much more than technology. Hand-picked for their skills and dedication, our installation partners receive the highest standards in ongoing training, marketing and technical support. And because sustainability starts at home, we constantly evaluate and optimise our production and processes and increase our recycling rates, and are committed to procuring energy-efficient products and services that help improve energy-related performance.


www.solarwatt.com Salthouse Hotel, Ballycastle, Northern Ireland


Pearse McHenry established The Salthouse Hotel as an extension of the family farm near Ballycastle in coastal Northern Ireland.


The success of the four-star establishment – motto: sustainable luxury – has prompted increased investment, and plans are advanced for more accommodation and a second restaurant to add to its 24 bedrooms and seven self-catering eco-lodges.


Key to this has been investment in renewable energy. Guests come not only for the spas and stunning views to Fairhead – location of Game of Thrones scenes, and distant Scotland, but also to experience sustainability. “Climate change concerns have been growing and COP26 has only added to that. American and other guests want to know they’re being sustainable when they stay – it’s a real draw for them,” said Pearse. “Being carbon- negative should make no difference to accommodation, food and service standards.”


The Salthouse is carbon-negative, its energy performance certificate (EPC) showing minus 18, as the business generates 220kw from 700 Solarwatt panels and a further 225kw from a wind turbine. All heating is provided by air source heat pumps, powered by the self-generated energy.


As it’s an area of outstanding natural beauty, some panels are roof-mounted but most are ground-fixed nearby, a restriction that won’t apply to most sites. Using solar has supercharged the competitive position of the hotel and eco-village. “In 18 months electricity prices have gone from 13p/kWh to 32p. We wouldn’t want to pay those prices and we don’t have to,” said the Salthouse director. “The solar system is paying for itself and more.” Extra peace of mind comes from the industry-leading 30- year product and performance warranty on the Solarwatt glass-glass panels. “They’re called ‘the generational module’ because with their longevity and quality, you can forget about whether they’ll keep performing or withstand the sea and salt air – they will, but we’re protected.” Attractive design is another key factor in the hotel’s appeal and the roof panels are integrated into the building, so guests walking across the courtyard either don’t notice them at all or remark on their good looks. “With construction material prices so high, we save a fair bit on installation as the panels replace roof tiles that we might have bought,” said Pearse.


After the extension is complete, he plans to evaluate energy performance with a view to installing Solarwatt Battery flex storage.


26 BUILDING SERVICES & ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER JANUARY 2022 Read the latest at: www.bsee.co.uk


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