Renewable energy firm celebrates installation of 100th heat pump

A NEWTON Aycliffe renewable energy company is celebrating the installation of its 100th heat pump.

Revolution Power achieved the milestone when it installed one at Sedgefield police station.

The company provides renewable energy sources for domestic, commercial, community, education and agricultural projects.

Established in 2006, the 100 heat pumps have a total capacity of 1.1MW and will save more than tonnes of carbon dioxide per year.

Joanne Hughes, estates and energy officer for Durham Constabulary, said: "As a public sector organisation, the police must be seen to be setting an example in working towards phase two of the Government's low-carbon building project.

"Revolution Power has already managed to save us a great deal of energy and we are pleased to have cut our carbon footprint." The company has already installed a heat pump at Southmoor Police Station, near Stanley, and has more in the pipeline.

A ground source heat pump working to its maximum efficiency produces 4.5KW of heat for every kilo watt of electricity used.

Wayne Richardson, managing director of Revolution Power, was delighted to achieve the landmark.

He said: "I am very proud of my team and all the hard work they have put in since we established.

It has been a tough couple of years with the recession hitting.

However, we are in a much stronger position going into the new year than we were last year.

With our continued growth, I'm aiming to be at 200 by this time next year."

Also playing an important role on the police station projects and helping Revolution Power secure its 100th heat pump installation was Shaun Ackerley, of Parsec Consulting Engineers.

Powering forward with pump plans

A RENEWABLE energy company has installed its 100th heat pump as the business continues to grow. Revolution Power has installed a heat pump at Sedgefield police station, County Durham, which is the 100th the company has installed since it opened in 2006.

The 100 heat pumps installed by the Newton Aycliffebased business have a total capacity of 1.1 megawatts and will save more than 54 tonnes of carbon dioxide each year.

Wayne Richardson, managing director of Revolution Power, said he is looking to install another 100 pumps within the next year.

He said: "I am delighted to achieve this landmark and am very proud of my team and all the hard work they have put in since we established.

It has been a tough couple of years, however we are in a much stronger position going into the new year than we were last year. With our continued growth, I'm aiming to be at 200 by this time next year."

Co Durham firm wins 'green' contract for Tyneside development

A pioneering Newton Aycliffe energy company has won a contract to supply an eco-friendly heating system to an existing community centre on Tyneside.

Revolution Power, based at the Technology Court, Aycliffe Industrial Estate, Newton Aycliffe, will install and commission a ground source heating system to support the community centre's vision of being carbon neutral.

Following the launch in July 2007 by North Tyneside's mayor this contract represents the next stage in Meadow Well's vision to provide a sustainable community centre to the people of North Shields.

Revolution Power will provide a Dimplex ground source heat pump at the community centre, which is located on the once-notorious Meadow Well housing estate, which was ravaged by riots in 1999. It will complement a large solar installation and two wind turbines and enable the centre to benefit from substantial energy savings, while providing a future-proof heating solution. The sourcing pipe which draws heat from the ground will be 3 km long and is buried under the playing fields.

Following extensive market research of the best renewable energy providers, David Bell, the technical advisor at Meadow Well, selected Revolution Power based on its ability to understand the centre's requirements and provide a full service encompassing initial consultancy, design, project management, installation and commissioning of the final system.

Carole Bell, Meadow Well Connected's Project Manager, has secured three grants that will fund the installations. "We were looking for a company that was attached to one of the framework suppliers of the Low Carbon Buildings programme and we wanted a local company," she said.

"The company should also have the technical expertise and a proven track record in delivery this type project. After serious research, Revolution Power was selected as it matched all of the prerequisite requirements."

Wayne Richardson, Director, Revolution Power, said: "We are delighted to have been appointed to provide renewable energy solutions to the Meadows. Working with David Bell, our focus is to reduce the centre's heating bills within their vision of sustainability. The chosen combination of both ground source and solar technology will save thousands of tons of carbon emissions."

Tony Turnbull, Sustainable Development and Transport Partnership Coordinator at North Tyneside Council, said: "The aim of the centre is to be 'carbon zero' and eventually to transfer electricity back to the grid."

Dairy Farmers to Benefit from Cheap Hot Water

Dairy Farmers to Benefit from Cheap Hot Water

Article from White Stuff - Grants for a Hot Tin Roof

Hadrian Farm Services, the north's leading supplier of dairy equipment have developed a method of heating water for use in dairy parlours which will give dairy farmers cheaper hot water, reduce energy costs and is eco friendly.

The Hadrian Eco Water Heating System has been designed by Malcolm Archer Hadrian's Managing Director, uses the latest technology to take heat generated from the milk cooling process, rather that allowing it to be vented into the atmosphere. The system is fully supported by Revolution Power renewable energy consultants of Darlington, as well as by the major dairies as a cost effective method of heating water in milking parlours. Malcolm Archer said that the development was a result of the milk roadmap which was produced by the Sustainable Consumption and Production Taskforce of the Dairy Supply Chain Forum, in order to reduce the environmental impact of liquid milk.

The equipment captures the energy used in cooling liquid milk in a heat exchanger, and couples this with solar power, and together this is used to heat water necessary for the hygiene process within the parlour.

Wayne Richardson, Director of Revolution Power said this is a cost efficient and eco friendly solution to the production of hot water within dairy parlours.

The product was launched at the Yorkshire Show at Harrogate in July and a grant of up to 40% of the capital cost will be available through the Local Regional Development Agencies.

The benefit of this unique system is that it includes solar energy as well as heat recovery, said Malcolm, who eventually hopes to develop the system to be used in other situations.

Initial indications from the equipment already installed are favourable, and despite the lack of direct sunshine, the solar panels are proving to be effective, said Malcolm.

Graham Wilkinson Agricultural Manager Arla Foods UK said he was impressed with the system and acknowledged the work done by Hadrian Farm Services and felt it highlighted the work being done throughout the dairy industry to improve its energy consumption. As well as being economical to use it also reduces the amount of electricity for milk cooling and water heating, and as the average dairy farm heats between 100 to 200 gallons of water a day it is a significant saving, said Graham.

Chance to learn more about renewable power

A SUPPLIER of renewable power will showcase a new eco-friendly heating system at an open day this weekend.

Piercebridge Grange, a development of five barn conversions, just off the A67, to the west of Darlington, will be open to potential buyers on Saturday.

It will also give Revolution Power the chance to show off the Heat Pumps and solar thermal heating systems that will power the homes.

Dr Matt Hogan, Director of Darlington-based Revolution Power, said: "Climate change is a very big topic at the moment with many people seeking to find new ways of heating their homes.

"We have been involved in many successful projects, and have taken this experience, together with some knowledge of when things haven't worked out, to ensure a satisfactory outcome to every project."

The system will help to save 18 tons of carbon every year and reduce occupiers' heating bills by up to 50 per cent.

Dr Hogan added: "At the open day, you'll have the opportunity to see the latest technology in heat pump design and to talk to our clients and our engineers."

Revolution Power specialises in providing expert advice and installation services to reduce financial and environmental costs.

The green, green gas of home

DAVE Butters was already a fan of renewable energy - solar panels, wind turbines and heat pumps. But when he found that it would cost £8,500 for his newly-built house to be connected to the gas mains, the green, clean fuel option was a definite winner.

Dave, a self-employed builder, has now had a ground source heat pump fitted in his five bedroom home in Coundon, near Bishop Auckland, which heats enough water for his family, including wife, Vicky, and sons James, 17, Lez, 15 and Ethan, six. His plans for the future include fitting two solar panels and a wind turbine - in short, he hopes his home will become his own mini power station so he can say goodbye to energy bills.

"I've always been into energy efficiency but building the house has really given me the opportunity to get involved in it," he says. "At the end of the day, in 20, 30 or 40 years' time, people are going to be struggling to get energy. Plus, by doing this, it will still be a modern house in 20 years' time."

According to the environmental advice organisation, the Energy Saving Trust, renewable energy - energy which occurs naturally in the environment - is an issue which is on three quarters of peoples' minds. A recent survey released by the Trust said 74 per cent of people in the North-East were considering turning their homes into mini power stations capable of generating their own energy.

Says Steve Hunter, director of the North-East based Energy Saving Trust Advice Centre: "With climate change constantly in the news and energy prices rising steeply, public interest has never been so high.

'As our homes are responsible for more than a quarter of the UK's carbon dioxide emissions - the leading cause of climate change - it is extremely positive that people in the North-East are keen to reduce their homes' impact on the environment through energy efficient technologies."

The ground source heat pump is housed in the corner of Dave's garage. The system works by taking its heat from pipes which are buried under his driveway. The pump pushes a cold fluid, usually a mixture of water and anti-freeze, into the network of buried pipes. As the fluid enters the pipes, it gradually absorbs heat energy so that the fluid returns to the pump warmer than when it left. The pump then "upgrades" it to a higher level to provide heating.

Dave, 38, says he spent £18,000 on renewable technology at his home and sourced it from Revolution Power in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham.

"I'm into renewable energy and when I found out how much the gas board wanted I thought it was an ideal opportunity," says Dave. "They say in ten years' time it will have paid for itself but it will be a lot less for me because I didn't have to pay £8,500 to the gas board."

In the bathroom upstairs, tucked neatly behind a cupboard under the eaves, Dave has had a heat recovery system fitted, which took a week to install. Two plastic air filters are fitted to the ceiling at the top of the house, one of which draws in the warm air which has risen to be recycled, and a second which pumps out cool air akin to air conditioning but without the damage to the environment - or the bills.

"So when we had the heatwave over the summer we were all nice and cool," he says.

The house also has energy efficient lightbulbs and thick insulation. "It's OK having energy efficiency but if you don't have the insulation what's the point?" says Dave.

The Energy Saving Trust, which is government funded, has advised more than 1,700 homeowners in the North-East about the benefits of installing renewable energy in their homes. Solar water heating can provide almost all of your hot water during the summer months and 50 per cent all year round. Even in cloudy weather the sun will provide enough energy for the panel. Alternatively, small scale wind energy can cut your electricity bill by £200 a year.

There are also opportunities to apply for grants to help with costs. The Department for Trade and Industry offers grants through its Low Carbon Buildings programme with the value of the grant depending upon the technology used and the size of the installation. But you must use a grant accredited installer.

Dave received a £1,500 grant from Npower for his work. He hopes eventually to produce enough energy to give some back to the National Grid - for which he will be paid. Proof, if ever he needed it, that it's been well worthwhile going green.

Here comes the sun…Renewable energy for the home
Renewable energy's time is here it seems. What with gas and electricity bills going through the roof, and climate change looming large, there has never been a better time to consider investing in renewable energy technology for your own home.

In this article, Matt Hogan of Revolution Power will explain the benefits of two little known technologies – heat pumps and solar water heating. Both ideally suited to our climate here in the north-east – its sunnier than you think!









By far the cheapest and most eco-friendly home-heating technology currently available is the heat-pump. A heat-pump is a type of central heating system, which literally pumps heat from outside your home into your heating system, like a fridge-freezer in reverse. The ground or air outside your home is a vast reserve of energy, heated by the sun. Systems for heating the home do so with amazing efficiency – typically around 400%. That means for every unit of electric energy used by your heat-pump, you will get 4 units worth of heat in the house. Bills for oil heated homes drop by around 60%, electrically heated homes by 75%, with large reductions in CO2 emitted. The savings are potentially huge.

Another highly effective solar renewable energy solution is solar water heating. Solar panels are installed on the roof, and water is slowly pumped through them, collecting heat from the sun. Harvesting the sun's heat is up to 5 times more efficient than using the same area of solar photovoltaics to generate electricity. A well-designed system will provide 50-60% of annual domestic hot water needs, slashing bills & carbon emissions for around 30 years.

Revolution Power Ltd is a local company specialising in the supply and installation of renewable energy solutions. For further advice do not hesitate to call Matt on 01325 320910.