The development of 49 properties consisting of 4 bedroom houses and 2 bedroom apartments, required a heating and hot water system which was capable of using solar energy, and was also highly responsive and energy efficient.

A SolarPod solar transfer station linked to Gledhill’s GulfStream, which combines a high efficiency gas-fired condensing boiler and thermal store in a single appliance, was used to capture the energy generated by the roof-mounted solar panels for use in central heating and hot water.

Heat created from the solar panels passes through a high efficiency heat exchanger to feed directly into the SolarPod water store. The hot water from the Pod then naturally circulates into the GulfStream thermal store.

The thermal store, with a large capacity and virtually no standing losses, retains the heat produced by the solar panels until it is needed. The store’s intelligent controls tell it when to activate the condensing boiler within the GulfStream appliance, to supplement the solar panels by ‘topping up’ the temperature within the store.

The hot water within the store can then be circulated through the central heating system, or used to heat mains pressure domestic water passing through a heat exchanger linked to the store.

By using standard Gledhill thermal storage appliances, such as GulfStream linked to a SolarPod solar transfer station, the system takes maximum advantage of the energy captured by solar panels.

It also extends to householders the principal benefits of mains pressure 'power shower' hot water performance, offers ultra-fast warm up for the central heating system, and is capable of meeting high simultaneous demand - 35 litres/minute through 35°C.

The energy efficiency of the SolarPod when combined with a Gledhill thermal store can bring significant savings, and during the summer is able to meet almost all of the hot water demands of a family home.

In addition, GulfStream incorporates Gledhill's unique SWITCH emergency back up system. In the event of the boiler or the solar panels failing to operate SWITCH offers an instant alternative heating and hot water source for householders, by employing a high performance electric heating unit with performance equivalent to a 30,000 BTU boiler.

Houghton Gledhill, chairman of Gledhill Water Storage explains: “Gledhill appliances have for many years been used by solar power companies as the most efficient stores for use with alternative and renewable energy, significantly reducing water and space-heating costs. It is the only system that captures renewable energy for space heating and water heating, while also giving householders the benefits of thermal storage.”