Clear Skies Ahead For Gledhill
11/08/2003
Gledhill energy efficient solar storage units have been designated as 'Listed Products' for use under the government's 'Clear Skies' initiative. SysteMate Fitted With SolarPod Thermal Store
Grants of up to £500 can now be claimed for fitting of domestic solar systems that incorporate the SolarPod thermal store and SunSpeed cylinder by a Clear Skies Approved Installer, providing a powerful incentive to use Gledhill products as part of a solar heating and hot water system.

The simple yet highly effective SolarPod has been developed for use with solar panels to provide a universal transfer station for mains pressure thermal stores, and to supplement conventional heating sources. In a direct system where panels are freeze tolerant without any additives, SolarPod naturally circulates hot water into a main SysteMate sealed primary store, for supply to the home. In an Indirect system, hot water from the solar panels is passed through a high efficiency finned tube heat exchanger, heating the primary water in the SolarPod. This heat is then transferred to the BoilerMate main primary store, which provides central heating and hot water.

SunSpeed employs a specially designed 10kW-rated highly efficient finned tube coil to transfer heat from solar panels to either a conventional cylinder store or a Torrent indirect thermal store. SunSpeed replaces an existing cylinder as part of a solar system, and is suitable for use with most water systems.

The Clear Skies Grants scheme was instigated to provide both cash incentives and access to advice for householders and associations seeking to site renewable energy sources in their homes through accredited installers. The scheme is intended to lower domestic emissions of carbon monoxide, to improve efficiency, and reduce the amount of fossil fuels used to heat homes. Along with solar thermal power, it promotes the use of renewable ‘green’ technology such as wind turbines, small hydro-turbines, ground source heat pumps, room heaters and wood-fuelled stoves and boiler systems.