Paul's blog: Public consultation for tidal energy in Guernsey

Today was the last day of the public consultation regarding tidal energy around Guernsey. I have submitted my “Renew Guernsey” campaign letter revamped from Jan 2008 original. Nothing much has changed. 

Let’s hope a holistic view as I suggest has a voice of sense about it and a also the economic urgency and imperative required. However I think it’s more of the same commission after commission until we decommission planet earth due to disinterest.

http://www.guernseyrenewableenergy.com/

Paul Fletcher

Paul's blog: Energy Savings Trust UK Heat Pump Study

I read the Guardian's report on the Energy Savings Trust's Heat Pump Study, that was published earlier today, they claimed that heat pumps 'fail as green devices'. Whilst I agree there some sub-par heat pumps out there, and badly installed, I don’t agree with the conclusion that they are not renewable energy devices.

What is required is a standard of COP, and operational criteria that qualifies the device as renewable energy powered. This is the reason why we use Mitsubishi. Its great isn’t it that the first time ever the planet can utilise renewable energy on a mass scale for heating that it gets dissed by green socialists, seemingly working on behalf of the oil companies.

A matter of minutes after I read the Guardian article, I read a Tweet from Dave Sowden.

"EST trial proves Heat pumps can perform well but specification, installation and usage are important - http://bit.ly/bpLWs1 #fb"

The link he posts outlines a report by Micro Power, which gives a far better analysis of the findings from the study. This is a must read to truly understand how Heat Pumps work as renewable energy devices.


It's part of the solar thermal versus heat pump/PVs debate which has no winners. We should be addressing the issue from all possible corners in the most appropriate way for the particular customer and particular building according to budget available.

Paul Fletcher

Paul's blog: Solar system refurb

Putting the finishing touches to a solar system yesterday. Fitting the sensor to the top end of the solar manifold, the hottest bit!

 Completing the refurb of an old system, to keep it going for another 15 years.

With the manifold panel securely fitted the screws will go in finger tight such is the fine engineering of the NEG Ecotube (www.riomay.com), then just make secure with a spanner.

Once insulated with armaflex we carefully paint it with anti uv paint to give long life to the material.

The solar system before the upgrade.

The completed upgrade.

Paul's blog: The bike goes to Jersey

Waiting at the ferry taking the bike over to Jersey for energy efficient customer care!

 Yamaha 600 XJN, I'm going to leave it at the airport so I don't need to get picked up so we can save time, money, and fuel!

My mission that day was to assist Dave (REE) set up the controls for the Mitsubishi Ground Source Heat Pump (first in Channel Islands), which got quite intense resolving issues such as finding the supposed internal logic that was to provide a delay to the ground loop pump interlock. Mits Tech told us they weren’t sure what the delay was, but we found there was none. This means we have to go back again and wire in our own timers. Issue was that the modulating start-up fed back and shut down the system before the ground loop pump had a chance to operate the interlock!

I was also due to go and see a client the other side of the island. The sun was to shine at the weekend, it did! However x amount of rain fell in x hours and i was in it. I would have been better off with a kayak. At one point i was riding down a river 100mm deep the length the road as far as i could see, and every 20 metres or so the water piled up in deep parts of the road to half a metre.

I got to town by the seat of my (wet) pants and i turned right, into relative dryness, and the water turned left. I windered where the hell it went. Next day i read the paper and saw the flooded homes.

Paul