Another Record Breaker – Renewables Provide Over Half of Our Electricity

Renewables On The Rise

Another record has been broken! Yesterday, Wednesday 7th June, saw the UK provide more than half of our electricity from renewable sources. A combination of plenty of solar and wind energy, along with some hard working hydro and biogas/biomass plants produced more electricity than coal and gas stations together.

This indicates a step in the right direction, let’s see and hope that the new government furthers this by investing in a growing renewable market and not look backwards towards shale gas, coal and natural gas to feed our energy market.

Free Energy Anyone?

Solar Thermal Installation at Mayles, Swansea, Wales

Mayles is a populated suburb of Swansea with access to Clyne Gardens and a common located on Gower. It is a relatively hilly and wooded area within easy access to Swansea City Centre.

The Problem and its Solution:
Clients got in touch with Limitless Energy as they wanted to make their home more energy efficient and environmentally friendly. Their home is a 4 bedroom detached house with 2 bathroom suites. Being a large family and having a recent condensing gas boiler fitted we realised that the maximum potential would be to reduce their hot water costs and contribute to their heating when possible.

We therefore installed a Daikin two panel solar thermal system and attached it to a 300l Gledhill thermal store. This system was installed on their south facing roof with no shading what so ever and so provides the maximum energy capture available.

The Benefits:
This solar thermal installation saves our customers upto 80% of their hot water demand and because it’s attached to a thermal store it can also provide some heating when excess energy is being produced. The system is eligible for the government RHI scheme and pays the family over £330 annually with the complete savings and earnings over the 7 year period totalling over £2,500

Home Devices and Their Energy Consumption

Energy Intensive Devices

Technology now means that the majority of us have become dependant on devices to get us through our daily lives, but how much energy are these devices using? This will of course depend upon the age and efficiency of each device, however we’ve got some averages to help make you think about what devices you need to update or change your behaviour.

So, this will not come as a surprise, but fridges, freezers, electric cookers and tumble dryers come with the highest running costs. The most being freezers using around 300kWh/annum and B rated tumble dryers consuming around 280kWh/annum. If you’re looking to reduce your energy consumption and you’ve got some of these devices with are old, then it’s definitely time to look at updating them to improve their efficiency. Televisions depend on whether you have a LCD or Plasma, LCD consumes around 190kWh/annum and plasma considerably more, and your wireless router uses around 60kWh/annum.

What else can we do to help reduce our consumption except for buying new devices? Simple, turn them off standby when your not using them. This has been said so many times before, but it really works. Turn off your electric toothbrush charger, printer, router, phone charges, desktop computers, TV’s etc… Obviously you can’t turn off your fridge or freezer, but turning off your wireless router helps not only with your home consumption, but also the global consumption due to increased server communication globally.

Having Problems with your Biomass? – We can Help!

Biomass Boiler Repair at Rhossili, Gower, Wales

Rhossili is located at the end of the beautifully picturesque Gower Peninsular, which was designated the first Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in the UK. The village and surrounding area are steeped in history. The prominent wreck of the Helvetia, which ran aground on Rhossili Bay in November 1887 bears witness to the challenging weather conditions and the tales of our ancestors, who lured boats ashore to plunder their hold. Being located at the most western tip of Gower it’s not a surprise that the properties are off the gas grid and some even off mains electricity.

The Problem and its Solution:
Limitless Energy were asked to help with a problematic biomass boiler at the commercial look out station situated at the very end of Rhossili itself. The property has no hot water, gas or electricity, but requires heat for the occupants during the day who keep watch at the station. Currently installed is a small EcoTec 500 pellet biomass boiler which has been in for over 7 years but always given trouble.

The long standing problems we found with the current system was user error and poor electrical supply. The property relies on generating and storing a small amount of electricity via a turbine suppling power to the radios, lights, and the auger and ignition of the pellet biomass boiler stove. We diagnosed that the supply was sufficient due to the exposed location and size of turbine but the storage was not adequate for the demand. When the demand increased the supply could not provide enough power to ignite and run the auger effectively. We therefore recommended they increase their storage, which they subsequently did, and the problem solved. The user error was simply lack of understanding and so we provided full detailed instructions on how to operate the system efficiently and correctly.

The Benefits:
Our customers now benefit from a reliable, cheap renewable heating and power generation system. They have full understanding on how it works and can worry no longer as they’ve taken out and annual service contract and know that we are always on the end of the phone.

Introducing Robert!

I’m Robert Harvey, the founder of Limitless Energy. It began from discovering the lack of trusted, high quality Renewable, Heating and Plumbing companies. Personally, being passionate about quality, affordability, sustainability and good, individually tailored, customer service, I felt it was a must for me to offer the service I believe in.

I am delighted and excited to have been able to set up my own family-business which brings together my skills and passions, and am looking forward to working with you.

Why Limitless Energy?

Limitless Energy is your friendly, local, small renewable, heating and plumbing company with over 60 years’ combined experience. Being small, but big on experience, enables us to provide the very best personal service but at affordable price.

Not only do we have a great understanding of the sector, we are also highly qualified, ensuring you have a system which is installed by professionals. Our regulatory bodies, insurances and warranties provide you with piece of mind that your system is covered during installation and long after.

Air Source Heat Pumps – Perfect for a New Build

Air Source Heat Pump Installation at Craig Cefn Parc, Swansea, Wales

Craig Cefn Parc is a small tranquil village located just north of the M4 surrounding Swansea. It boarders the beautiful Mawr ward which is ideally located for walking enthusiasts who still want to be close to the city of Swanea. Some of the houses in Craig Cefn Parc have access to mains gas, however many don’t due to the village being well spread out.

The Problem and its Solution:
Limitless Energy were asked to design, install and commission a Renewable Heating System for a domestic client building their new 5 bedroom 4 bathroom dream home in Craig Cefn Parc. With the customers having little knowledge on renewable heating systems they were pleased that we could take the stress out of their hands to design and install the perfect system for them and their home.

To determine the heating and hot water demand we conducted a full room by room heat loss calculation so that we knew the requirement for each area within the house. Limitless Energy selected to install a split Panasonic 12kW T-Cap Air Source Heat Pump, 300l Unvented Hot Water cylinder and full underfloor heating on the ground and the first floor. The option for a split unit was taken so that the outdoor collection unit could be positioned a considerable distance from the house to improve aesthetics and acoustics.

The Benefits:
The customer now has a trouble free virtually silent heating and hot water system which can operate with efficiencies of around 370%. They have complete control over the temperature of their house and receive 7.51p per kW totalling to an annual payment of around £1,370. Their estimated savings against a fossil fuel system, and payments from the government, equate to £13,545 over the eligible 7 year RHI scheme.

UK Beats Solar Generation Record in March

Long May this Weather Continue!

This excellent spring weather is doing the world of good for the planet. While we are all enjoying the sun for BBQ’s, walks and swims, the UK’s solar panel world is breaking records for production of renewable energy.

A sunny weekend in March meant that solar power produced 6 times more electricity than coal fired power stations. As this weather continues we’re sure that more records will be broken.

Smart Heating – Efficient, Convenient and Fun

Smart Heating – What’s it all about?

With everything around us becoming more connected and intelligent everyday, it’s time to think about updating your heating system with new smart heating controls.

You can now control your heating and hot water system on the move, whether at work or returning from holiday, with intelligent wireless heating controls. There are options to zone each room of your house so that you only heat the rooms you are using at the times and temperatures you want, and there are thermostats which learn how you use the house and what the outside temperature is to adjust the required heat demand for your home. With so many different options available depending on your existing system and what you are looking to achieve, why not take the stress out of the search and have us design and install the system to suit your needs.

All these smart heating controls help bring down the rising fuel bills, make your home more comfortable and provide you with the flexibility you desire.

Introducing Hannah

I’m Hannah Harvey and I work alongside Rob for Limitless Energy, dealing with suppliers and customers, managing logistics and finances. The rest of my week is spent working for the Welsh Centre for International Affairs as a project manager and coordinator for Wales International Development Hub where I contribute to Sustainable Development Policy and Practice in Wales.

I advise the Welsh Government on the international dimensions for sustainability within my role on the Future Generations Reference Group which works to inform the content and design of the Future Generations Bill (previously called the Sustainable Development Bill). As a member of the Alliance for Sustainable Development in Wales I work in partnership with WWF Cymru, Oxfam Cymru, Wales Environment Network, RSPB Cymru, Wales Council for Voluntary Action, Friends of the Earth Cymru, Fair Trade Wales and others.

Previously I have worked for Sustrans – the sustainable travel charity on local walking and cycling routes, and in Ethiopia for Save the Children, the World Bank and the Department for International Development and as a publicist for the BBC in Bristol, London and Birmingham.

Please contact me via email on: info@limitlessenergy.org