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A Successful 2008
2008 saw Solar Twin record trade sales for the year which were a 100% improvement on 2007 figures. This
is despite the “Credit Crunch” which has affected businesses and consumers across the globe.....
“At the close of 2008 Solar Twin Ltd had an order book for 2009 worth £1m.” said Barry Johnston, Managing Director of Solar Twin Ltd. Dave Houston, Solar Twin Ltd Contracts Manager said “The trade part of our business has outgrown the retail part, although retail is now on the rise again, prompted by the combination of two factors: that savings rates on bank accounts are low and that heating costs remains high. For the first time people with savings are investing in solar water heating as a cost-effective option.
Barry adds “The fall in the value of Sterling means that our product is now 20-30% more competitive abroad. We are actively seeking investment of £19m to enable us to expand in three continents”.
Potential investors please contact Dave Houston to express your interest.
Solartwin moves into PV
We have recently completed a full turnkey package for the supply and installation of an 8 kWp PV System
at the new Arena Building at Parkway Trading Estate in Heston.
The installation consists of 40 no. 200Wp PV cells (64m2) which are fixed to face South at 35 degrees. The array is connected to 3 no. DC/AC inverters located in the plant room. Each inverter supplies 1 phase of the buildings 3 Phase supply.
The PV system is designed to achieve a 10% reduction in Building Emissions Rate (BER) over Target Emissions Rate (TER) by use of renewables.
The new Photovoltaic system will save our client approx. 4,370 kg/CO2 per annum.
Anyone interested in PV should send information on their project(s) including drawings if available to
info@solartwin.com
Solartwin Accredited
Solartwin’s simple, Zero-Carbon solar water heating technology now has Europe-wide accreditation to the
solar standard Solar Keymark.
With Solar Keymark, Solartwin systems can now be installed across the EU and we are hoping to expand to other areas outside of our existing markets in UK, Ireland and Portugal.
We are also looking at markets outside the EU. We have identified potential in New Zealand and Australia following the Solartwin system recently achieving the AS NZS 2712 solar heating systems standard.
Coupled to accreditation success for the technology Solar Twin Ltd have also been accredited as approved suppliers by national procurement schemes Exor & Constructionline. Solar Twin Ltd are also a fully accredited contractor through the Construction Health & Safety Assessment Scheme (CHAS).
Renewable Energy Installer Guarantee Agency (REIGA)
November 2008 saw the Solartwin system approved as a technology through REIGA, which is an independent, not for profit organisation aimed at ensuring high standards of installation and product quality are met.One Planet Products
Solartwin’s flat plate solar thermal panel has gone through an environmental review involving both Solartwin and the product being assessed against the 10 One Planet Living principles. The product is now listed on the One Planet Products website of sustainable building products.
One Planet Products®is a not-for-profit service managed as a Member led club. It enables Members to
purchase and specify green construction products easily and affordably, helps them build knowledge in
sustainability and to drive a green supply chain to meet their needs in a changing world.
“Listed by One Planet Products®, which is part of One Planet Living® a global initiative developed by
BioRegional and WWF”.
Please contact Dave Houston for more information on 01244 403 407
BS EN ISO 9001 Success
On top of its European panel certification success, 2008 also saw us pass an independent business
assessment showing full compliance with the international quality standard, ISO 9001:2000.
The compliance provides further reassurance to customers such as B&Q, who now supply Solartwin kits and installations through stores and www.diy.com.
We intend to have ISO 14001 implemented by March 2009. Thanks and congratulations to all concerned!
Top Projects in 2008
Solar Twin Ltd were awarded a number of high profile projects in 2008. Some of the highlights....
Bournville Village Trust - Lower Shenley redevelopment
We were chosen after a competitive tender process to supply and install 175 Solartwin systems (493.5m2) and thermal stores onto 167 new south facing eco homes, part of a £25 million social housing project at Lower Shenley C/O Bournville Village Trust (BVT).The Lower Shenley project follows on from a smaller pilot project we completed for BVT in 2005/06.
Solartwin’s Zero-Carbon design was selected as it offers improved sustainability when compared to other solar systems on the market, enabling all homes to be built to meet Code for Sustainable Homes level 3.
The University of Gloucestershire, Urban Learning Foundation Building (London)
We were specified to provide a solar thermal system to deliver 12% of the domestic hot water demand for this new build student accommodation project in central London.10 no. (28.2m2) Solartwin systems to provide approx. 12% of the annual domestic hot water demand for student accommodation in central London.
The solar collectors are fixed to South facing A frames at 60 degrees pitch, on Sedum (grass) roof, which better suits the low Summer occupancy demand patterns.
Chester Catholic High School
We supplied and installed 6 no. (16.92m2) Solartwin collectors and thermal store calorifier preheats the mains water supply to gas fired water heater.The collectors are fixed South facing at 70 degrees pitch in order to optimise Winter performance, when the school has highest occupancy.
Social Housing, Whippingham, IOW
Barratt David Wilson Homes chose us to supply and install solar thermal systems in order to meet Code for Sustainable Homes level 3 on a mixed tenure site on the Isle of Wight.The PV pumped Solartwin systems are surface mounted onto pitched roofs and connect directly onto vented thermal stores with mains pressure hot water output located in airing/linen cupboards.
The first phase of plots are now occupied & tenant feedback shows they are pleased with their solar systems.
We look forward to continuing our excellent working relationship with Barratt David Wilson Homes and the
client on further phases of the site in 2009.
Training
In 2009 we will be continuing with our successful 1 day installer training seminars in Chester.
In addition, to the Chester dates we will also be hosting a number of seminars aimed at specifiers, developers, housing stock managers and maintenance staff. These sessions will be held at a location near to the Lower Shenley social housing project in Birmingham where we are installing 175 Solartwin systems onto 167 code level 3 social homes.
Chris Wilcox, Commercial & Technical Manager says “The Birmingham seminars will offer a unique opportunity to hear views from the client, design team and the developer in terms of buildability and integration of solar thermal with their standard programme”.
We are also offering the opportunity to visit the Bournville Village Trust Lower Shenley site where it will be possible to view ongoing and completed Solartwin installations on the new social homes. It will also be possible to get up close to a Solartwin system which is preheating to the point of use electric water heaters in the principal contractors site accommodation.
For more information on installer training or specifier seminars to be held in Birmingham please contact Dave or Graham.
ISO 14001 Certification
Solar Twin Ltd has been awarded ISO 14001 certification for environmental Management Systems. This international
standard of certification has only been achieved by fewer than 1% of UK businesses and is recognised world-wide.
Wynn Walker, who undertook the assessment for QMS Quality Management Systems, paid particular tribute to "the
investment in people and training that enables Solar Twin Ltd to provide an efficient and environmentally friendly service
to their customers."
Solar keymark certified
Micropower council
Renewable Energy Association
Association for Environment Conscious Building
