solar energy in kent The pumps and controls

Thanet array seen from top of North Downs near Lenham. Turbines are about 30 miles away - see map

 



Headlines

Solar panel tariff appeal loss for government
The government has failed to get permission to appeal to the Supreme Court over its plan to cut subsidies for solar panels on homes.
Temperatures could rise by 3C by 2050, models suggest
Global temperatures could rise by 1.4-3.0C (2.5-5.4F) above levels for late last century by 2050, a computer simulation has suggested.
FITs. Helping us generate energy or just a money making scam?
21p means the FIT scheme can be retained for far longer, it means the cost of installation can comedown and the industry retained. At 43.3 it means the scheme must close overnight when the set amount of money has run out!
Energy efficiency and renewable energy subsidies
The government wants to encourage everyone to think about how they can pay less on fuel - a pretty sensible idea when energy bills are rising and fuel poverty is on the increase

energy saving trust

Clear Skies

Feed in tariffs


In the centre is the pump station. This holds the pumps and valves that circulate the fluid that transfers the heat from the panels to the hot water cylinder.


The pressure regulator seen centre top prevents excess pressure within the system. The sytem is pressurised to run at 4 bar.

A reading taken on 13th February. Two hours later it was snowing heavily

The panels have reached 49°C , while the outdoor temperature is about 1°C

The lower part of the cylinder is at 31°C, this has been heated by the solar panels from the 5°C from which it started earlier in the day.

The point where highly insulated pipes enter the house.

This also takes the cable that has measured the temperature as at TKO