INNOVATION EDGE™: VERTICAL USE OF VARISOL SOLAR THERMAL PANELS
Murphy have used Kingspan’s Varisol solar thermal panels vertically to contribute hot water and space heating to the building.
Description
Kingspan’s Varisol are the first modular evacuated solar thermal panels available on the market. The panels consist of two tubes within one another forming a vacuum inside, with collectors that are clipped together – allowing for the installation of panels of varying sizes.
Up to 150 tubes can be connected together, forming a panel, covering anarea of up to approximately 21m2. The tubes are clipped together without the need of a manifold. This allows for a continuous panel of tubes with no breaks, in contrast to non-modular or traditional solar thermal panels.
The Varisol solar thermal panels can be installed with an angle of between 0° and 90°, ideal for maximum heat capture at 40°. The panels depend on residual heat, and do not need to be exposed to direct sunlight. Each individual pipe within the system can be rotated slightly to maximise heat exposure.
Benefits
- The external walls of a structure can be used to generate hot water.
- Evacuated solar panels are approximately 30% more efficient than traditional flat-plate panel equivalents.
- The Varisol system is made of 100% recyclable materials and contains a low amount of energy intensive materials.
- The tubes are lightweight (approximately 2kg), making the panels easy to handle and install, reducing safety risks on site.
- With the Varisol solar thermal panels as a part of the building’s finish, it provides the end users with a visual reference to its sustainability. CBRE have found that 50% of commercial tenants find green attributes “essential”.
Application
The Varisol solar thermal panels were used on Murphy’s Delancey street project, a design and build scheme that involved the construction of 500m2 of commercial units and 16 high standard residential units.
The site was located in a built-up area in inner London over a live network rail tunnel.
The development was designed to meet the code for sustainable homes level 3 and BREEAM rating “excellent”.
The solar tubes were aesthetically co-ordinated into the external façade in six arrays between 18 large external cantilever balconies.
In addition to assisting with the sustainability targets required for environmental assessment, the design included the use of solar thermal panels to generate hot water for use within the complex.
Six vertical solar thermal tube arrays were designed by nick baker architects to span the height of the building. The Kingspan Varisol product was selected and specially installed by solstice energy ltd, on behalf of Murphy.
The external solar tubes are linked to a communal plant room comprising of three 1,000 litre insulated tanks. Once one of the tanks has reached the desired water temperature, the free energy solar hot water will always be used before the back-up gas boiler is activated. Between April and September, during an average climate, all of the residential units will benefit from free hot water. Other months will also have a contribution from free energy and underflow heating is also linked to the solar tubes. The development has a renewal heat incentive payback for 20 years.
The panels cover 120m2 of the building’s front. We understand that was the first time the system had been used vertically for residential development in the UK.
End user feedback
Running costs of the individual Delancey street units are expected to be approximately 70% less than conventionally heated units of comparable size.
Market potential
The vertical use of a Varisol solar thermal panels is particularly effective for inner city areas.
Learn more
For more information, please contact Murphy marketing & communications department at communications@murphygroup.co.uk
