Solar thermal technology for Leicester College

To upgrade its facilities and in keeping with Building Regulations Part L, Leicester College has replaced old gas boilers with Kingspan Solar Thermomax technology for sustainability.

As part of the dramatic overhaul the state-of-the-art solar thermal technology will provide up to 70 percent of its annual hot water needs and cut energy bills at its vocational training campus.

The college, which is one of the largest in the UK with 27,600 students and 1,600 staff, is one of the first in the country to adopt evacuated tube solar thermal technology to service its hot water needs as part of its commitment to sustainability.

Freeman's Park campus, which incorporates a vast range of specialist vocational facilities, including an industry standard kitchen, now features 300 Kingspan Solar Thermomax vacuum tubes, which will service its hot water needs all-year-round.

Specifically designed and manufactured to operate in Northern European climates, the solar collectors use vacuum technology to deliver an unrivalled transfer of solar energy into heat.

The vacuum tubes provide insulation, which protects the system from outside influences, such as cold, wet or windy weather, ensuring top quality performance is consistently achieved.

They also allow energy from the sun to be collected efficiently and effectively, so that solar-heated water can be delivered in record time.

This rapid conductivity and transfer of energy into heat means the collectors are 30 per cent more effective than traditional flat panel equivalents.

Leicester College opted for the Thermomax HP200 collectors, which are designed with industrial applications in mind.

With Kingspan Solar Thermomax tubes providing a quick thermal response even on cloudy or humid days, they were an obvious choice for Robin Dalby, Maintenance and Development Co-ordinator at Leicester College: "Before installing the Thermomax solar tubes, we were using gas boilers that were energy guzzlers and costly to run".

"We were keen to implement an environmentally-friendly option, without compromising on performance".

"Switching to Thermomax solar tubes was the perfect solution, as we could reduce our carbon footprint whilst simultaneously making significant savings on our hot water bills".

" "The performance of the Thermomax solar tubes has been nothing but impressive.

We get solar-heated water in record time and there is minimum maintenance required.

Even in winter months, we're safe in the knowledge that the Thermomax collectors won't let us down, whatever the weather condition""".

"" Managing Director of Solar Solutions Direct Darren Taylor oversaw the installation: "This has been our biggest installation to date.

We fixed 300 Thermomax solar tubes across a 36 square metre flat roof to generate a massive amount of energy that now heats a 3,000 litre thermal store.

The bespoke setup took just two weeks to install, as the 'plug and play' design of the collectors made the process fast and simple".

""Thermomax solar tubes are truly the most effective product on the market and people are now starting to sit up and take note"".

""Since this installation we've had a flurry of even bigger orders come in"".

""Solar energy is the way forward and we're proud to be playing a part in creating an environmentally friendly future".

The amount of energy the UK and Ireland receives from the sun per year is similar to the output of 1000 power stations.

Solar energy is free, clean and safe and produces no waste or pollution, whereas burning fossil fuels creates carbon dioxide, which is a major contributor to global warming.

Kingspan Solar Commercial Director Cameron Holroyd adds: "Leicester College has not only significantly reduced its carbon footprint by installing Thermomax solar tubes, it is also benefiting from tomorrow's technology at today's prices, as well as teaching the next generation the importance of renewable energy sources and how to make a positive environmental impact".

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