Heat meter shock Incorrect installations on renewables costing millions 4 Got a story? Ring us on 01732 748041 or e-mail twood@unity-media.com NEWSDESK Research has revealed that incorrectly fitted meters for commercial renewable heat projects could result in more than £7 million of wasted funds by 2020. The research, Understanding Renewable Heat Meter Installations, commissioned by Itron shows, that over the last three years, 29% of heating engineers have had to address problems associated with the incorrect installation of heat meters on renewable technologies. And most renewables installers surveyed (55%) have not received training on fitting meters. The most common issues experienced by the sample include: • Problems installing flow meters (16%) • Temperature sensors not installed correctly (14%) • Dirt getting into the system (ten per cent) While the research shows the need for greater guidance for installers, many of the issues requiring multiple installer callbacks - such as dirt getting into the system - are associated with the use of mechanical heat meters, which stop providing energy readings when installed incorrectly. These issues can be avoided by installing ultrasonic meters, which even if clogged by dirt, will continue working and alert the installer of the issue. Ultrasonic meters also provide higher accuracy and granularity of data, even at low flow rates, over the entire life of renewable projects, which can be in excess of 25 years. The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) estimates that up to 900,000 renewable heat projects will be installed in the UK by 2020. Commercial renewable heat projects mandatorily require heat meters to be installed to qualify for the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI). As such, at least 165,000 meters are expected be installed on heat projects to ensure RHI subsidy payments are based on actual output. The installation of meters also enhances the rewards offered by the domestic RHI. DECC is offering additional financial incentives of up to £230 per year to encourage the use of metering and monitoring packages. “We’re seeing encouraging growth in the emerging renewable heat industry with 800MW of renewable heat installed in the past two years,” said Bernard McWeeney, water and heat manager at Itron. “To build trust in the industry, the latest meters should be installed in the right manner, so that project performance can be measured efficiently over the lifecyle.” The Itron research also found great variability in installation rates and times. For example: • In the last 12 months, 23% of the heat engineers surveyed have been called back to address problems with heat meters on renewable technologies • On average, they had to return eight times in a 12-month period, while some returned 50 times • The time to install a heat meter on renewable energy technologies varies considerably – while 21% of engineers take an hour for installation, 19% take twice as long • However, another 36% take even longer, with 15% taking more than five hours to install a heat meter and some even taking up to 48 hours. Itron provides guidance to help installers make the right choice as well as training on fitting meters to prevent costly call backs. Itron has also launched an interactive e-learning guide to help installers to fit the company’s meters efficiently and properly. Arctic sponsors teenager Arctic Products, supplier of consumables to the plumbing and heating industry, has agreed to sponsor Ellie Hopkinson on a research expedition to the Arctic. The 16-year-old needs to raise £6,000 to cover flights, food, guides and equipment. BMF membership hits 425 The Builders Merchants Federation (BMF) has started 2014 with membership at a five year high. In January, membership exceeded the 400 mark for the first time since 2009, and now stands at 425 comprising 275 merchants and 113 suppliers, with the balance made up of distributor, service and affiliate members. Williams & Co an inspiration Williams & Co, the independent, trade FEBRUARY 2014 HEATING & PLUMBING MONTHLY only plumbing and heating wholesaler, has been identified in a report by the London Stock Exchange as making an ‘extraordinary contribution to economic growth and employment’. The report, which covered 4.5 million small and medium sizes companies in Britain, focussed on sustained financial performance and job creation to create an index of the 1,000 most inspiring companies in the nation. Record year for HPS HPS Heating Plumbing Supplies achieved record sales last year. A Willenhall man has been sentenced to 80 hours’ worth of unpaid work for carrying out illegal and dangerous work on gas boilers at two Stourbridge properties. The work Paul Creswell carried out at a flat in Hanbury Court was of such poor workmanship that it meant there was a realistic and probable chance of carbon monoxide entering the property because he had failed to fix the flue to the boiler correctly. He also carried out sub-standard work at a house in Vale Street, where the wiring he installed was so dangerous it had the potential for pipes to become live. Paul Cresswell pleaded guilty to breaching Regulations 3(3), 3(7), 26(1) and 27(1) of the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 in December 2012 and January 2013. He was ordered to pay costs of £1,270. Sales for 2013 were up 17.7% from 2012 at £47,438 million (up from £40,305 million in 2012). It is now the south’s leading independent merchant with 29 branches, while two further branches are planned during 2014 with turnover expected to exceed £50 million. ADEY clarification In last month’s edition, in our People news section, HPM ran a headline saying that Dr Neil Watson had joined Fernox. The story correctly stated that he had actually joined ADEY. We are happy to set the record straight. NEWSINBRIEF WWW.HPMMAG.COM Illegal gas fitter put lives at risk VERIFIED* HPM’s individual reader enquiries have now passed 535,000 from buyers and installers of your products and services *source: March 2013 HPM RSC analysis bureau Follow us on Twitter: @HPMMag
HPM February 2014
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