The More, The Merrier – Dimplex Offices Extend Solar PV Savings

In the first phase of Dimplex’s PV project, in the summer of 2010, 16 solar panels with a total output of 3.68kWp were installed on the southwest facing office roof. The array performed so well that it was decided to cover the majority of the suitable roof space with a total of 268 modules.

Not only does the project cut the premises’ running costs and carbon emissions, helping towards the company’s carbon reduction obligations under the CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme, the installation also qualifies for the Feed-in Tariff, which makes payments for energy generated and exported back into the national grid.

The installation was carried out by Reading-based Dimplex accredited renewables installer Anesco Ltd. in July 2011. The modules cover the majority of the southwest-facing aspect of the offices’ roof, and are expected to generate up to 50,000kWh of electricity per year. As the modules use daylight to generate electricity, rather than solar radiation, energy is produced even on cloudy days.

Karen Trewick, marketing communications manager for Dimplex, says: “Solar PV has the capacity to make a real difference to any commercial building’s energy bills. We are closely monitoring generation levels here in Southampton – in just the first two months of operation, the extended array produced nearly 19,000kWh. And as we run solar PV training courses here, it’s ideal to have a working installation on site.”

The Dimplex solar PV modules offer a market-leading ten year warranty, plus additional certification for salt mist and ammonia. This assurance of a high quality product gives peace of mind that the panels will last and require little or no maintenance for the life of the system, wherever an installation takes place, whether it be exposed in a coastal area, or surrounded by farms and exposed to chemicals in the air.

Dimplex’s PV packages contain polycrystalline modules and all the components required for installation. They are simple to specify and are available in a number of standard configurations offering a complete PV solution for residential and commercial buildings. And as they’re MCS accredited, they qualify for the Feed-in Tariffs when fitted by an approved installer.