Past Projects
Ashenden House wind turbines
Photon Energy installed a Proven Energy 6 kW wind turbine on Ashenden House in June 2007. In June 2008 this turbine has been moved along the roof and a Quiet Revolution 6 kW turbine has been installed in its place. The installations were carried out in close partnership with Southwark Council and Gas Dynamics. The scheme is part of a trial for the regeneration of the Elephant and Castle to ascertain the viability of urban building mounted wind turbines. The turbines were craned onto the roof and fixed to specially-designed steel work on concrete plinths which pick up the main structure of the building. There has not been any reported vibration or noise and full monitoring is being carried out for the duration of the project, proposed to be for the next 2 years.
Berwickshire Hydrogen House
The Berwickshire Hydrogen House is self-sufficient for its energy needs and does not utilise the electricity grid or the gas network. Photon Energy has installed a 5.7 kW Sharp solar PV system, a 6 kW Proven wind turbine and a Navitron solar water heating system at the house.
The electricity from the solar PV and the wind turbine is stored in a large
battery bank. When the batteries are full, the electricity is converted
into hydrogen and stored underground. The hydrogen is used for cooking
and heating. When the batteries are low, the hydrogen can be converted
back into electricity using a fuel cell.; The excess heat from the fuel
cell is used to compliment the solar hot water system. Enough hydrogen
can be stored to run the house for up to a month.
The project was managed by RegenTech on behalf of Berwickshire Housing Association and was partially funded by the Scottish Executive.
Scotts Road wind turbines
Four 15kW Proven Energy wind turbines were installed by Photon Energy this April for Chancerygate at a new site at Scotts Road in Southall, west London. The turbines are a prominent landmark for travellers to and from London Paddington Station as they are next to the main railway line.
Poringland Library
This 3.9 kWp PV system has been installed on a library in Norfolk. The system is mounted above the roof. Photon Energy worked with the main contractor, Morgan Ashurst, to design the means of fixing the PV system to the roof which was a rubber membrane. The roofing contractor fixed bolts to the structure in accordance with a drawing provided by Photon Energy, and roofed around these bolts to ensure the roof was watertight. Photon Energy then installed the mounting rails and PV modules fixed to these bolts, and carried out electrical works inside the building.
PV for New Block of Flats in Surrey
A 4.4 kWp PV system was installed on a new block of flats at Overton Road in Sutton, Surrey. The system was designed to meet the expected electricity consumption of the communal supply of 3,448 kWh per year. The PV modules were mounted on A-frames on the flat roof of the building. New SMA Sunny Boy inverters were used, which contain an Electronic Solar Switch or ESS, which acts as a DC isolator.
PV for New Houses in Kent
Six 1 kWp PV systems were installed for Russet Homes at a small new housing development in Tonbridge, Kent. The house roofs are relatively small and Photon Energy undertook detailed design work and used innovative module arrangements in order to fit the systems on the house roofs. The systems will directly benefit the tenants of the houses and reduce their electricity bills. The PV laminates were installed using the Conergy SolarRoof III, a roof-integrated PV mounting system allowing the PV laminates to be mounted flush with the roof tiles, resulting in a more pleasing appearance.
Deen City Farm
Photon Energy has recently completed the installation of a 1.3 kWp PV system at Deen City Farm in Merton on behalf of Dulas. The system was installed on a slate roof and so involved the removal of a number of slates to fit stand-offs with flashings around them to which the PV mounting system was attached. Ben Cheetham, Project Manager at the farm, said, “We were delighted with the service from Photon Energy. It is unusual to work with a contractor who is considerate and explains things in terms that we as the customer understand.”
PV for 30 Homes on the Fernside Estate
Photon Energy installed thirty PV systems on the Fernside estate in the Almondbury area of Huddersfield. The installations are on bungalows and flats owned by Kirklees Neighbourhood Housing (KNH), an Arms-Length Management Organisation of Kirklees Metropolitan Council. The tenants, who are mostly elderly people, benefit directly from the electricity generated.
The scheme follows on from an earlier scheme, under which 100 similar PV systems were installed on adjacent properties by the same team. KNH has been proactive in the deployment of various renewable energy Technologies → for some time, with renewable energy systems installed at more than 300 of their properties.
Each system has a total power of 1.3 kWp and is expected to generate over 1,000 kWh of electricity per year.
PV for Amersham and Wycombe College
Photon Energy installed two PV systems at Amersham and Wycombe College, with co-funding from Phase 2 of the Government’s Low-Carbon Buildings Programme. The systems were installed at the college’s Chesham Campus to be used for training purposes, as part of the Environmental Training Centre. The College is now offering an installer training course leading to the City & Guilds certificate 2372, 'Installing & Testing Photovoltaic (PV) Systems'. The first PV course was offered in October 2007, with technical support from Photon Energy.
Two standard systems were installed, similar to systems typically installed on domestic properties in the UK. Each system comprises eight Sharp modules and a Sunny Boy inverter, and has a total power of 1.3 kWp.
The mounting system was non-standard. The building has a flat roof. Along the centre of the roof, running east to west, is a channel with A-shaped rooflights, to provide daylight into a corridor below. The PV modules were mounted above the rooflights, on a structure provided by the client and designed by the client's structural engineer. The corridor below had previously suffered from overheating on sunny days. The shading from the modules, which are mounted on the south side, now reduces unwanted solar gain in the corridor.
A quote from the lecturer in charge of the PV course: "Thanks for showing me around the equipment. The set up you have achieved is spot on. Thanks a lot."
Wind Turbine in Kent
This turbine was installed for a private resident in Kent who, despite opposition from the council planners, won his application and has a 6 kW turbine on a 15 m mast. The council did however request that the turbine head was in white to blend in with the skyline. The ground works were carried out by the client along with the installation of the AC cable from the turbine back to his premises. The client is currently monitoring his output and is pleased with the results. He was able to claim a grant for the installation.
Domestic PV Installation in Farnham
A 1.3 kWp solar PV system was installed on this new domestic property in Farnham, Surrey. For aesthetic reasons, a roof-integrated mounting system was used, leaving the PV modules flush with the surrounding tiles. The electricity generated contributes to the property’s electricity consumption, with any excess being fed back into the grid.
