Thanks for your comment Barry. We aren't trying to...

2008-07-02T12:25:00.000+01:00

Thanks for your comment Barry. We aren't trying to promote one way over another, I just tell it how I see it.

As the developer of the Solartwin technology I mus...

2008-07-01T10:05:00.000+01:00

As the developer of the Solartwin technology I must first declare a commercial interest. That said I do think that commercially focussed blogs such as this should not be used for myth making, particularly if they carry the Solar Trade Assocation Logo, since this is supposed to be about open and ethical selling.

At Solartwin we think that using mains power for pumps (and, incidentally, solar controllers, which are using electricity 24/7) is far from being a "perfectly good source" of energy.

Indeed these "parasitics" typically claw back about 3-8% of solar thermal energy savings a year, and about 20% of the carbon savings, according to independent DTI funded research on this matter. OK, I agree that mains pumps plus a wire to a power station are cheaper than a PV pumped system.

As for the author's "guess" that the PV panel will pay for itself in 30 years, I think this might be an exaggeration.

As for the red herrings about control, the level of control provided by a PV driven system is as good as mains solar because PV powered solar temperature controllers are fitted with all Solarrtwin's That are also available to all users of solar water heating systems at modest cost.

This is the second time that I have posted this comment and I hope that it will be posted soon.

Comments on Solaris Free Energy Blog: Why not use a solar panel to run the pump?

Thanks for your comment Barry. We aren't trying to...

As the developer of the Solartwin technology I mus...