V-TAC NOW OFFERS A COMPLETE SOLUTION TO SOLAR POWER INSTALLATIONS

V-TAC has recently introduced the new Renewables Range, offering high-quality solar equipment to promote the adoption of clean energy and meet the increasing global energy demand.

With V-TAC, you can find all solar solutions under one roof. The range includes a complete set of solar solutions, such as panels, inverters and batteries, designed to be built into a seamless solar system. Other installation accessories, monitoring systems and design services to ensure clients get the most out of their solar system installations are also available. Interested parties can also now express their interest in being one of V-TAC’s Preferred Installers.

Solar panels: V-TAC’s monocrystalline solar panels are noted for their maximum power output and efficiency under low light, shading and degradation conditions. V-TAC panels come with a 25-year Linear Output Warranty, ensuring long-lasting power output. 410w panels in All Black, Black Frames and Silver frames. Higher wattages such as 450W, 545W in silver frame for commercial applications are also available. Fully MCS accredited.

Solar inverters: V-TAC’s range of solar inverters, including single and three-phase options, cater to a variety of load requirements for off-grid, on-grid and hybrid setups. Benefits include G98 regulation, MIP up to 25%, Zero Export Function, AFCI, Anti-Islanding Protection, and more. Wi-Fi enabled and ready to go.

3.6Kw-6Kw Single Phase on Grid/Hybrid available, Three Phase Options subject to type test.

Solar batteries: Maximise your solar energy installation with V-TAC Solar Battery Storage. 5kW-14.5kW of off-grid energy at your disposal, when you need it! LiFeO4 batteries provide greater safety due to higher thermal stability over other Lithium cells. Rack and Wall mount options to suit. IEC Approved V-TAC offers a comprehensive range of installation accessories, monitoring systems, and design services to ensure clients get the most efficient and safest setup for their homes and businesses. They provide competitive technical support and have products listed on leading solar design software for ease of planning and procurement.

V-TAC, vtacenergy.com

• Passing multiple leads and inquiries to V-TAC’s preferred installer network. V-TAC receives multiple enquiries from customers directly on daily basis, and the company’s Preferred Installers will be the first ones to benefit. V-TAC will send the leads to you depending on your geographical location.

• You will also be officially listed on V-TAC’s website as a preferred installer, visible to hundreds of end users visiting the site. Additionally, you can take advantage of joint marketing support on social media and leading renewables publications.

• Free training and demo installations at V-TAC’s Slough centre, including free use of the company’s demo site for showcasing the monitoring app and a chance for you and your customers to view the solar system live in action before choosing the products. V-TAC also offers training on the new products and sneak previews of the latest cutting end innovations.

• Accessible technical support and commissioning support can help you provide high-quality services and ensure that solar products are installed and functioning correctly, leading to increased efficiency and customer satisfaction.

• Design support: V-TAC products are listed in leading solar design software such as PVSol, Open Solar, Helioscope, PVsyst and Easy PV. This can ensure that the system is designed correctly and can operate efficiently and as planned. If you don’t have access to the software, V-TAC’s in house design team can support you with designs for free.

• What would V-TAC need from you? Site address, type of roof and battery storage requirements. Using Google Earth, V-TAC will recommend the most efficient design, including the orientation of panels, siting of inverter/battery and future-proofing your solar installation. The company aims to turnaround the design in 24-48 hours, with a detailed report and list of part numbers and quantity required.

• Environmental benefits: Promote sustainability and environmental conservation by learning how to install solar products, as solar energy is a clean and renewable energy source that can significantly reduce carbon emissions.

• Most importantly, there are also special offers on bulk and container enquiries for V-TAC’s Preferred Installers.

Interested? Experience the advantages for yourself today. Scan the QR code to register your interest to be one of V-TAC’s Preferred Installers.

Zumtobel and its sister brand Thorn have provided a complimentary lighting scheme to the Royal Society of Blind Children for its new uplifting centre.

EPR Architects was tasked with designing the charity’s new headquarters – a Life Without Limits Centre. The design transformed an unused basement car park on London’s South Bank into an engaging hub of activity. The facility includes a contemporary workspace for the charity’s staff and flexible spaces for young blind and partially sighted people to meet, play and learn essential life skills.

The Zumtobel Group was approached to provide a lighting scheme that would bring the centre to life and make the new office spaces look fantastic.

Central to the new facility is a creative suite for music and sensory experiences. Decorative acoustic 4000K ONDARIA luminaires reduce echoes in the ceiling-less space. The round luminaire in the creative suite and the boardroom delivers uniform backlighting with a tactile textile cover to absorb sound. For a coordinated aesthetic, mixed-sized ONDARIA luminaires have also been used in the boardroom.

In the reception area, the distinctive CIELUMA tunable light eases the transition between outside and inside. CIELUMA imitates outdoor daylight, in line with the Double Dynamic Lighting concept; it brings dynamic, motivating light indoors. With its sound-absorbing properties and a host of design options, CIELUMA brings a new quality in connecting light, acoustics, and space.

Two Zumtobel classics light the entrance and offices respectively, 4000K LIGHT FIELDS and ECOOS. ECOOS brings a 360° radiant light with a timeless minimalist design to create a comfortable and relaxed working environment for office staff.

To overcome the low ceiling heights, LINARIA is surface mounted along the corridors and, completing the scheme, Thorn OMEGA PRO 2 luminaires are installed in the kitchen. Zumtobel, z.lighting

Mechanical and electrical building services specialist, J S Wright, is to provide the heating and ventilation services for a new affordable housing scheme in south east London.

The Birmingham-based contractor will design and build the energy efficient services for the Rennie Estate, comprising 49 apartments in two new blocks of 12 storeys and four storeys on Galleywall Road in Bermondsey, for award-winning housebuilder The Hill Group and its housing partner, Southwark Council.

The contract, valued at more than £1.5 million, will include the design and installation of air source heat pumps (ASHP), which absorb heat from outside air, to deliver hot water at low flow temperatures to the individual apartments via heat interface units for radiators and domestic services.

J S Wright will reduce noise generated from power generation by surrounding the ASHP plant with acoustic enclosures. It will also equip the development with mechanical heat recovery ventilation systems.

The design and build brief will extend to providing residential sprinklers for fire protection, above ground drainage, and all sanitaryware – the latter also supplied by J S Wright. A building management system for monitoring and controlling all the mechanical systems is also part of the deal.

Work on site is scheduled to begin in June 2023 with completion due in April 2024.

J S Wright, jswright.co.uk

Greencore Construction has added 10 myenergi zappi solar-compatible electric vehicle (EV) chargers to its headquarters in Bicester, Oxfordshire.

Having previously installed myenergi zappi chargers at its Springfield Meadows development in Southmoor, Oxfordshire for an electric car club, the designer and builder of climate positive homes now has zappi chargers in more than 60% of the parking bays at its headquarters, with 10 chargers in total, including one in an accessible parking bay. The company is now looking to install a large solar array to help power both the building and the chargers.

Greencore Construction is renowned for building homes that are built to Passive House thermal performance standards. The homes are net zero energy and net zero carbon in use and the embodied carbon or carbon footprint is below zero. According to RIBA, a normal 100m2 home typically has a carbon footprint of 120t of carbon, but a typical Greencore Construction home of the same size would have a carbon footprint of minus 27t.

myenergi, myenergi.com

UK Power Networks has refurbished a historic ‘museum piece’ on the streets of Wimbledon.

A 19th Century electricity substation, now redundant, now looks as good as new following work with contractors and the local council. The restoration project preserved a Grade Two listed substation that forms an important part of the UK’s engineering history as it was one of the first substations to be installed to distribute power to people in Wimbledon.

Asif Malik, trustee at the Wimbledon Society, says, “The Society highlighted the plight of the landmark and campaigned for its conservation over the years.

“It is particularly commendable that the restoration work commissioned by UK Power Networks has been carried out to a very high standard, restoring the unit to its original condition, including the paint colour that was carefully selected after paint analysis. The substation now makes a very positive contribution to Wimbledon’s streetscape, and UK Power Networks deserves congratulations for enabling this.”

UK Power Networks, ukpowernetworks.co.uk

Milton Keynes has recently welcomed a new intake of students to its first-ever fossil-free school. The completely gas-free all-years facility also uses the latest LED luminaires to keep harvested energy use to a minimum, creating a modern, green learning environment in the heart of the community.

Glebe Farm School is newly built school in the parish of Wavendon in the south east of Milton Keynes. An all-through school with 1,569 school places for pupils aged five to 16, a nursery and a workplace for 170 staff members, Glebe Farm School is located on an area larger than 13 football pitches at the heart of a new community.

The school is the city’s first fossil-free new build school – even its Bunsen burners are powered by green electricity.

Completely gas-free, it uses air source heat pumps which absorb heat from the outside air and provide all the energy needed for air and hot water. All lighting comes from ultra-efficient LED luminaires from TRILUX Lighting, whilst hundreds of solar panels generate power for the building.

TRILUX luminaires are found throughout the building. The scheme focuses on the diverse needs of pupils, students, and teachers; and covers the complete spectrum of educational applications from the classrooms to the sports hall. TRILUX LED luminaires also score highly from an operational point of view, protecting education budgets and the environment with low power consumption and maintenance costs. TRILUX, trilux.com

Bristol based lighting specialist, Ablectrics has partnered with integrator, Cinemaworks, and manufacturer of lighting controls, Rako, to curate the perfect home cinema demo room at its Bristol showroom.

After moving into its new showroom in April, Ablectrics decided to expand its business into cinema design after noting the demand from customers for luxurious spaces in their homes. The cinema demo room was designed to push the limits of performance. Speakers are angled in the walls to crossfire sound at the central seating area with cutting edge lighting utilising new digital pixel RGB LED tape, all brought to life with Rako’s award winning modular keypads.

The lighting scheme was designed to create various scenes, giving the ultimate customisable cinema experience, no matter what is being watched. The lighting control solution needed to deliver a wide range of capabilities in a simple sleek design, which prospective clients could see being a stylish addition to their homes as well as easy to use.

In the cinema room, the Rako Modular keypad with modern stainless-steel surround is used to seamlessly control all aspects of the lighting design with a mix of RLED30CV4s, RMT500s and RMS800s. The Rako RK-Hub provides native app control and third-party integration into the Savant system which enables Rako’s keypad to activate not only the lights but also the sound system and projector, creating the perfect blend of sight, sound and cinema.

The Modular keypads have been programmed for bespoke scenes including Film, Sport, Kids and Action to demonstrate what is possible.

Rako, rakocontrols.com