Renewables

Alternative energy sources and technological advances give clients more choices than ever before. Constant changes in legislation and social responsibility mean demand can fluctuate.

However, SBS aims to work with a selection of providers to help fulfil project requirements from heat pumps to solar options; the choice is extensive.

The sector keeps growing with a wide range of renewables and RHI extending across a wide range of products. At Smith Brothers, our customers have access to our supply chain, so design, technical support and after sales service can be offered through the manufacturers.

Renewables

Heat pumps are designed to move thermal energy opposite to the direction of spontaneous heat flow by absorbing heat from a cold space and releasing it to a warmer one or vice-versa. A heat pump uses some external power to transfer energy from the heat source to the output.

  • Air Source
  • Ground source
  • Air-to-air (gas absorption)

Biomass means a fuel of organic material (usually wood or plant) of recent origin, rather than fossil fuel which has taken millions of years to develop. As these organic materials absorb carbon dioxide (CO₂) during growing, they cancel out any CO₂ production during combustion.

Solar power is the conversion of sunlight into energy. The products available are from various brand leading manufacturers offering flat plate, vacuum tube (tubular), on-roof and in-roof options.

For convenience SBS can offer solar packs which come complete all on one pallet ready for installation.

  • Thermal
  • Photovoltaic System

Although cylinders have been around for years, they have developed considerably and can now offer a renewable solution itself or alongside other renewable systems.

  • Solar
  • Buffers
  • Air Source

Smith Brothers work with leading brands, enabling our customers to have access to the best systems available to meet any demands of a new build or retrofit project. Systems come in electric or wet.

Installing wet underfloor heating tends to incur lower running costs and can work well with other renewables systems. However, electric often finds itself placed in domestic bathroom applications but either option can be supplied through SBS.

  • Electric
  • Wet

Combined heat and power (CHP) plants, take advantage of cogeneration to generate both electricity and usable heat, which ideally is closely located to the heat/power area requirement. The result is a very high primary energy efficiency of over 100%.

By comparison, conventional power stations such as a large-scale gas-fired plants will only achieve a primary energy efficiency of between 30 to 50% and lose the majority of the energy as waste heat. This waste heat will be used as heat energy to heat water, or as process heat for industrial operations. The electricity produced is used in the plant’s own building or fed into the public utility grid in return for remuneration to the energy supplier.

The system works from utilising rainwater that is usually harvested from a building and can be used in both a domestic & commercial environments. Collection can be both above or below ground via a gravity fed system or pressurised, where needed. With filters and excess flow outputs, via one way valves installed on tanks/pipework, the system can be developed to limit the requirement for heavy maintenance costs. The manufacturers have retro-fit options where needed.

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Range of Suppliers

We have a branch network dedicated to holding stock at a local level to ensure shorter lead times. We also have the backup of a Head office distribution centre located in Leicester. This ensures that the stock is easily accessible throughout our nationwide branch network.

Whether your project is located in England, Scotland or Wales, Smith Brothers has it covered, supporting customers with our extensive FORS-accredited fleet of vehicles.