Learnings from NEA’s Technical innovation fund field trials

This project used airtightness tests to identify sources of uncontrolled ventilation and cold spots in poor energy efficiency (SAP bands D G) properties in a rural area of Wales, highly exposed to sea winds, often solid walled or other hard to treat (HTT) construction, and most not being served by mains gas. Results of the tests highlighted appropriate airtightness measures which could be installed to address and reduce uncontrolled air exchange, to provide energy savings and improved comfort to the residents, vulnerable to fuel poverty.

Ceredigion comprises of a series of isolated rural communities, with 82.4% of homes not connected to mains gas – the highest number of off-gas properties in Wales. Tregaron, the area targeted for the project, falls within the top 30% most deprived, and the rural areas around it fall within the top 10%, in terms of access to services.

Solar PV combined with battery storage is a relatively new but fast developing technology. The aim is to store excess power generated by the solar PV system which would otherwise be exported to the grid. When the electricity consumption of the property is greater than any power generated by the solar array then at least some of the extra demand can be supplied from the charged batteries.

The Technical Innovation Fund has been groundbreaking because it enabled us to get an insight into how many new technologies can help households in vulnerable situations to reduce their energy bills and improve the comfort of their homes.

The purpose of this project was to evaluate the effectiveness of new electric boilers (Amptec C1200 electric boiler, manufactured by Heatrae Sadia) installed in a housing estate in central England.