British solar and solar PV developer Naked Energy has launched a dedicated system design service for integrated solar energy systems.
Naked Energy says it is the first solar OEM in the UK to do so. It will provide plans for companies looking to integrate the technology into their overall energy system and engineer Sam Notter has joined the company as chief design engineer to lead the new operation.
Naked Energy offers heat-as-a-service through the installation of its Virtu solar technology, which uses modular solar collectors to heat water up to 120°C. It also offers a system that combines photovoltaic generation and solar thermal energy, generating both electricity and heating up to 75°C. According to the company, the combined generation technology saves three times more carbon per square meter than standard solar panels.
The company also says that modular mounting and compatibility with multiple roof types means installation can be faster and cheaper.
It is a complementary technology that can be integrated with existing heating technology, such as heat pumps, and is most effective when Virtu is used to preheat the system that needs to be serviced by a backup heat source.
Naked Energy’s new system design offering will use a proprietary in-house design tool to simulate interactions with heating systems and provide accurate performance predictions for commercial and industrial businesses with year-round heat demand.
In July 2024, the company has secured £17 million of new capital in a Series B first closewith investments led by the Infrastructure Solutions arm of existing partner E.ON Energy. Banking group Barclays has co-invested.
While Naked Energy said its core customer base consists of heat-intensive commercial and industrial businesses, it has also installed the technology in new cases, such as on the The roof of the British Library is listed as a Grade II listed building. The company’s Virtu technology has integrated mounting and is self-ballasting, eliminating the need for a roof penetration and making it ideal for the low-impact installation required in a listed building.
The installation provides hot water and heating for the library while helping to maintain the precise temperature and humidity required to preserve the British Library’s national collection.
