A new software package which tells installers the best kind of renewable technology to install for a particular area has been launched this month.

The system, known as Navigator, has been devised by green energy company, Stiebel Eltron. The package comprises the historical weather data of 1.8m postcodes in the UK and details previous climate conditions which will inform renewable energy installers of the best technology based on the area. The data includes assessment on climate for ground source and air source heat pumps, solar thermal and heat recovery products.

“When designing a heat pump system we need to understand the history of an area’s climate to get the maximum output,” said managing director of Stiebel Eltron, Mark McManus. “A heat pump in Scotland will perform differently to one on the Isle of White due to contrasting weather. This software allows us to analyse each property’s exact postcode to decide on the best system to install.”

According to Mr McManus, the software interrogates more than 42,000 different options after the installer has entered the age and size of the building, and its number of occupants. The data will detail a set of architect standard recommendations or drawings – “From this the installer knows exactly how best to fit the equipment.”

Mr McManus added that the software takes around five minutes to calculate the heat loss and size of the building.

The software will be available to Stiebel Eltron’s UK installer partners free of charge.

www.stiebel-eltron.co.uk