In conversation with Volker Höschele who is responsible for sales of renewable energy systems at BBT Thermotechnik GmbH

Question: Today’s world is swallowing up energy at an alarming rate, yet natural resources are becoming depleted. We need to find and use other energy sources. Which brings us to renewable energies, though this is not exactly an entirely new issue. How long has BBT Thermotechnik GmbH been involved in this field?

Höschele: In 1997 Buderus took over Solar Diamant which had been established as far back as 1978 and had been supplying Buderus with solar collectors for a number of years. The Junkers brand has also had solar heating systems in its range since about 2000. The acquisition of IVT in late 2004 was undoubtedly a further milestone for BBT Thermotechnik GmbH. This company is the market leader in Europe for heat pumps. Wood-fired boilers have been part of the range for a long time. This fuel is seeing a resurgence, especially because of pellet boilers.

Question: Why is BBT Thermotechnik GmbH seeking to push the use of renewable energies?

Höschele: It’s a question both of exploiting business opportunities and also of meeting our social responsibilities. We wish to make a contribution to conserving natural raw materials, protecting the environment and reducing airborne pollution. Our goal is to identify intelligent and innovative solutions which will enable our customers to continue to enjoy the comfort to which they have become accustomed. People will also have greater freedom – less dependence on fossil fuels – thanks to renewable energies. Environmental and economic factors are highly compatible, as far as BBT Thermotechnik GmbH is concerned. Renewable energy systems are one of our core business fields with the highest projected growth rates over the next few years.

Question: With reference to renewable energies, what products make up BBT Thermotechnik GmbH’s portfolio? Who are these products targeted at?

Höschele: The products from our international and regional brands are aimed via our customers – specialist installers – at private but also trade and public-sector end customers. Solar heating systems for domestic hot water heating and auxiliary heating enjoy a high level of acceptance, are now almost a status symbol in new houses and are used to supplement classic heating systems. Heat pumps used to meet all a building’s domestic hot water or space heating requirements are rapidly gaining in importance at the moment, especially because of the high potential savings in energy consumption and because of their low primary energy requirement. Market growth in Germany is running at about thirty per cent above that of last year. This trend is set to continue. We have had very lively interest in wood-fired boilers, such as pellet boilers or wood gasification burners, in the last few months. Wood is extremely popular because it can be obtained in the immediate locality and because it represents cosiness, comfort and warmth.

Question: Can the individual products be combined with each other?

Höschele: A solar heating system is the ideal complement to pellet or wood-fired boilers. It can, in theory, also be combined with a heat pump, though high investment costs are incurred in doing so.

Question: Can appliances that operate with renewable energies be combined with conventional technology?

Höschele: Solar heating systems are particularly appropriate for this. They can be used to supplement existing heating systems to assist in domestic hot water heating and can reduce consumption costs here by up to sixty per cent. Heat pumps and pellet boilers are more suitable in new properties or if old systems are being replaced during renovation work.

Question: What’s the picture with the reliability of the systems operated with renewable energies? Can the user expect reliable service?

Höschele: Yes, BBT Thermotechnik GmbH meets high quality requirements in development and production. Our Customer Service team is appropriately trained for all appliances launched on the market. Furthermore, we offer a comprehensive service even before purchase as it is absolutely essential to guarantee good planning with such new technologies.