The Renewable Technology Collective: championing clean heat technology

The Renewable Technology Collective has been running full-time since January 2024. Operating in Angus, Tayside and Aberdeenshire, the company mainly fits and maintains clean heating technologies. Only a handful of its clients have fossil fuel heating systems.

The team consists of Peter and Ally. Additional subcontractors are often brought in for larger projects.

The company specialises in air-to-water heat pumps. It mainly installs Vaillant and Samsung systems with Homely controls, as Peter believes simple, intelligent controls are essential for a great user experience. Plans are in place to start installing ground source heat pumps later this year.  

Peter has 21 years of industry experience, working on over 600 heat pump projects across Scotland. He has worked closely with major manufacturers like NIBE and Mitsubishi.

Peter’s expertise includes hydronics, underfloor heating, and electrical systems. His team has a variety of qualifications such as unvented hot water certification, water regulations, electrical safe isolation, BPEC certification, low-temperature design expertise and F-gas certification.

Peter first discovered heat pump technology in Spain and saw its potential as a renewable energy solution. He shifted his focus to renewables, partnering with established manufacturers and gaining in depth knowledge of system design and installation.

The Renewable Technology Collective handles both the design and installation of systems, ensuring optimised performance. Peter explains:

“We look at the whole system and how we can ensure that it’s delivering heat properly, where we can optimise it, areas we can gain efficiency and ultimately reduce people’s running costs whilst delivering comfort.”

Educating customers on how to get the best results from a heat pump is a key focus.

The company also replaces outdated heating systems with modern heat pumps, which are much more efficient and cost-effective.

The company focuses on developing talent. Ally, a heat pump specialist, is following a tailored training plan, and another trainee will hopefully join this year. 

The company became MCS-certified for air source heat pumps in February 2024. Thanks to Peter’s experience, the process took just two months. While rigorous, the certification process was valuable for ensuring high installation standards. Peter also got financial assistance through MCS Certification Fund.

MCS certification has allowed The Renewable Technology Collective to design and install systems more effectively, boosting customer confidence.  

The heat pump industry faces some challenges, including misinformation due to poor installations and delays in the supply chain, which slow down projects. Peter explains:

“’I’ve seen so many heat pump installations where it’s not the heat pump that’s at fault; it’s poor installation practices and we’ve had to go in and carry out work to move it to a place where it finally delivers for the customer.”

However, The Renewable Technology Collective sees opportunities in educating homeowners and businesses about heat pump efficiency. It’s also building stronger partnerships with manufacturers and increasing its presence through digital marketing and community events. 

For those new to the industry, Peter recommends working with one manufacturer to gain expertise. He also stresses the importance of understanding hydronics, controls and investing in good training. 

The Renewable Technology Collective plans to expand its operations, educate more customers and push for better supply chains. The company hopes to inspire other businesses to transition to zero carbon technologies and contribute to a sustainable future. 

If you’re thinking of making the move to installing green heat technology, explore the resources available on our Green Heat Installers support page, and our insulation and heat pump toolkits. For more support, reach out to our team at greeninstallerscotland@est.org.uk.