| Solar Water Heating systems
are designed to assist domestic homes with their supply
of hot water, therby saving money and the environment.
Five great benefits of Solar Water Heating
- Solar Thermal is a clean green renewable energy
system.
- Solar Water Heating can provide up to 70% of your
hot water.
- Solar Water Heating is cost effective.
- Solar Thermal systems can be quick and easy to install
- A wide range of solar water heating products offer
you great value for money.
How Domestic Solar Energy Works
Typically a dark panel is placed on the south facing
roof of a house or outbuilding. This panel will be either
Flat Solar Panel or one containing Solar Evacuated Tubes.
Whichever system is installed, the basic principle still
applies that these panels collect sunlight. The sunlight
heats a fluid (plain water or more usually an antifreeze
mix containing propylene glycol) which is circulated
in pipes underneath the panel's glass surface.
This is quickly heated by the sun and because it is
thermally insulated, gets hot even in low sunlight levels.
These systems are suitable for installation throughout
the United Kingdom, because it is not the outside temperature,
but the level of sunlight that heats the panel. The
(now hot) fluid is then piped into your domestic water
cylinder where it gives up its heat to the water that
you want warmed through conduction.
All solar systems require a heating cylinder.
This is a twin coil cylinder or thermal store which
replaces your existing cylinder and works alongside
your normal boiler. The solar panels heat up the bottom
of the cylinder, the boiler heats the top.
Solar Water Heating Checklist
Things you need to know the following before considering
Solar Water Heating:
- You will need to know the type of boiler you currently
have. Is it a combination boiler (no tank) or a system
boiler (with a tank)? Solar Heating is best
installed with a system boiler because it uses a tank.
Only a few brands of combination boiler can be adapted
to work with solar energy systems.
• You will need to know the orientation of your
roof. As a Solar Water system relies on drawing heat
from the Sun, you need a south, south east or south
west facing roof.
Typical Costs and Payback
The cost will vary
according to the size and efficiency of the house itself.
The typical cost for a high quality system is between
three and four thousand pounds. This includes installation
and a new cylinder.
Self installation kits are also available for those
on a tight budget who wish to benefit from sun-powered
hot water.
Generally a system should last 25 years and you can
expect to start seeing a payback between 12 and 15 years
from installation. If the cost of energy continues to
rise as predicted, this time till payback will reduce
significantly.
Solar Thermal technology has now been safely used for
over 30 years and is one of the most reliable and proven
renewable energy systems.
The different types of solar water heating systems
Both flat plate panels and evacuated tubes are suitable
for a UK climate.
What is the difference between them?
An evacuated tube system comprises a set of individually
sealed tubes covered in a heat absorbing material. Inside
the tube is a pipe containing a liquid that is heated
by the sun's power Because the tubes have had the air
removed they retain heat (just like a thermos flask).
The only place for the heat to go is to the top of the
tube where it heats water which is fed into your hot
water system.
Solar evacuated tubes are more efficient in converting
sunlight into heat than flat plate panels. However,
care has to be taken in installing evacuated tubes so
as not to oversize them.
Lifting the lid of a flat plate solar heating panel
A flat plate panel is basically a highly insulated
box containing a grid of copper pipes bonded to a flat
black copper absorber plate. Special glass enhances
absorption of heat energy from the sun.
Flat plate solar panels are often a cheaper alternative
than evacuated tubes. They are excellent for domestic
hot water use and are the type we most commonly install
in homes.
Flat plate and solar evacuated tubes can even be used
together. First the flat plates warm the water, then
the higher temperatures of the solar evacuated tubes
boost the temperature before sending it to your storage
tank.
Planning permission is not required unless you live
in a Listed building, a conservation area, A National
Park or an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty!
Can Solar Water Heating Help With Heating a home?
In general solar is not suitable for domestic radiators.
Radiators are designed for rapid heat loss and a solar
powered system will not keep pace.
However you can heat small areas of under floor heating
with solar panels, using a thermal store. The number
of panels used depends on the surface area you need
to heat and the insulation properties of the room concerned.
To heat your home using renewable energy we advise
combining solar with a heat pump system, or a wood boiler
system. We can also advise on Photovoltaic
panels if you wish to generate your own electricity.
Support for Domestic Solar Water systems
Our systems are covered by a 1 year installers guarantee
and warranties on most products are from 5 - 20 years.
To maintain your system we recommend an annual check
up and service.
To discuss your solar water heating needs Call 0800
619 1262
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