Solar Thermal for heating and hot water has taken a back seat in recent times, with Solar Photovoltaic systems being more popular due to the generous grants that are available and the Feed-In-Tariff offering the ability to earn money from the electricity you generate.
Now with changes to the renewable heat incentive, there will be similar benefits for solar thermal systems, with a tariff that basically pays you for every unit of heat that your solar panel has produced.
How do solar water heating systems work?
Solar thermal hot water systems use solar panels, called collectors, fitted to your roof. These panels work by collecting heat from the sun and using it to warm water that is stored in a hot water cylinder. There are two different variations of solar collector, evacuated tube or flat plate.
A boiler or immersion heater can be used as a back up to heat the water further to reach the temperature set by the cylinders thermostat when the solar water heating system does not reach that temperature.
Benefits
- Hot water throughout the year: the system works all year round, though you’ll need to heat the water further with a boiler or immersion heater during the winter months.
- Cut your bills: sunlight is free, so once you’ve paid for the initial installation your hot water costs will be reduced.
- Cut your carbon footprint: solar hot water is a green, renewable heating system and can reduce your carbon dioxide emissions.
View some examples of our solar thermal installations
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