Solar Thermal for Water Heating
What is solar hot water?
Solar water heating systems, or solar thermal systems, use energy from the sun to heat water for storage in a hot water cylinder or thermal store. Because the amount of available solar energy varies, a solar water heating system won’t provide 100% of the hot water required year round. A conventional boiler or immersion heater is normally used to supplement the difference in the winter months.
Larger solar hot water arrays can also be arranged to provide some contribution to heating your home. However, the amount of heat provided is generally very small (less than 10% of the home’s heating requirement), because in the winter months when you need heating the solar energy available is at its minimum. Solar hot water systems are designed to provide the hot water you use from your taps.
How do solar water heating systems work?
Solar water heating systems use flat panels or tubes, called solar collectors, to gather solar energy. The solar collectors convert the infra-red portion of visible light into heat. A mix of water and glycol for frost protection is heated in the header. This fluid travels around a circuit, which is transferred through a coil in the hot water cylinder.
There are two types of solar water heating collectors:
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Evacuated tubes – a bank of glass tubes mounted on the roof tiles.
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Flat plate collectors – fixed on the roof tiles or integrated into the roof.
A Horisun Installation
Contact Us and let us know you are interested in a Solar Thermal installation.
We will take some details from you including your desired or current size of hot water cylinder
We will arrange for an installer to conduct a site survey
We will produce a formal quotation
If you are happy with the quotation and wish to proceed we will arrange a date for the installation and take a secure deposit
Upon completion of the installation you will be invoiced for the final balance
You can then enjoy solar heated water for years to come.
Where can solar panels be installed?​
Solar panels are mainly installed on roofs but can also be ground mounted on A frame structures. Solar can be installed on many roof types including metal roofs, slate, hipped, flat roofs, rosemary tiles, clay pantile, concrete, trussed, metal framed, from bungalows to factories and blocks of flats. The ideal position is South facing at an angle of inclination of 35 degrees, this maximises the solar output, however east or West facing roofs could still be installed, in general if your roof faces East, West panels would be installed on both sides. North facing roofs are not recommended. Geographical location will have an affect on the performance of the system, so it is important to have it specified by an MCS registered installer.
Who can have Solar thermal?​
Solar can be installed on domestic housing, commercial premises, swimming pools, anywhere a volume of hot water is required.
Commercial applications such as Breweries, Hotels, Distilleries, Dairy farms and camp site shower blocks will benefit from the use of solar thermal to heat their hot water making savings on their bills. Those savings will depend on the fuel currently being used with the biggest impact being the switch from electric immersion heaters to solar thermal.
Solar thermal is not compatible with a combi boiler.
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How we can help?​
We offer the complete installation from the initial site survey and formal quotation to the installation, commissioning and MCS registration documentation. An average domestic system costs between £3000 and £5000 with the current VAT rate at zero% (the VAT rate has been lowered to zero% by the government to incentivise the installation of renewable technologies being installed). Get in touch with us via the contact form to arrange a free no obligation quotation.
Horisun Renewable Energy are MCS (Microgeneration Certification Scheme) approved installers who are also members of RECC (the Renewable Energy Consumer Code). Any deposits we take are held by IWA (Independent Warranty Association) so you can rest assured your renewable energy installation is in the safest of hands.
