Renewable - Solar Heating

Solar Water Heating
Solar Thermal Systems enable you to enjoy litres of free hot water almost every day. It is the most environmentally friendly product available for your home or business.

The panels are mounted on or in the roof and are normally made from Aluminium. The casings are rust proof and the collector is covered with safety glass. Inside the panel is a corrosion resistant absorber plate and a copper heat transfer tube.

Benefits
Solar energy provides the most cost effective renewable energy with real payback opportunities.

The average household spends an average of 27 to 35% of their total energy costs on hot water production. Solar collectors act as a supplement to existing water heating arrangements.

Significantly reducing bills and at the same time, reducing carbon dioxide emissions, which in turn will reduce your household’s carbon footprint.

All our solar installations are carried out by LOGIC certified engineers.

Key Points
- High quality construction
- 35 year life expectancy
- Generating up to 70% of your hot water
- Making large savings on ever increasing energy bills
- Pay back can be achieved within as little as 6 years

How it works
Solar panels are powered by light. It doesn’t have to be a sunny day for the panels to collect energy for your hot water.
The panels contain a specially formulated harmless Glycol solution that is within a sealed heat transfer system. The pipe work for this system is covered with very tough, temperature resistant insulation to prevent heat loss. The heat is carried through this pipe work to your hot water cylinder to store the hot water.

Solar Water Heating Principals
When daylight hits the panels, the light is absorbed and converted into heat. This in turn heats the transfer fluid contained within panels. When the temperature in the panel exceeds the temperature of the water contained in your hot water cylinder, the controller activates the pump, which in turn pumps heat into your hot water cylinder. When the water contained within your cylinder reaches sufficient temperature, the controller stops the pump.

When you draw off hot water for a bath etc. the cold water then enters your cylinder drops the temperature of the stored water, which is sensed by the controller and restarts the pump to reheat the cylinder to the required temperature.

It is estimated that solar panels will produce 70% of your hot water over a year - they will produce more hot water in the summer when the days are long and less in the shorter, winter days but even in winter will still make a contribution to your hot water needs.
At the times when there is insufficient light to power the system, i.e. at night or on rainy, foggy days, the water will be heated by your gas, oil boiler etc. or electrically by immersion heater in the traditional way.

Please click here to return to the renewable page.