Solar Thermal Hot Water Heating systems allow you to generate hot water for use in your home, business or even swimming pool. This is achieved by using the free heat from the sun (the renewable source) to heat your hot water. The heat from the sun is captured by collectors on your roof, wall or other structure. These collectors tend to come in two different formats, flat plate panels or evacuated tubes. 

The systems work by way of a highly insulated copper pipe that connects the collectors to the lower heat coil in a sealed unit (a solar rated twin coil cylinder). The upper coil in the cylinder connects to your boiler in the usual way. Sensors are installed in the collectors and the cylinder. The sensors then communicate with a digital controller which then turns on the pump when solar energy is available (ie when there is sunlight) and heat is needed to warm the hot water in the property. The pump directs the heat from the collector to the cylinder. This is done using a liquid called Glycol which is similar to anti-freeze. When the water is hot enough, the pump then turns off. If there is not sufficient solar energy to heat the water, for example at night or on very cloudy days, your water will be heated by your backup existing supply (such as gas or immersion). This switchover is automatic and does not interrupt your supply.

You can expect a solar thermal system to provide you with up to 70% of your hot water heating requirements per year. However, you will find that this will be mainly in the summer months. Our customers report that during the hotter months of the year (April to September), they find that the system provides them will nearly all of their hot water and very rarely have the need to use their back up method. In the winter months the system will not meet all of your hot water requirements but it will partially heat the water which will still help reduce your bills as you will not be consuming as much fuel to heat the water from cold. Solar Thermal installations will benefit from the upcoming Renewable Heat Incentive Scheme (RHI) due for implementation this year.

Solar Thermal Hot Water Heating systems allow you to generate hot water for use in your home, business or even swimming pool. This is achieved by using the free heat from the sun (the renewable source) to heat your hot water.