Solar Heating

Solar water heating systems utilise the sun's energy to provide domestic hot water - all year round.

Solar Panel Grants

Feed in Tariff The Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) is a government grant announced in November 11, initially targeted at businesses to encourage them to generate heat in a more environmentally friendly way whilst reducing their overall energy costs.

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Even in Britain, where the sun shines all too infrequently, solar energy can account for around two thirds (65%) of your annual hot water needs.

Naturally, that means a significant saving on your yearly heating bills - and you'll also reduce your carbon footprint, bringing your property's carbon dioxide emissions down by over 500kg every year.

So solar water heating isn't just great news for you, it's great news for the planet too.

How Solar Water Heating Works

Solar panels that are used for solar water heating are not the same as those used to generate electricity.

The difference being that to generate electricity, you need photovoltaic solar panels, whereas solar water heating requires plates known as solar thermal collectors.

These solar thermal collectors come in two forms; flat plate collectors and solar evacuated tubes. As the names suggest, one is a flat, single plate and the other made up of around 20 long thin glass tubes.

In effect, the two perform the same job - though evacuated tube collectors are generally acknowledged as being marginally more efficient in cold weather.

The panels are specially coated to absorb the sun's energy, helping to heat your water.

With your water heated and ready to use straight from the tap, the solar heating fluid returns to the thermal collector to do it all again.

Whichever type of solar panel is used, they will be sited on your roof - preferably facing in a southerly direction. Solar water heating is one of the simplest forms of solar installation.

Benefits Of Solar Water Heating

Save money - by using solar energy to heat your domestic water, you can save hundreds of pounds on your annual bills.

Hot water throughout the year - solar panels work throughout the year however you'll need to heat the water further with a boiler or immersion heater during winter.

Environment benefits - through hrough the reduced carbon emissions and the reduced strain on fossil fuels

Extra incentives - the Government has introduced the Renewable Heat Incentive scheme that rewards house owners financially for using renewable energy sources in the home.

The myth about solar energy

Many people are under the common misconception that solar energy can only work in conditions of bright sunshine and high temperatures and is therefore unsuited to the British climate.Our solar panels operate on the principle of light absorption and are not dependent on high temperature or long spells of unbroken sunshine. A special coating on the absorber ensures that the system is effective even on cloudy days.

How Do Solar Systems Work?

Solar thermal technology actually creates energy. Our Solar Systems convert light into heat and, having captured the heat, thermal solar technology deploys the energy in water heating.Our Solar Systems produce hot water without creating carbon dioxide or any other greenhouse gas and create no pollution. They produce energy without using scarce fossil fuels and are cost effective. They work all the year round, so that in all forms of daylight there will be some contribution from a well designed thermal solar system. Direct sunlight is not needed although Our Solar Systems work more quickly in very strong light.

Please take time to look through our site to learn more about what we do, and if you have any questions please feel free to Contact Us today to discuss your needs.

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