Solar Thermal

Solar water heating systems use heat from the sun to work alongside your conventional water heater. The technology is well developed with a large choice of equipment to suit many applications.

Benefits

* can provide you with around half of your hot water needs
* reduces your impact on the environment - the average domestic system reduces carbon dioxide emissions by around 325kg per year, depending on the fuel replaced

Different types of system

What best suits your needs depends on a range of factors, including the area of south facing roof, the existing water heating system (e.g. some combi boilers aren't suitable) and your budget. Solar water heating can be used in the home or for larger applications, such as swimming pools. For domestic hot water there are three main components: solar panels, a heat transfer system, and a hot water cylinder. Solar panels - or collectors - are fitted to your roof. They collect heat from the sun's radiation. The heat transfer system uses the collected heat to heat water. A hot water cylinder stores the hot water that is heated during the day and supplies it for use later.

Is my property suitable?

Preferably you will need 3-4m of southeast to southwest facing roof receiving direct sunlight for the main part of the day. You'll also need space to locate an additional water cylinder if required.

Cost and maintenance

The typical installation cost for a domestic system is £5,000-£7,000. Solar hot water systems generally come with a 10-year warranty and require very little maintenance. A yearly check by the householder and a more detailed check by a professional installer every 3-5 years should be sufficient (consult your system supplier for exact maintenance requirements).

Planning considerations

In England, changes to permitted development rights for domestic microgeneration technologies introduced on 6th April 2008 have lifted the requirements for planning permission for most solar PV installations. Roof mounted and stand-alone systems can now be installed in most dwellings, as long as they respect certain size criteria.. Exceptions apply for Listed Buildings, buildings in Conservation Areas and World Heritage Sites.