Solar Thermal

Solar thermal systems use the energy from the sun to heat water, usually by panel collectors fitted to a south facing roof and connected to a storage tank. Solar water heating has been the most popular form of renewable technology in the domestic market. Although solar thermal collectors will achieve their peak output during the summer months, they can make a significant contribution to the heating load of a property throughout the year.

Solar collectors are  available in two types, called flat plate collectors and evacuated tube collectors.

In evacuated tube collectors, the heat exchangers are placed inside glass tubes where the air has been extracted to form a vacuum. These are more efficient than flat plate collectors, but generally more expensive. Flat plate collectors are generally thinner and integrate into the roof surface more satisfactorily. Evacuated tube collectors can be made more efficient by turning the collector within the tube to orientate it to the path of the sun
Watchpoint: Both systems will normally require plumbing alterations and the installation of a modified hot water tank, which would be larger than a normal hot water cylinder. However, if the existing hot water tank is suitable, there are coils which can be fitted without replacement of the tank.