Solar Energy Panels & Installers
Covering Bristol, Bath, Gloucester

Solar energy panels 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 and our Solar Panel Installers will provide .

How does Solar Energy Work?

For domestic hot water there are three main components

• Solar panels or collectors - are fitted to your roof. They collect heat from the sun's radiation. There are 2 main types of collector:
• Flat plate systems - which are comprised of an absorber plate with a transparent cover to collect the sun's heat, or
• Evacuated tube systems - which are comprised of a row of glass tubes that each contain an absorber plate feeding into a mainfold which transports the heated fluid.

• A heat transfer system - uses the collected heat to heat water;
• Hot water cylinder - stores the hot water that is heated during the day and supplies it for use later.

Solar Energy Benefits

Solar water heating can provide you with a considerable cost saving and account for a considerable proportion of your hot water needs. The average domestic system reduces C02 by around 325kg per year and will save you around £60 a year off your hot water bills in a gas heated homes and considerably more in alternatively fuelled homes. These savings can be even further increased with the use of additional panels.

Fuel Displaced	£ Saving Per Year	CO2 Saving Per Year
Gas	£60	325 kg
Electricity	£90	635 kg
Oil	£85	365 kg
Solid	£65	645 kg

All savings are approximate and are based on the hot water requirements of a 3 bed house.

Is Solar Energy Suitable For My Home

Solar water heating can be used in the home or for larger applications, such as swimming pools. For a domestic system you will need 3-4 square metres 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.

Choosing a system suitable to your needs requires consideration of 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. Our surveyor will be able to assess your situation and discuss with you the best configuration to meet your needs.

Solar water heating can also be used in conjunction with low water temperature heating systems such as underfloor heating to aid in the provision of heating to a property. The extent to which the solar water heating can contribute towards your heating needs will depend upon the demands of the heating system and the size and number of solar panels.

In England, changes to permitted development rights for microgeneration technologies introduced on 6th April 2008 have lifted the requirements for planning permission for most solar water heating 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, and buildings in Conservation Areas and World Heritage Sites.