Why choose a
Solar Thermal System?
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Solar Thermal systems generate hot water.
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Compatible with Heat Pumps, Biomass and Gas Fired Boilers.
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Provides heated water even in cold, windy or humid conditions.
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Saves up to 60% of your hot water costs.
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Suitable even for smaller roofs.
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Can cope with shade as well as east or west facing roofs.
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Permitted Development under Planning rules.
Solar Thermal systems use the heat from the sun to heat your hot water. Collectors on the roof absorb heat from the sun and the system passes this absorbed heat to the water in your hot water cylinder.
Installation of a Solar Thermal system usually allows you to turn off the main source of heating during spring through to autumn.
Despite the lack of sunshine during the winter months, the efficiency of modern solar collectors allows the system to input some heat to the hot water cylinder, reducing the load on the boiler; thereby reducing fuel bills.
The heart of the Solar Thermal system is the collector which would normally be mounted on the roof. Should the collectors need to be mounted to a flat roof, an ‘A’ frame can be installed.
The collectors contain an antifreeze solution, which is heated by sunlight. A controller measures the temperature on the collectors and compares it with the temperature at the bottom of the hot water cylinder. When the collectors are hotter, the controller starts a pump that runs the hot solution through a coil in the bottom of the cylinder. The solution is pumped back to the collectors where the solution is re-heated and the cycle repeats.
Heat Pipe - A dry heat pipe collector.
Direct flow - The direct flow solar collector can be installed on a pitched or horizontal surface and the tube can be rotated 25 degrees to compensate for installations that deviate from South. As the collector is a fully pumped unit, there is no minimum angle for the collector.
