You can get most of the hot water you need from a Solar Hot Water system (often known as a Solar Thermal system). These typically supply you between 50% and 70% of your hot water needs over the year (the rest coming from a gas or wood-burning boiler).
Altogether this adds up to a big saving in fuel costs, and a big benefit for the environment. Each solar hot water system saves between half to three quarters of a tonne of CO2 each year. The savings off your fuel bill will typically be between £50 and £130 a year, depending on the size of the panels and how much hot water you use.
Solar hot water is a tried and tested technology that has been around since the 1970s. There are over 40,000 systems now installed in the UK. For city-dwellers, it is usually the most cost effective renewable energy system you can install at home. And the payback is improved even more by the government grants that are available to everyone to help with installation.
If you are interested in installing a Solar Hot Water system on your roof, you can request a free quote from our partner firm of installers by following this link.
Did you know?
- The average household's hot water supply requires around 3000 kwh
- Over 1000 kwh of energy is received each year in the UK on each square metre of surface. That's about 60% of the solar radiation found at the equator
- Even on cloudy days we receive energy from indirect sunlight
- The average solar hot water system should provide 25 years useful service
The 3 main components of a solar hot water system
1. Solar panels fitted to your roof to capture and keep the heat from the sun and transfer this to a fluid
2. A hot water cylinder to store the water heated during the day
3. The plumbing system made up of simple piping and sometimes a pump, to move fluid around the system
Is my property suitable for Solar Hot Water?
You will need:
- 2 to 5 square metres of southish facing roof space (i.e. southeast to southwest facing), that has little or no shading during the day
- Space to locate an additional hot water cylinder if it is needed
Solar hot water systems generally work well in partnership with condensing boilers. They do not generally work well with combi boiler systems; installation with these usually involves extra cost.
How much will it cost?
The typical installation costs are between £2,000 and £5,000:
- £2,000 to £3,000 for ‘flat plate collector' systems
- £3,500 to £5,000 for ‘evacuated tube' systems
An installer will help you decide which is the best type of system for you. Follow this link for more information on different types of solar hot water sytems.
N.B. installation costs vary due to factors such as size of the solar panels, type of roof, the existing hot water system and where you are in the country
Very little maintenance is generally required for solar hot water systems. They normally come with a 10 year guarantee. They generally only need a basic check by you once a year and a check by a professional every 3-5 years.
What should I do next?
If you are interested in installing a system, we can arrange a free, no obligation quote (click here) from our partner installer. They will be able to assess your property's suitability, advise you on which system is best, give you a quote and help you with grant funding
