Solar Thermal FAQs
If your question is not listed below, please email Microgen@goodenergyshop.co.uk. Not only we will be able to answer your question, but we will also add it to the list for future visitors to our site.
How do Solar Thermal systems work?
What is the difference between Solar PV and Solar Thermal?
What size do Solar Thermal Panels come in?
Where can I place my Solar Thermal Panels?
What if my roof faces east/west - will my Solar Thermal panel still work?
I have a combi boiler - can I still have a Solar Thermal system?
What is the difference between Flat Plate Panels and Evacuated Tubes?
My roof is old and in fairly poor condition - can I still install a Solar Thermal system on it?
What grants are available for domestic customers wanting to install a Solar Thermal system?
What grants are available for business customers wanting to install a Solar Thermal system?
What is the life expectancy of a Solar Thermal system?
What maintenance will my Solar Thermal system require?
Can I sell the energy I generate from my Solar Thermal system?
How do Solar Thermal systems work?
A solar thermal collector (Flat plate panels or evacuated tube panels) is installed on the roof of your house. Inside the collector a non-toxic freeze proof solar fluid is heated by the sun then pumped through a pipe coiling inside the hot water tank, which heats up the water in the tank. Hot water is then available for you to use in the house and the solar fluid is then pumped back up to the collector, where it is once again heated by the sun.
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What is the difference between Solar PV and Solar Thermal?
Solar PV is a technology that uses the power of the sun to create electricity.
Solar Thermal is a technology that uses the power of the sun to heat water. Unlike Solar PV, Solar Thermal systems only require daylight to operate and properly installed system works all year round - even when it's cloudy. In fact, the system will provide you with hot water for approx 70-80% of the year (Reduced amount of daylight hours during the winter reduces production of heat energy).
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What size do Solar Thermal Panels come in?
The Schulco Sol K Solar Thermal flat plate panels that we sell are compact line solar thermal collectors with black anodised frame. Each panel is 2039mm x 1139mm x 80mm, with an absorber surface of 2.15 m2, and a gross area of 2.32 m2.
To give you an idea on how many panels you might need, the industry calculates that on average each person uses 50 litres of heated water a day. Therefore, if your house is occupied by 4 people you would need 2 x Flat Panels (100 litres per panel) to support a 200 litre hot water tank.
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Where can I place my Solar Thermal Panels?
To maximise the performance from your system it should be placed on a south facing surface (roofs usually) with a 45 degree tilt towards the sun in an unshaded location. A south-east or south-west facing roof will still deliver a good yield of energy.
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What if my roof faces east/west - will my Solar Thermal panel still work?
If you have an east /west facing roof, you can still have solar thermal but we would recommend that you install a panel on each side of the roof to harness enough energy throughout the day. This will increase the cost.
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I have a combi boiler - can I still have a Solar Thermal system?
Most conventional hot water systems can be connected to a solar thermal solution, with the addition of a new cylinder allowing an extra coil to heat your water. However, we believe there are only two types of combi boiler that are compatible with solar thermal systems - Ferrolli or Alpha.
If you have a combi boiler that is not a Ferrolli or an Alpha, and are determined to install a solar thermal system we would advise that you replace your existing boiler with a compatible boiler. This would cost approximately £1800-£2000 in addition to the Solar Thermal installation cost.
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What is the difference between Flat Plate Panels and Evacuated Tubes?
There are two main types of solar thermal collectors: Flat Plate Panels and Evacuated Tubes.
Flat bed panels are a thin panel of metal that acts as an absorber positioned just below a sheet of glass. The metal panels absorb the sun's heat and this heat is then transferred to a liquid that is pumped through the system. These are robust, long lasting systems.
Evacuated tubes are glass tubes - a vacuum is created within them except for thin strips of twisted metal which act as an absorber. The vacuum means conduction losses are reduced so heat transfer in evacuated tubes is very efficient. By contrast, flat bed panels tend to lose more heat, especially when it's cold.
The evacuated tube system consists of a row of these tubes and is better in climates where there is not always direct sunlight i.e. when the radiation is high but not necessarily the temperature. The increased efficiency of evacuated tubes does not necessarily mean that they can produce more hot water just that the area can be reduced.
Although evacuated tubes are slightly more efficient they are more fragile and replacing a broken tube can be very expensive. Whereas Flat panel systems are very robust - you can actually stand on them and they wouldn't break.
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My roof is old and in fairly poor condition - can I still install a Solar Thermal system on it?
Although Solar Thermal systems are unlikely to be heavy enough to cause structural problems, if your roof is in poor condition we would recommend that you undertake a structural survey before proceeding with your installation. If your roof is in need of repair or replacement we would recommend combining this work with your Solar Thermal installation as this will help to reduce cost.
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What grants are available for domestic customers wanting to install a Solar Thermal system?
The Low Carbon Buildings Scheme offers a maximum Solar Thermal grant of £400 or 30% of the relevant eligible costs, whichever is the lower. Click here for more information on the Low Carbon Buildings Scheme.
You may also be eligible for a further grant from your local council. Have you contacted your council to see what grants they have available?
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What grants are available for business customers wanting to install a Solar Thermal system?
STREAMS 2A and 2B of the Low Carbon Buildings Programme, which were set up to offer grant schemes for businesses and small to medium enterprises, have now closed for new applications. Final deadlines for applications were; 14th September 2007 for Steam 2B and 28th September for Stream 2A.
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What is the life expectancy of a Solar Thermal system?
The Schuco Flat panels sold via the Good Energy Shop come with a 5 year warrantee and a life expectancy of 25 years. Our installer, Freesource, also provides a 1 year workmanship warranty on all their installations.
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What maintenance will my Solar Thermal system require?
Minimal maintenance is required to keep the solar thermal system in good operation. However, we would recommend getting the pressure checked at least every 1-2 years just to make sure your system is able to perform at its best. The water/anti-freeze liquid that circulates within the system will need adding to or replacing at five year intervals. Our installers will be able to recommend a suitable maintenance schedule.
The panels do not require any cleaning as this is done naturally by rain and aided by the 45 degree angle.
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Can I sell the energy I generate from my Solar Thermal system?
Yes you can. Good Energy has launched Good Energy HotROCs, the UK's first Renewable Heat Incentive. HotROCs pays domestic solar thermal generators 4.5p for every unit of heat energy they produce. Click here for more information on Good Energy's Generation Schemes.
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