A Solar thermal system is used to generate hot water or heating using direct heat from the sun. It is used in conjunction with a traditional boiler to supplement the hot water say in the winter.

How it works

1. Solar thermal systems use solar panels known as collectors, mounted on your roof to collect the heat from the sun.  The heat is then used to warm your water which is stored in a hot water cylinder – as in a traditional boiler system.

2. There are three different types of collectors: flat plate, evacuated tubes and air collector. Flat plates can be fixed to existing roof tiles or integrated into the roof.
   
   
3. Solar thermal has a very high efficiency, collecting between 70 and 85% of the heat energy from the sun for use in hot water systems. A boiler or immersion heater can be used as a back up to heat the water further to reach the temperature set by the cylinders thermostat when the solar water heating system does not reach that temperature. (The cylinder thermostat should be set at 60 degrees centigrade.)  This is particularly important in winter when days are more overcast and heat is generally less.
   
   
4. A collection area can be around 5 square metres. It can also be used for heating pools where seasonal variations work in favour.
   
   
5. Solar thermal provides hot water throughout the year, however there will be season variation and you may need to supplement using a boiler or immersion heater during the winter months.

Thinking of installing a solar system?

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