Smith Bros And Dixon

Solar

The growing awareness of the current and future challenges which face us means that more and more people are aspiring for more efficient, economical and environmentally friendly heating and hot water systems.

It is a popular misconception that utilising solar energy is only possible in hot, sunny climates. The reality is that it is daylight rather than sunshine which is the important factor, which is why Worcester Greenskies solar water heating features ultra-sensitive panels developed to collect as much light as possible, even on the dullest of days.

As an indication a correctly sized and installed system will provide the following proportion of the household hot water: summer 80-90% spring and autumn 40-50% winter 20-30% this translates to over half of the typical annual domestic hot water requirements.

Typical solar system for hot water with twin coil cylinder and system boiler

The most common solar system layout uses a twin coil cylinder, which is heated primarily by the solar panels and a system boiler, which is used to top up heat levels when required. The solar system and regular heating system do not come into direct contact with each other and the only shared part is the cylinder.

(please see the diagram at the bottom of this page)

Homeowners FAQs

What is sustainable energy?
Sustainable energy is best thought of as energy which can be replenished within a human lifetime and which causes no long-term damage to the environment. Solar energy, wind energy and geothermal energy are all self-sustaining. They all have sources that cannot be depleted. Extended use of these energy aids the conservation of other non-renewable energy sources such as fossil fuels.

How does solar technology work?
The idea behind technologies which use solar energy is to harness the freely available rays from the sun in a useful form. The technology used for solar water heating is simple and effective. The basic principle uses an absorber plate, which is heated by the sun's rays. This heat is collected in a transfer liquid, which in turn is used in a heat exchanger to heat the cylinder.

What if there is no sun or it is a cloudy day?
Special coatings are used on the absorber plates, which allow the collector to absorb energy from diffused as well as direct sunlight. This means the panel can still yield results on days when there are clouds in the sky.

Do I still need a boiler?
Solar heating on a normal domestic scale in the UK will provide around 50-70% of the average households hot water requirements. Although the system will provide most of the hot water in the summer months, the winter results due to the lower intensity of the sun and fewer daylight hours, will be reduced. Therefore a boiler is required to make up the difference in domestic hot water requirement and for the central heating.

Do I need to have a particular type of roof for solar installation?
The best orientation for solar panels is facing due south; the gains available will reduce as the orientation moves away from due south. A variety of brackets and frames are available for solar systems to suit different roof types.

Whichever system you are thinking of having installed, or if you are unsure of any topics covered do not hesitate to contact us. Our designer can arrange to call out to view your property and give you a no obligation quotation.

All houses and occupants differ and not all houses are suitable for solar panel hot water systems to be installed. We always offer expert advice and would never mislead anyone into getting a system which would not be beneficial. Every system we design is different and to the customers specific needs.