Solar Thermal
Solar Water Heating systems use solar panels (sometimes called collectors) to collect heat from the sun which is then used to heat up the water stored in a hot water cylinder. A boiler is then used to further back up the heat from the water to reach the temperature you want. Solar panels form part of a system which remains separate from the boiler heating system. The solar water heating panels are mounted on a surface which is selected for its exposure to sunlight and usually connected, via pipe work, to the lower coil of a twin-coil solar cylinder.
A typical well sized Solar Thermal system should provide around 50-70% of the domestic hot water requirements of the home, representing a worthwhile saving on hot water heating costs. The remaining hot water requirement is provided by the boiler.
Solar Thermal installations qualify for Domestic Renewable Heat Incentive Tariff payments. These are paid quarterly over a period of seven years from the date of installation. - Please see News for the current tariff rates. Both the manufacturer's appliance and the installing company need to be MCS registered for the installation to qualify.
