Introducing Solar Energy
Solar is the cleanest and most inexhaustible of all known energy sources. Solar radiation is the light, heat and other radiant energy that is emitted from the sun. The sun’s energy, although plentiful, has proved hard to directly harness until recently. It is a common misconception that solar energy will only work when the sun shines and therefore unsuitable in the British climate.
A solar water heater converts solar energy into thermal energy, then heats the water step by step. The beauty of this system is it does not create pollution or harmful emissions, and is extremely economical – the fuel is free! They don’t charge us for the sun yet! Plus, of course they are environmentally friendly. To take full advantage of these heaters, you should ideally have an un shaded, south-facing location on your property such as a roof for example, although they can be utilised at ground level also. This type of Solar water heater is now extremely popular in many areas of the world, and becoming more so in the UK.
How the Solar Panel System works
Solar Panels are mounted at the optimum angle and direction on your roof. The solar panels installed by SolarBase are evacuated tubes with a metallic absorber that reflects the UV light back onto the tubes, optimising performance. Your existing cylinder is replaced by a solar twin coil cylinder or a solarthermix conversion kit can be attached to you existing cylinder.
In the event of a combi system a suitable position for a new cylinder will be identified. The solar twin-coil cylinder is connected to the solar panels by copper pipes and a special fluid is pumped around the solar panels, absorbing solar energy, and back into the cylinder heating the water. During days of little UV light, your existing boiler will be automatically triggered to top up the water temperature.
A solar controller monitors the performance of the system, displaying the temperature of the solar panels and the cylinder. Solar panels require minimal maintenance. As part of every SolarBase installation, there is a 10 year manufacturer warranty on the evacuated tubes and 3 year warranty on all parts and labour.
Evacuated Tubes
The vacuum tube technology is particularly suitable for our temperate UK climate, where they will take full advantage of winter sun. The performance of vacuum tube panels surpasses that of flat plates in cold winter weather,overcast conditions and windy conditions. Under warm, sunny conditions, vacuum tube panels will produce the same amount of heat per area as flat plates….but which type of weather do we see most in the UK?
An average household (3 people) would expect to produce most of its hot water from the end of March to the end of September from a single 20 tube 47mm solar panel, although it will depend on water usage. Even outside this period, solar will produce a worthwhile contribution towards your hot water requirements, resulting insignificant reduction of fuel usage and carbon dioxide emission. In fact,fitting a solar system to your house, is probably one of the most positive ways you can reduce your carbon foot print, without making major lifestyle changes.
For larger households (4-5people), it may be necessary to fit a larger solar installation 30-40 tubes to get the same percentage of hot water requirements,but even if a smaller system is fitted, every kWh produced will save 1 kWh offossil fuels, and 0.5kg of CO2 emission. If you decide to fit an under sized system now, it is easy to increase the capacity of the system at a later stage,as the panels are modular – if you would like advice on sizing solar panels for your requirements, please feel free to give us a call or send an email.
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