Solar heating
Solar power is a clean, renewable energy source that provides a viable self sufficient alternative to your heating needs. Solar heating provides your hot water requirements free of charge (once installed) whilst also helping to reduce your home's carbon emissions and reducing the need to use our depleting fossil fuels. The UK is undoubtedly getting warmer and sunnier, with fuel prices increasing a renewable energy source such as solar heating is perhaps an ideal solution.
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How does it work?
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Solar heating is fairly simple in operation and at the heart of the system are the solar collectors that transform the solar radiation into heat. The heat is then retained within the collectors via absorbers where water is fed through the absorbers and then heated to the required temperature. An electronic controller constantly monitors the differing temperature between the collectors and water cylinder. As soon as the temperature within the collectors exceed that of the water cylinder, the regulator turns on the solar circulating pump where the heated water from the collector will be sent to the water cylinder.
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Elements of a solar heating system for hot water:
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- Automatic solar controller
- Temperature sensor on collector
- Temperature sensor on storage tank
- Solar circulation pump
- Cold water inflow
- Hot water run-off
- Expansion tank
- Temperature sensor for additional heating
- Charging circuit- solar circulation pump
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Considerations of solar heating
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Solar heating is undoubtedly one of the most significant ways in which you can reduce carbon emissions and conserve energy within your home. There are however a number of important considerations that you need to consider before you install a solar heating system in your own home.
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Things to consider:
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Costs - Unfortunately it is not comparatively 'cheap' to install a solar heating system, even though the system costs have reduced significantly over the years the initial cost of purchasing and installing you solar heating system is still a barrier for many people. There are still Government grants available, the previously called Clear Skies scheme has been replaced by the DTI's Low Carbon Buildings Programme (LCBP) to aid the initial installation costs. However once the system is installed the only considerations in terms of cost will be how much money you will be saving from your heating bill.
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Installation - Unless you already have the correct type of water cylinder (in most cases this is not likely) you will need to replace your water cylinder for a duel core thermal store. Depending on your current system other components may also need to be upgraded, possibly even your boiler. You must also appreciate that the collector plates will also need to be installed on your home's roof, how many will depend upon your heat requirements. The plates will need to be installed south facing, this may make some installations impractical to complete.
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The results - The biggest myth of solar heating is that they do not work within the UK's climate, this is a false assumption. With improved technology solar heating is viable in most parts of the country with the South being the most prominent area. Solar heating can also work throughout the whole of the year, offering varying amounts of heat. Unfortunately solar heating is never normally adequate enough to provide a 100% of your heating needs, especially throughout the winter months. In this respect a solar heating system is usually installed alongside your existing boiler heating system. A solar heating system could save up to 60% - 80% of your energy bill.
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Links for further reading
