Solar hot water

How it works

Heat from the sun is captured by solar panels on the roof of your property into a special, solar hot water cylinder, heating your hot water. For domestic properties the solar hot water cylinder normally replaces the existing hot water cylinder.

Benefits

A typical household application can generate up to 70% of the annual hot water requirement. Hot water generated from a Solar Hot Water heating system has minimal CO₂ emissions, so will help towards reducing the production of greenhouse gases. Water is heated by using energy from the sun rather than a fuel boiler, so fuel bills will also be reduced and your boiler will have less work to do. A Solar Hot Water system will significantly increase the energy efficiency rating of your home. With the introduction of Home Information Packs by the government a Solar Hot Water system will make a significant step towards improving the energy rating of your home, reducing your fuel bills and reducing your carbon footprint.

With the introduction of the Governments Renewable Heat Incentive in April 2011 not only will you have reduced energy bills but you will receive an annual payment of around £350 / year for twenty years. The precise details of this scheme are being finalized by Government but if it is similar to the Feed-in tariff regime then this income will be index linked and tax free.