Solar Thermal Systems
Solar panels or Solar Collectors are the most well-known eco-friendly energy option. Their foreseeable payback periods mean that homeowners can now see the cost benefits of solar panel systems far quicker than previously. All Renewable Energy Ltd. can install flat solar panels or evacuated tube solar panels including drain back and sealed systems.
Solar Thermal Panels
There are two types of solar panel, flat panel design and evacuated tubes. The evacuated tube solar panels are more efficient but for this efficiency you will pay around 15% more for the collectors themselves. Flat solar panels are often preferred because of their less obtrusive look on your property.
The system works on a separate loop connected into a specially designed solar cylinder. This separate loop ensures the antifreeze inside the solar panels does not mix into the general central heating system.
Solar panels are very flexible in terms of connection or docking to other heating forms. Popular docking can be made to ground or air source heat pumps, thermal store cylinders and even biomass boilers. Because they are an extra added bonus and are not a primary heating source, they can be added at any time. This means at installation stage of another heat source such as a ground source heat pump, we can put in a solar coil cylinder, with the intention of adding solar panels further down the line.
How does solar thermal water heating work?
Solar thermal panels use heat from the sun to warm fluid passing through them, as the diagram below shows. This is then used to heat your water, which is stored in a hot water cylinder. An immersion heater/unvented hot water cylinder might be needed as a back-up heater or to get the water to the temperature you want.
