Solar Water Heating (ADD)

You don’t need to pay a fortune for heating your water. The amount paid for water heating for a regular household is nearly one third of their fuel bills. This amount can be significantly, and in some seasons totally, cut by utilizing solar energy.

Solar water heaters absorb the energy in sunlight through solar panels and use it to heat the water. This hot water is then collected in a tank and used for your hot water needs.

Here are many options to choose from. They are categorised depending on panel technology, panel location and heating fluid transfer method.

Depending on the collector (panel) type they can be either flat-plate or evacuated tube collectors. Both systems have advantages and disadvantages. Flat-plate collectors are cheaper but evacuated tube collectors are more efficient, thus which one to choose will depend on your own needs and budget. However, due to high efficiency of evacuated tube collectors the overall cost would be approximately the same.

Collectors can be mounted on a roof and these are called on-roof systems. Sometimes it is possible to embed the collectors in the roof and these systems are called in-roof. Depending on space availability, some collectors are installed on the ground as standalone systems.

Regardless of the collector type or location, heat absorbed from the sun is transferred to the water to be heated by means of a heat transfer fluid. If this fluid is circulated by pumps these systems are called active systems and if pumps are not used for fluid circulation those are passive systems.

How much can you save by using solar water heaters?
It depends on the season; however as you see below you can save up to 70% of your water heating costs and 30% of your overall heating costs by solar water heaters. The seasonal savings are:

• Winter - 22%
• Autumn - 48%
• Spring - 71%
• Summer – 100%

It is possible to get hot water even in winter because solar water heating systems don’t need direct sunlight. They can convert even indirect sunlight to heat. So you will have the comfort of plenty of hot water for a very little cost.

Solar water heaters have other hidden advantages

• You will reduce the CO2 emission due to using carbon based fuels for heating water, your individual contribution to global warming will decrease.
• BER rating of your house will improve.
• Depending on improved BER, the value of your house will increase.
• You will invest in a system that you can use for about 20 years.

Do you think that the initial investment would cost you a lot?

Don’t worry. SEI grants up to € 1800 are available for solar water heaters under the Greener Homes Scheme which aims to support use of renewable energy for domestic energy needs.

What points should be considered while choosing a solar water heating system?

Quality is the most important point when choosing a solar water heater as they are intended for long-term use. Here are some useful tips:

• Choose a system of recognised quality
• Have your system designed by specialists so that your specific needs and condiions can be assesed in the best way
• Installation should be done by an expert installer with proper training and experience
• Make sure that your system has been thoroughly checked and commissioned before signing off the installation

Futura Energy can help you in all steps of your solar water heating system installation, from idea to design, grant assistance, product selection and installation. Our expert team will help you get the best value for your investment. Also check our solar water heater deals.