Compare Prices from Nearby UK Installers for Solar Water Heating

Media &
Testimonials

Sun-powered water heating

Solar water heating: What Is It?

Solar water heating makes use of solar energy to heat domestic water. Utilizing this technology will help you reduce your household’s carbon footprint because it uses a clean source of energy.

Solar panels, which turn solar energy from the sun into electricity, are typically associated with solar energy. Solar thermal panels, on the other hand, enable the use of solar energy for heating water.

A solar water heating system may supply about a third of the hot water needs for a family of four. More specifically, you would save £55 to £80 a year on water heating costs if you invested in this kind of renewable heating system for a three-bedroom semi-detached house.

The Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) program, which aims to financially reward households who use renewable energy to heat their properties, is also open to owners of solar water heating systems.

You’ve come to the right place if you want to buy a solar water heating system! You can request up to four free, non-binding quotes from some of the best professional installers in the nation by simply filling out the form at the top of this page.

The Mechanism of Solar Water Heating

Solar energy is used by a solar water heating system to warm water for residential or commercial needs. It is wrong to think that solar panels and water heating panels serve the same purpose, which is something that happens frequently.

Solar collectors are used in solar water heating systems to capture solar heat. Where they receive the greatest sunshine, collectors are typically installed on flat or sloped roofs. The place where the collectors are most exposed to the sun will always be the best choice, however they can also be mounted at ground level or even on a south-facing wall.

When necessary, an alternative option for raising the water’s temperature is to utilize an immersion heater or a boiler.

There are two different forms of solar thermal collectors, which primarily differ in terms of appearance but work similarly:

    • Plate collectors, flat
    • ventilation tubes

The evacuated tubes are made up of several “vacuum tubes” fixed into a manifold put onto a roof, as opposed to the flat plate collectors, which are made up of hot water solar panels with flat glazing.

You must run highly insulated pipes from the collectors to a hot water cylinder in addition to the collector (either existent or a new one). In order to heat the water and deliver it to the top of the hot water reservoir, cold water from the bottom of this cylinder is first forced through the collector.

The following video demonstrates how the solar water heating system functions.

What is the price of solar water heating?

Depending on the size of the building and whether you require a new hot water cylinder or you use the old one, a domestic system will typically cost between £3,000 and £5,000 in the UK. However, keep in mind that it can be challenging to predict specific solar water heating panel costs, so speaking with an installation is always advised.

You might save a lot of money on your monthly energy bill if you choose to get solar hot water panels.

With a well insulated building, good installation, and proper usage, typical savings on a solar water heating system can amount to up to £60 per year when converting from a gas heating system and £70 per year when switching from an electric immersion heating system.

Savings, however, can differ according on how much energy is used in the family.

Financial Assistance

Solar heating is a cost-effective way to heat your water, especially if you take advantage of the Renewable Heat Incentive. This government program encourages the use of low-carbon heating systems by householders.

The cost of solar thermal panels is currently 21.36 p/kWh.

The typical annual income that a solar water heating owner can anticipate is shown in the table below. Nevertheless, this sum could differ between various solar water heating installations.

Home size RHI Earnings per Year RHI Earnings after 7 Years
1 bedroom £186 £1,302
2-3 bedrooms £310 £2,169
4+ bedrooms £475 £3,326

Solar water heating panels are a cost-effective residential heating solution, and if you use the RHI, they become even more so. However, the initial installation expenses may appear excessive.

Solar water heater advantages

There are numerous advantages to using solar hot water in your home. Below, we’ve highlighted a couple of those.

    • All year long, hot water is available via solar hot water heaters.
    • As it may provide a third of your hot water needs, it lowers your utility bills.
    • By saving between 30 kg and 510 kg of carbon dioxide (CO2) annually, it lessens your carbon impact.
    • With an average guarantee of five to 10 years, solar water heating is more durable and has lower maintenance expenses than other renewable energy options.
    • Apart from the amount of electricity required to run the pump powering the system, there are very few additional expenditures associated with solar water heating once the initial costs of investing in an installation have been paid off.
    • It can be used in conjunction with your current hot water or heating system, heat pumps, or even biomass.
    • For generating energy from renewable sources, solar water heating is eligible for regular Renewable Heat Incentive rewards.

Choosing a Solar Water Heater: Some Pointers

To get the most out of your investment, keep these cleaning and maintenance suggestions in mind when selecting your solar water heating system:

    • That the south side of your roof is. Or make sure you choose the solar collectors’ ideal placement inside your home, which will provide the highest level of efficiency. Consider purchasing a thermodynamic panel that can be installed on any side of the house if this is not practicable.
    • That the required amount of south-facing roof space is available. For flat plate collectors, each occupant of the building will require about one square meter of collecting space. This is sufficient to heat up to 60 liters of water.
    • To make sure you are utilizing energy as efficiently as possible, it is a good idea to have an energy performance survey performed. If not, you must make the required adjustments before setting up the solar water heating system.

Locate the Top Suppliers of Solar Water Heating

It can be expensive and time-consuming to choose the ideal solar water heater for your unique demands and those of your household. Fortunately, GreenMatch has everything you require because we have already produced a list of the top vendors.

You can save time by just filling out the contact form at the top of the page to get in touch with us. Once you fill out the form, you will receive up to four obligation-free, cost-free quotations.

Follow Our Guide