Renewables Advice

Solar Hot Water/Solar Thermal

Solar panels on your roof can heat hot water for washing up, baths showers etc.

Generally around one-quarter to one-fifth of a households heat demand is for hot water. So for example; if you have central heating and pay £1000 per year for your oil or gas, around £200 to £250 of this is for hot water. Alternatively if you use 20,000 kWh of gas per year, around 4000kWh to 5000kWh is likely to be for the hot water you use.

This technology works by collecting heat from the sun. A fluid is pumped through a panel normally mounted on your roof. The panel can be a flat plate or can consist of evacuated tubes and the array normally covers around 4 square metres of roof area. The heat is normally transferred into your hot water cylinder but it is possible to have solar hot water systems with a combination boiler. 

Find out more about Solar Hot Water including details of costs, grants, payback, planning and local installers click here for our factsheet.