Benefits of Solar Thermal Panels
- Use sunlight to provide hot water
- Save on your energy bills
- Reduce your carbon footprint
- Government grants available
A typical Solar Thermal system consists of panels or ‘collectors’ attached to your roof that absorb heat from the sun. This is then transferred to the water in a hot water cylinder via a cylinder coil. An immersion element or secondary coil and boiler ensure you always have the hot water you need.
The requirement for a hot water cylinder means that a Solar Thermal system is more suited to homes that feature a Regular or System Boiler than to those homes with a Combi Boilers where a hot water cylinder is not already installed.
Planning permission is not normally required for a domestic system unless your home is a listed building or in a conservation area. If in doubt however you should check with your local planning authority before work starts.
Save on your energy bills
Once installed a Solar Thermal system helps you to save on your energy bills by reducing the amount of energy you have to buy-in to provide hot water. The table identifies the savings that the Energy Saving Trust estimates will typically be made depending on the hot water system currently installed.
| Current System | Saving per year |
|---|---|
| Gas | £65 |
| Oil | £75 |
| Coal | £80 |
| Electricity | £70 |
| LPG | £125 |
Government grants
Installing a Solar Thermal system may qualify you for the government’s Domestic Renewable Heat Incentive scheme. Successful applicants to this scheme who have installed a Solar Thermal system are eligible for a grant in the form of a regular series of payments over 7 years.
Depending on the size of the household the Energy Savings Trust estimates these payments could be worth between £195 – £470 per year.