| What are Solar Water Heating Panels? | | | | commonly used in the UK, flat plate panels and |
| Confused about Solar? Many people seem to be a | | | | evacuated tube collectors. |
| little confused as to how solar panels actually | | | | Flat Plate Panels vs Evacuated Tube Solar |
| work. This misunderstanding however, is perfectly | | | | Collectors |
| reasonable and stems from the general | | | | Evacuated tube solar collectors are typically more |
| acceptance of solar panels on things like | | | | efficient than flat plate collectors. This does not |
| calculators or garden lamps. These types of solar | | | | necessarily mean that evacuated tubes can |
| panels are called photovoltaic solar panels or PV | | | | produce more hot water just that the panel area |
| Solar Panels and we will discuss these in more | | | | can be reduced. Typically you will find that for a |
| detail in another article. For now, it is worth | | | | flat plate collector area of 4m2, evacuated tubes |
| explaining about the panels that people are less | | | | need approximately 3m2 for the same size hot |
| familiar with but give the greatest opportunity to | | | | water tank. With this in mind, the amount of hot |
| reduce household fuel costs. These panels are | | | | water generated throughout the year will be very |
| called Solar Water Heating Panels. | | | | similar. |
| Solar Water Heating Panels | | | | An independent study by the DTI compared a |
| Solar Water Heating Panels use the suns radiation | | | | number of different types of system and the |
| to heat water in panels. This panel is connected to | | | | panel that produced the most hot water was of |
| your hot water storage tank. When the | | | | the flat plate variety. |
| temperature in your tank is lower than that of | | | | The cost of the panels are now fairly similar, but |
| the panel on your roof the water is pumped out | | | | some people believe that flat plate solar collectors |
| of the roof panel through a heating coil in your | | | | are more aesthetically pleasing. However, |
| hot water tank. This heats the water in your | | | | technically the evacuated tubes have a |
| storage tank. When it is cold and dull outside the | | | | significantly higher output than flat plate systems |
| pumps leaves the cold water in the roof panel | | | | when the ambient temperature is low, i.e. in |
| and your storage tank is heating with your | | | | winter. |
| conventional boiler. This simple but effective | | | | So in summary, where roof area is an issue |
| system is typically capable of heating up to 70% | | | | evacuated tubes are the best option. Otherwise, |
| of your annual requirement for domestic hot | | | | you should consider both evacuated tubes and flat |
| water. Given this fact it is probably the most cost | | | | plate collectors. |
| effective and way of installing a renewable energy | | | | Typically, properly specified solar water heating |
| system in your home. | | | | systems will pay for them selfs in around 10 |
| There are two type of solar collectors/panels | | | | years. |