Solar Thermal

How does it work

Solar water heating systems use solar panels, called collectors, fitted to your roof. These collect heat from the sun and use it to warm water which is stored in a hot water cylinder.

For a 2 bedroom house with average water usage, around 2m² of collectors can provide up to 40 % of a household's hot water needs over the year. During summer months it may be 100%, but during the winter it can be much lower. 

The benefits of solar water heating:

● Hot water throughout the year: the system works all year round,
though you may need to heat the water further with a boiler or
immersion heater during the winter months.
● Cut your bills: sunlight is free, so once you've paid for the initial
installation your hot water costs will be reduced by between £50
and £85 per year*.
● Cut your carbon footprint: solar hot water is a green, renewable
heating system and can reduce your carbon dioxide emissions by
up to 570kg CO2 per year*.
● House value: Following a report on a survey by the Energy Saving
Trust, Chief Executive of the Energy Savings Trust, Philip Sellwood
stated, "It seems Britons are willing to pay more for a home with
a renewable energy source so investing in a solar panel or a wind
turbine could add to the resale value and be as attractive to house
hunters as a new kitchen or solid wood floors".

A great offer

This special offer, exclusively designed for homeowners, has been negotiated for you by Solar Cities Scotland. Solar Cities Scotland has teamed up with AES Solar and Earth Renewable Consultants to make it easy and affordable for home owners to install a solar water heating system.

To find out if Solar Thermal is the right technology for you or for free advice please phone: 01382 501 730

Get paid for installing a Solar Thermal Panel

In addition to all these benefits and great prices, the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI), being introduced in 2012 will be a fixed payment for the renewable heat you generate yourself. RHI is designed to provide financial support that encourages individuals, communities and businesses to switch from using fossil fuel for heating to renewables such as solar thermal panels or wood fuel.

Solar thermal is more efficient at collecting the sun's rays than PV. Flat plate collectors work at around 50% efficiency, compared to only 15 to 20% for solar PV. Tests have shown an average production of around 50W/m² throughout the year or 1kWh/d per m² of panel.