Thermal Solar Panels for Solar Water Heating

Thermal solar panels are also commonly known as solar water heating panels and these are an additional source for heating the water in the hot water tank. 

These are very useful and help in cutting costs by reducing the electricity bills.  These are basically flat panels that work well throughout the year.  These panels can take care of around 60% of the hot water requirements of every home by simply tapping the abundant solar energy and harnessing it on a daily basis.

Some key benefits of the thermal solar panels:

Once the thermal solar panels are installed the solar water heating will take care of the hot water requirements for the next 30 years or more. 

One has to take care of the initial investment by way of installation and cost of the system and after that is done, one can be rest assured that they would save huge sums of money by way of cutting down on the electricity bills.

These installations can be done quite easily as they do not require any permission from the authorities.  The installation will be complete in a matter of 3 to 4 days.  These systems can be installed either on rooftops or on the walls.

There are government backed incentive schemes where one could easily sell the extra energy that is not being utilized.

There are feed in tariffs which are incentives offered by the government for each unit of electricity that is produced through these renewable generation systems.  The other incentive is the Renewable Heat Incentive scheme which is likely to start from the 1st of April, 2011, where a fixed sum of money would be paid annually for those who install these energy generating systems.

How do these thermal solar panels work?

Thermal solar panels work quite well and are even suited for the UK climate.  The sunlight that hits these panels is absorbed where the short-wave radiation is then converted to long-wave radiation.

The heat that is created is then harvested and is termed as ‘solar heating.’

There are two types of thermal solar panels and they are the glazed flat panels and the evacuated solar tubes.  As per the independent testing that had been carried out, it has been concluded that the evacuated solar tubes perform better in UK weather conditions when compared to the glazed flat panels.

How much will the system cost?

The cost of the system along with the installation charges can be obtained after a thorough survey by one of the experienced surveyors as there are many factors that contribute to these costs. 

The surveyors will assess the various factors and arrive at an estimate only after surveying the place. It is always a good idea to obtain a custom-made quote after inspection of the house. 

Sometimes, you may be able to get a quote from some company but one must be cautious as they might be overpriced and you might end up paying more.

Once the initial investment is made and the system is installed then you will have trouble-free supply of hot water for the next three decades at least.