Solar Power Hot Water System

Is my money earning the best interest rate in a bank account - or invested elsewhere?

Due to the global banking crisis this is a question being asked by many people who have lost faith in traditional savings schemes and are therefore looking to consider new and alternative ways to invest and save.
One of the best ways to guarantee the safety of your money is to invest in a solar power hot water system for your home. Not only will it help reduce the cost of heating your hot water but it is guaranteed never to lose its value and will in fact add value to your property just like an extension or conservatory etc!

What are the benefits of solar power?

All life on our planet is powered by the sun in some way. With the latest, technologically advanced solar panels available on today’s market, our homes and businesses can now harvest the abundant solar energy of the earth. Adopting a solar lifestyle has never been easier or less expensive.

The major benefit of solar power is that it’s FREE! Once your system is installed you start generating hot water instantly, even if it’s cloudy! A SPWEC solar power hot water system can heat 0.7 litres of water a minute.

This is one of the advantages of a SPWEC hot water system, as we manufacture here in the U.K under licence our systems are of the highest quality and are the most advanced system currently available on today’s market, Our solar collectors are made from a series of evacuated tubes, that then heat the water in your tank directly.

What is an Evacuated Tube?

Vacuum or Evacuated Tubes are made from glass - typically ultra-strong and heat resistant Pyrex with a double wall construction. The glass on the inner tube is coated on its outer surface with an absorbent coating, and on its inner surface with a reflective coating. Inside each tube all air is removed making a vacuum and a copper heat pipe is located through the centre of the tubes. Most of the infra-red radiation (i.e. heat) from the sun is absorbed by this sealed heat pipe which contains an anti-freeze type liquid.

As heat rises, hot vapours from the antifreeze rise up to the top of the heat pipe where its copper tip connects with a header pipe through which more antifreeze flows. This hot antifreeze is then pumped through pipes inside the hot water tank with the end result that the water gets hotter and the antifreeze cooler. The antifreeze then continues its journey around the system and back out to the solar water heater to be reheated.

The copper at the tip of the heat tube can reach well over 200 degrees easily heating water to 90 degrees Celsius on hot days and to 60 degrees Celsius even in the winter. This simple system is completely sealed and needs minimal maintenance over its 20+ year’s life.

The advantage of using evacuated tubes is that they will work even during the coldest winter months unlike old style Flat Plate Solar Collectors. The vacuum prevents the heat tube from being cooled much by the ambient temperature which can be well below freezing, and so winter sun can easily heat water to 50+ degrees even in the depths of the coldest season.

Even if it is very cloudy and very cold, enough sunlight gets through to keep the tubes well above freezing and so they will be still be pre-heating the water which can then be heated further by a standard immersion heater or gas burner reducing the costs of heating the water.

Is a solar water heating system suitable for my home?

To tell if solar water heating is right for you, there are a few key questions to consider:
Do you have a sunny place to put solar panels? You'll need 3-4 square metres of roof space which faces east to west through south and receives direct sunlight for the main part of the day. Alternatively, if you have space, you could install two panels, one facing east and one facing west - but this will make installation more complex and costly.

DO YOU HAVE SPACE FOR A LARGER, OR AN EXTRA, HOT WATER CYLINDER? YOU WILL NEED THIS TO ALLOW ROOM FOR A SOLAR HEATING COIL TO WARM YOUR WATER.

Is your current boiler compatible with solar water heating? Most conventional boiler and hot water cylinder systems are compatible with solar water heating. If your boiler is a combination boiler (combi) and you don't currently have a hot water tank then a solar hot water system may not be compatible.

DO YOU NEED PLANNING PERMISSION? IN ENGLAND MOST SOLAR WATER HEATING SYSTEMS DON'T NEED PLANNING PERMISSION, BUT EXCEPTIONS APPLY FOR LISTED BUILDINGS, AND BUILDINGS IN CONSERVATION AREAS AND WORLD HERITAGE SITES. IF YOU LIVE IN WALES, SCOTLAND OR NORTHERN IRELAND YOU WILL NEED TO CONSULT YOUR LOCAL AUTHORITY.

A competent accredited installer will be able to assess your home and help you choose the best set-up to meet your needs.
Cost and savings.

The initial setup cost for a SPWEC hot water system vary depending on your needs and circumstances, for a typical 100 litre solar water heating system prices start from £1500.

A solar water heating system can provide about a third of your hot water needs, reducing your water heating bill by between £55 and £95 per year. It will also save up to 645kg of CO2 emissions, depending on what fuel you will be replacing.

Maintenance costs are very low. SPWEC solar water heating systems come with a 10 year warranty on parts and labour, a 20 year manufacturer guarantee and require little maintenance. You should take a look at your panels every year and have them checked more thoroughly by a professional installer every 3-5 years.

 
All savings are approximate and are based on the hot water heating requirements of a 3 bed
semi detached home.