Solar Energy
Free energy... from the sun!
Convert sunshine to provide up to 60% of your hot water, and reduce your impact on the environment.
The Sun radiates enormous amounts of energy to the Earth due to it's surface temperature of 6,000°C. In the UK we receive vast amounts of solar energy with the average amount of energy received in a year being as much as 60% of that received on the equator. This radiation is similar to the output of 1,000 power stations.
There are 2 main types of solar panels which uses complete different technologies to make use of the energy from the sun:
Solar Water Heating Collectors
These panels absorbs the energy from the sun and transfer it to heat water.
Photovoltaic or solar electric panels
These panels transform the solar radiation directly into electricity.
For maximum efficiency, solar panels should be mounted on a south facing roof at a 30° angle with the horizontal and away from any shadows from trees, surrounding buildings or chimneys.
Solar water Heating (Solar Thermal)
Solar Thermal systems are the most popular form of solar energy used in the UK. The system is connected to the hot water system. Solar water heatin
g systems can provide over half of a household's hot water requirements over the year. There are 2 types of solar water heating collector: flat plate and evacuated tubes.
Flat Plate Collectors:
Solar water heating panels in their simplest form are made from a sheet of metal painted black which absorbs the suns energy. Water is fed through the panel in pipes attached to the metal sheet and picks up the heat in the metal. For the UK climate the pipe work contains non-toxic anti-freeze. The pipes are often made of copper for better conduction. The metal sheet is embedded in an insulated box and covered with glass or clear plastic on the front. The system is usually installed on the roof.
Evacuated Tubes:
The evacuated tube system is a series of glass heat tubes grouped together. The tubes are 
highly insulated, due to a vacuum inside the glass.
The cost of installing a solar hot water system ranges from £2000-£5000, these prices however, are dependent on the size of the system. A typical installation has a panel of 3m2 to 4m2 with a storage tank of 150- 200L. However, the optimum size will depend on actual hot water use.
Photovoltaic (Solar PV)
Photovoltaic (PV) or solar electric can offer us all the ability to generate electricity in a clean, quiet and renewable way. The variety of applications for solar electric are numerous. Photovoltaic (PV) cells are used in simple applications e.g. calculators and watches and also for domestic and larger applications. Large PV systems can be integrated into buildings to generate electricity for export to the National grid.
PV applications today are more common place than we might expect. Domestic burglar alarm systems are now fitted with PV panels to charge the battery for the system. In Milton Keynes, parking meters are powered by solar panels. Many leisure activities are today turning to PV panels for back up electricity, including TV, lighting in caravans and nautical instrument.
If you are interested in Solar energy, contact us or read our Solar FAQ's
