How Solar Heating Works
Benefits of Solar Heating
Solar Heating Suitability
Solar Heating Prices
Renewable Heat Incentive
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Solar Thermal Energy
Solar is the cleanest and most inexhaustible of all known energy sources. Solar radiation is the light, heat and other radiant energy that is emitted from the sun. The sun's energy, although plentiful, has until recently proved hard to directly harness. It is a common misconception that solar energy will only work when the sun shines and therefore unsuitable in the British climate.
A Solar Essence solar thermal collector converts solar energy into thermal energy, then heats your water step by step. The beauty of this system is it does not create pollution or harmful emissions, and is extremely economical. They don’t charge us for the sun yet! Plus, of course it is environmentally friendly.
Ideally you should have an unshaded south, south east or south west facing location on your property such as a roof for example, although they can be utilised at ground level also. This type of solar water heater is now extremely popular in many areas of the world, & becoming more so in the UK.
Next generation
Until recently, solar panels were not particularly suitable in the UK due to their low efficiencies during the colder seasons of spring, autumn and winter. Classic solar panels using a flat plate collector work equally well as radiators, so unless ambient temperature is high, heat loss from the unit is considerable.
The Solar Essence advanced solar water heating system works on a light absorption principle. Solar diffused radiation is collected in the specially coated vacuum tubes and the heat generated is transferred to your solar cylinder, even on cloudy days and when outside temperatures are as low as -28°c.
A solar circuit is created from the collectors on the roof to a new bespoke solar cylinder, using special stainless steel duo flex tube piping. This circuit contains a heat exchange fluid, Tyfocor, and is pressurised to enable high temperatures to be used and for safety.
A solar essence flowcon station incorporating a solar rated variable pump is fitted to monitor and control flows and temperatures.
The entire system is controlled by the solaressence se3 temperature differential digital controller which monitors the temperatures at the collector manifold and within your cylinder and when there is a temperature difference, allows the pump to operate, transferring the heat to the cylinder and heating the water in it.
This process is fully automated and continues until the temperatures are nearly equal or the water in the cylinder has reached its preset temperature. The system requires no user intervention.
Each system is bespoke designed to meet your individual requirements and to ensure the very best performance. We design systems for use with most types of boilers and cylinders including, aga/rayburn, vented and unvented pressurised cylinders, pumped and gravity circuits as well as conventional or condensing boilers.
These next generation solar collectors are suitable for heating domestic hot water even in the winter. Each system is designed for your needs, and is modular, so you can add more collectors later if required. Some types of renewable energy are only available in certain locations, however solar heating is potentially available to almost every house in the UK ! Our collectors have an efficiency of almost 96%.
The evacuated tube solar panel has been around for over 10 years, and has proved during this time to be reliable and dependable. The evacuated tubes consist of a double walled glass tube made from strong borosilicate glass such as pyrex with a space in the centre which contains either a copper heat pipe or ‘wet’ stainless steel piping. The sun's radiation is absorbed by the selective coating on the inner glass surface, but prevented from re-radiating by the silvered or selective innermost lining. This is in effect like a one-way mirror which has been optimised for infra-red radiation. The presence of the vacuum wall prevents any losses by conduction or convection - just like a thermos flask. Because of this, the system will work even in very low temperatures, unlike traditional flat plate collectors.
