Your Local Electrician & Electrical Contractor

• How Does Solar Thermal Technology Work?
• Free Energy With Solar Thermal!
• Different Types of System
• Solar Thermal & Your Home or Commercial Property
• Will It Work With My Property?
• Solar Thermal Advantages

How Does Solar Thermal Technology Work?

Solar Thermal Technology installed by Mr Electric electricians is a highly effective way of using energy from the sun to supply hot water, which is used in homes and commercial premises. The fundamental principle is straight forward. Take your garden hose for example, if you leave it out in direct sunlight, the radiant heat will warm the hose and the water inside the hose will become warm.

See our Energy Saving Electrical Installations.

The Solar thermal process works in a similar way. The collectors/panels installed by our electricians generate heat from the sun in a more efficient. The roof-mounted solar collectors are connected to 1 coil of a twin-coil cylinder. This, as your local electrician will confirm uses a sealed circuit comprising a special solution. The advantage of this fluid solution is that it will withstand high temperatures on a summer day, in excess of 200°C and it won’t freeze in temperatures, which fall down to –25°C. The integrated pump in the solar thermal system circulates this fluid from the panel to the cylinder. The heat that is generated is transported to the stored water by way of the lower coil.

Solar Thermal Technology is one of the Microgeneration Technologies installed by our electricians and is a significant opportunity given the following:

• Energy Saving Legislation
• Carbon Reduction Commitment
• Energy Saving Grants
• Carbon Trust Loans
• Enhanced Capital Allowance

Free Energy With Solar Thermal!

There have been many misunderstandings with solar energy in the past as many people believe that solar panels can only work in hot summer weather. Our electricians will explain how the systems work but this free energy is available constantly. On average Solar Thermal installations by our electricians can currently provide in the region of 70% of a domestic properties’ hot water requirements per year. See our other Energy Saving Electrical Installations.

Different Types of System

The solution that best suits your needs depends on a range of factors, including the area of the south facing roof, the existing water heating system (e.g. some combi boilers aren't suitable) and your budget.

Mr Electric professional electricians will assess your situation and discuss with you the best configuration to meet your needs.

Solar Thermal & Your Home or Commercial Property

Solar Thermal water heating is suitable for the home or commercial applications, and in particular swimming pools. Our electricians will provide advice on how a system can be incorporated in a commercial or domestic application.

In a domestic hot water system there are three main parts that make up the electrical installation by an electrician: solar panel collectors, the heat transfer process and the hot water cylinder. The Solar panels (collectors) are installed on the roof by our electricians and will collect radiation from the sun’s rays. Your local electrician will explain how the heat transfer system operates.

Will It Work With My Property?

The positioning of the Solar Collectors is crucial to the efficient operation of a Solar Thermal System, as your local electrician will confirm. To ensure the collectors receive enough radiation they should be installed by an electrician on a south facing roof receiving direct sunlight. You may also need space for an additional water cylinder if your electrician believes the installation requires it.

There have been changes to planning permission laws, which have had an impact on the development opportunities for domestic Solar Thermal microgeneration installations. Planning permission has been lifted for the vast majority of solar installations. Collectors can be installed by electricians on roof mounted and ground based systems in most domestic properties, as long as they adhere to certain criteria. There are variations in the law for Listed Buildings, properties in designated Conservation Areas and World Heritage Sites.

Solar Thermal Advantages

• Provision of Hot Water: Solar Thermal heating is one of the most inexpensive residential solar technologies and has the ability to provide a large proportion of a domestic properties hot water requirements.
• Environmentally Friendly Energy: Solar thermal technologies assist not only the homeowner but also the national grid. Microgeneration technologies help to decrease the UK’s dependence on fossil fuels and they have a big impact on everyone’s carbon footprint.
• Spend Less On Energy Bills: Using Solar thermal technology for the provision of heat means that less energy is required from the grid and monthly utility bills will decrease as a result! Solar space heating systems installed by Mr Electric electricians can reduce energy costs significantly for larger systems.
• Renewable Technology: Solar energy is renewable, so even if the power grid fails, the suns rays will keep on heating the collectors strategically positioned on your roof.
• Save Natural Resources: As well as being a renewable energy source, solar thermal installations save money, when correctly installed by a Mr Electric electrician. Solar Thermal systems save depleting natural resources that can often be sacrificed during the production process of electricity through other energy sources.
• Retrofit Installations: Solar thermal systems can be installed by our electricians in retrofit applications, so they are not just for new build construction projects.
• Even With Cloudy Skies It Works: Solar thermal systems will not be affected by clouds when correctly installed by our electricians. While the solar panels will not be as efficient under overcast skies there will still be daylight for the collectors to work. Solar thermal collectors installed by Mr Electric electricians are always collecting energy.

Solar Thermal systems are one of the many Microgeneration Technologies that allow customers to generate their own power or heat. Our electricians can provide more information on the benefits, so contact us today or request an energy saving installation.