FAQ – Solar Thermal (Hot Water)

Based on over 25 years experience in Scotland’s solar industry we have compiled a very comprehensive list of questions that we often get asked. If you cannot find an answer to your question here please don’t hesitate to contact us by phone or email.

Q. Should I have evacuated tubes or a flat plate collector?
We are happy to supply & install either. Evacuated tubes are more efficient than flat plate collectors but this can be compensated by increasing the size of the flat plate collector. Output vs Cost it is better for flat plate collector installations.

Q. How much does a solar thermal installation cost?
This depends on your exact requirement but typically between £3500 and £6000.

Q. Are there grants available for solar thermal installations?
You could be eligible for a grant from your local council or an interest free loan from the Energy Savings Trust, however these vary from region to region across the country so you should contact your local council or the Energy Savings Trust for more information. The government Low Carbon Buildings Program grant of 30% of the installation cost has now closed as of Monday 24th May 2010. However we are expecting that this will be replaced with the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) in 2011.

Q. Will I be eligible for the new Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI)?
The RHI promises to pay 8.5p/kWh for every kWh that the solar thermal system is predicted to output (proposed for April 2011) on Commercial Installations. The Government are yet to announce the RHI Tariff levels for Non-Commercial installations.  Companies must have MCS installers so our installations are eligible.

Q. How much energy will the solar panels output?
Our solar thermal installations typically output between 900kWh to 1000kWh per m² dependant on the weather, application and the system that is installed.

Q. What is the payback for a solar thermal installation?
Payback on systems is very difficult to calculate, there is several factors that you have to take in to consideration, from the water demand, type of fuel been displaces, weather, location and what system is installed.

Q. Do I need to replace my hot water cylinder?
In most households the cylinders do not have a spare heating coil in their cylinder which means we would usually need to replace the existing cylinder.

Q. Does my roof need to face south?
South facing roofs between 30 & 40 degree angles will offer the best annual output.  West facing roofs can also function extremely well, however the available solar radiation is reduced by approx 15-20%. We can of course increase the size of the panels to compensate for this reduction.

Q. Are your panels approved?
The Sun Harvester Solar System panels are tested and meet all the required standards including Solar Keymark and MCS approval for government incentives.

Q. Do you work with domestic or commercial clients?
Sun Harvester Solar Systems is Scotland’s leading domestic and commercial installer, with an extensive range of installations in Scotland, we have installed some of the largest Solar Installations from Housing Assosciation Developments, Hotels, Education Buildings, Domestic Housing & Swimming Pools.

Q. How much space do I need on my roof for a solar thermal installation?
We plan and design a system to suit your commercial and residential property.  Generally 3.2m² to 4m² of solar thermal panels are required for the average household.

Q. Do I need planning permission for a residential installation?
Planning permission for residential properties is only required if the property is listed or in a conservation area. For commercial please contact us for assistance.

Q. How are the panels fixed to the roof?
Typically for a standard roof we use rigid stainless steel brackets that are fixed directly to your roof rafters.

Q. How long will the installation take?
A standard installation will be completed within 1 day.  Larger installations may take slightly longer, however we’ll discuss each installation with you in order to reduce any inconvenience.

Q. Are the Solar collectors fragile?
No, the solar collectors we use are designed to be very robust.

Q. Can I heat my house and my hot water with solar?
Most houses in the UK need their heat during the winter when solar radiation is at a minimum. This means that in order to heat your property, you’d need very large collector area to make a worthwhile contribution to your heating. At the moment this solution is not cost effective for the UK climate & we will therefore not consider any installation of this type at present.

Q. Can I heat my swimming pool with solar panels?
Yes, indoor and outdoor swimming pools can be heated with solar panels. This can be a very effective way of reducing the heating and C^o2 costs associated with swimming pools.  We have installed many of these systems over the years.