Solar water heating is cost effective particularly if you make use of the renewable heat incentive.
Cost of solar water heating panels.
Active solar water heaters cost 2 000 to 4 000.
Active solar heater systems.
Typical solar factors are 0 5.
For example a replacement pump costs around 90 to replace while new anti freeze costs around 100.
The higher the solar fraction the greater the solar contribution to water heating which reduces the energy required by the backup water heater.
Currently the tariff for solar thermal panels is 21 36 p kwh.
Savings are moderate the system can provide most of your hot water in the summer but much less during colder weather.
They require solar collectors and a heat storage area.
The cost of installing a typical solar water heating system is 4 000 5 000 including vat at 5 per cent for 3 6m 2 system.
They can be used in any climate and the fuel they use sunshine is free.
Since the storage area can hold much more heat and is equipped with an internal electric or gas backup the possibility of running out of hot water after several cloudy days is nonexistent.
This is a government scheme to reward homeowners using low carbon heating systems.
The table below shows average annual earnings that a solar water heating owner can expect.
The solar fraction is the portion of the total conventional hot water heating load delivered energy and tank standby losses.
Solar water heating systems include storage tanks and solar collectors.