Introduction To DIY Solar Hot Water Heating Panels

The most affordable solar water heating panels. When we started selling solar hot water heating panels, the cheapest alternative was over twice the price of , and some were as much as three times the price! When we started selling solar hot water heating panels, we were often asked why they were so much less than competitors, and even that we should have increased the price. Yes, we could have made a lot more money, but it would be against our ethos - Windpoweruk is all about selling equipment at affordable pricing. and since our introduction, many manufacturers have dropped their prices considerably. We are still very competitive in the market, but unlike some of our competitors, we don't have to explain why we were charging so much more only a few years ago! windpoweruk supplies a variety of solar panels:

Flat plate collectors 2m x 1m (with standard coating or selective coating)

SFA: Integral cylinder vacuum tube solar panels (15tube - 30tube)

SFB-47: 47mm (diameter) vacuum tube panels in 10tube, 20tube and 30tube arrays (1.5m tube length)

SFB-58: 58mm (diameter) vacuum tube panels in 20tube and 30tube arrays (1.8m tube length)

SFC: 70mm (diameter) vacuum tube panels in 10tube and 20tube arrays (1.5m tube length)

SFD: Integral cylinder vacuum tube solar panels (15tube - 30tube) with thermal coil (for mains pressure hot water)

SFG: Solar vacuum tube air-heater panel

solar panels have a variety of uses - heating hot water for domestic hot water cylinders, commercial hot water supplies, farms, dairies, swimming pools, or even industrial processes.

The vacuum tube technology is particularly suitable for our temperate UK climate, where they will take full advantage of winter sun. The performance of vacuum tube panels surpases that of flat plates in cold winter weather, overcast conditions and windy conditions. Under warm, sunny conditions, vacuum tube panels will produce the same amount of heat per area as flat plates....but which type of weather do we see most in the UK?

An average household (3 people) would expect to produce most of its hot water from the end of March to the end of September from a single 20tube 47mm hot water heating solar panel, although it will depend on water usage. Even outside this period, solar will produce a worthwhile contribution towards your hot water requirements, resulting in significant reduction of fuel usage and carbon dioxide emission. In fact, fitting a hot water heating solar system to your house, is probably one of the most positive ways you can reduce your carbon footprint, without making major lifestyle changes.

For larger households (4-5people), it may be necessary to fit a larger solar hot water heating kit installation 30-40tubes to get the same percentage of hot water requirements, but even if a smaller system is fitted, every kWh produced will save 1 kWh of fossil fuels, and 0.5kg of CO2 emission. If you decide to fit an undersized system now, it is easy to increase the capacity of the system at a later stage, as the panels are modular - if you would like advice on sizing solar hot water heating panels for your requirements, please feel free to give us a call or send an email.

Some types of renewable energy are only available to people living in suitable locations, however free solar hot water heating is potentially available to almost every house in the UK! Every house should have one - really! And with high efficiency, they are much more efficient and cost-effective than electric photovoltaic solar panels. If we compare them on a like-for-like basis, the price of a Solar hot Water Heater is around 30p/watt (compared to £6+/watt for solar photovoltaics!), and once installed, your solar hot water heating panel will produce virtually free heat from solar power for decades to come.