Active Solar

This emerging technology is one of the most common forms of renewable energy being installed in the UK. There are two distinct types available, photovoltaic and solar water heating.

There are a number of differences between the two systems, each has its own particular merits. However the up front costs of solar water heating are significantly lower than photovoltaic, while in addition the pay back period is shorter. Of all the renewable energy installations in the UK, of which there are over 80,000 - solar water-heating accounts for 95% of these.

In further detail, the solar collector heats a transfer fluid within the collector and this is then pumped down into a two-coil water storage tank. As our climate is not as predictable as that of Spain or Greece, and we have more of a requirement for space heating, a back up energy source is required, usually in the form if a gas or oil-fired boiler.

As these products become more the norm rather than the exception, and the acceptability of roof-mounted collectors grows, we are sure that larger arrays will be installed capable of providing a measure of space heating as well.