Consumer Frequently Asked Questions

What is renewable energy?
Renewable energy effectively uses natural resources such as the sun, wind, rain, tides and geothermal heat, which are naturally replenished.

Why choose solar power?
As sunlight is constant solar power is renewable - and the technology used for solar hot water heating is simple, effective and the most tried and tested, which makes it easy to adopt on a domestic scale, and it’s affordable!

How does solar thermal work?
The key component in solar thermal is the collector that is heated by the sun's rays. There are two main components in a solar system. First you need to absorb the sun's energy, this is done in a solar collector on the roof. Secondly you need to store the energy and this occurs when transferring it into stored hot water for use later.

What if there is no sun or it’s cloudy?
Solar collectors use irradiation of the sun so even on a cloudy day they can absorb significant energy.When the sun shines a greater amount of energy can be absorbed. (See the graph below.)



Do I still need a boiler?
Yes. You will require a boiler or backup heat source such as an immersion heater as the solar system only provides hot water.

Are there any grants available?
Yes. As long as your solar system is installed by an approved installer, you can apply to the Low Carbon Buildings Programme for a grant, whatever the size of your system. In the Republic of Ireland there are also grants available through the Greener Homes Scheme, which provides financial support for renewable technology.

What kind of guarantee is there on a VELUX solar hot water system?
The VELUX solar hot water system, including the tank and collectors, are guaranteed for 10 years and all accessories and components are guaranteed for 3 years. In addition to this VELUX is also an accredited member of REAL assurance which is a consumer protection scheme that has been set up to ensure a high quality experience for the home owner. (www.realassurance.org.uk)