Solar Thermal
The purpose of domestic solar thermal panels is to provide hot water for taps and showers but they can also supply hot water to radiators via a buffer tank, instead of using a boiler or heat pump to heat the rads.
These panels are comprised of tubes filled with a combination of glycol and antifreeze which are aligned next to one another and placed on the roof of a property to absorb heat from the sun.
Energy from the sun warms the fluid inside the panels and once the fluid reaches a useful temperature, it is pumped to a coil in the bottom of a solar cylinder. The solar coil heats the cylinder water for domestic use.
If the cylinder’s thermostat detects that the solar panel has not collected enough energy to heat the water to its pre-set temperature, it allows the main heat source to top it up (eg. a boiler).
The control panel can be set to optimise efficient use of the solar panel and ensure hot water is available at the times you need it.
Solar thermal systems can be combined to work with gas central heating to make sure the home has sufficient heat during the winter months.