Question 1

Can I install solar thermal panels myself?

Accepted Answer

In theory, you can install solar thermal panels yourself. But it’s best to leave it to professionals. We’ll explain why here. Solar thermal panels work in a similar way to solar PV panels. They use collectors, in the form of evacuated tubes or flat plate collectors, to collect heat from the sun and use it to heat up water that’s stored in a hot water cylinder. You can use a boiler or immersion heater as a back-up to heat the water further so it’s at the temperature you want. So should you install a solar thermal system yourself? It certainly seems tempting since you can buy full solar thermal DIY kits with everything you need for £1,500 to £2,000. To have a solar hot water system installed by a professional, you’re looking at between £5,000 and £6,000, so it looks like there’s a significant saving to be made. However, if you want to take advantage of the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) payments, which is a Government scheme where you’re paid for using a renewable energy source to heat your home and/or its hot water, you can’t install it yourself. You need to engage a Microgeneration Certification Scheme-registered installer who can issue you with a certificate to say that the solar thermal panels have been installed correctly. For a 4m2 system that serves a 4-person household, the payments could be up to £375 per year. That means you could pay your system off within 14 years, and that’s not taking into account any of the savings you’ll make on your energy bills. So, while you can install solar thermal panels yourself, it’s much better in the long term to have them installed by an MCS-registered company.

Question 2

Can solar thermal be used for central heating?

Accepted Answer

Yes – solar thermal can be used for central heating. Solar thermal panels work by collecting heat from the sun, either through evacuated tubes or flat plate collectors, and transferring that to a heat transfer liquid that heats your hot water. This can then be used to preheat your central heating.

You’ll need a hot water cylinder to store the water that your solar thermal panels heat up. It’s likely that you’ll need an immersion heater or boiler to heat the water further so you can use it for your central heating, and as a back-up during the longest winter months since the solar panels won’t be able to generate as much heat.

In our opinion, it’s best to use your solar thermal panels for hot water rather than your central heating. That’s because you use hot water all year round, whereas you probably won’t have your central heating on in the spring and summer, when the panels can generate the most heat. For central heating, air- or ground-source heat pumps are a great renewable option, and you can even power them with electricity from solar PV panels if you want to be as eco-friendly as possible.

Question 3

How many solar thermal panels do I need?

Accepted Answer

Generally, the amount of solar thermal panels you need depends on the number of people living in your home. Experts say that as a rule of thumb you’ll need 1m2 of solar panels for each adult living in your home. So if you live in a 4-person household, you can expect an MCS-registered installer to recommend you a 4m2 system. However, if you have any obstructions near your home that could increase shade on your panels, you might be encouraged to go up to nearer 2m2 per person. You want to make sure that your panels can produce enough hot water for your home as you’ll rely less on your back-up form of heating, which might be a gas boiler or electric immersion heater. Maximise the free energy from the sun and you could save up to £60 per year if you have a gas boiler, £70 if you have an immersion heater or £100 if you have an LPG boiler. Of course, you’ll also need to make sure you’ve got enough roof space for the amount of solar thermal panels that you want, but your installer will be able to advise you on the best course of action.

Question 4

Is solar thermal worth it in the UK?

Accepted Answer

We certainly think solar thermal is worth it in the UK. While we have cold winters that affects the amount of sunlight we get during those months, solar thermal panels can still generate a little heat in the winter on sunny days, and your back-up boiler or immersion heater can do the rest. The average cost of a 6m2 solar thermal system in the UK is £4,500. While that might seem like a lot of money up front, you’ll be able to make back some of that cost through Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) payments. The RHI is a Government scheme that pays you for every unit of renewable heat that you generate, and a 6m2 system could earn you up to £525 per year over seven years. That means you could end up paying less than £1,000 for free renewable heat for your home! As well as the RHU, you’ll see a saving on your fuel bills since you’ll be less reliant on your traditional form of heating. If you have a natural gas boiler, you could save up to £60 a year on your bills, while if you’re switching from LPG the savings could be as much as £100 per year. So, we definitely think solar thermal is worth it in the UK! Plus, you’ll be reducing your carbon footprint and contributing to cleaner air for everyone in the country, so you can feel good knowing that you’re doing your bit.

Avg. price low	Avg. price low £2,280
Avg. price	Avg. price £2,850
Avg. price high	Avg. price high £4,275

	Material cost	£2,800
	Waste removal	£50

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