by Sara Claridge on 29
July, 2008Print Article For homeowners with a south facing roof or wall, one of the most obvious ways in which energy can be conserved and money saved is by harnessing the sun’s rays. Despite the terrible summer this year in the UK, advancements in solar technology that allows both direct and diffused sunlight to be used, means that solar power is still a viable option, even on these grey days.
Capturing solar energy in the UK is predominantly split into two groups, solar water heating panels and Photovoltaic (PV) panels. Each has its benefits and many fans of solar power use both. The cost of installing a solar energy system has reduced dramatically since it was first widely pushed in the 70s and there are often grants available, bringing the price down further and the savings don’t just stop there either.
Turning off the boiler during the summer months and relying on solar panels for the family’s hot water needs may mean reduced servicing costs, as well as extending the life of the boiler. If PV panels are installed it is possible to sell back excess power generated to the National Grid or store it for future use in specially designed batteries.
Deciding which system to choose is mostly dependent on lifestyle. A small family that on average showers once a day and just uses the washing machine for low temperature washes is unlikely to use much hot water. Particularly since most machines today on a 40degree wash normally use cold water and the element inside heats it up to temperature. In this case although opting for just solar thermal panels is a start towards embracing a more environmentally friendly lifestyle, the cost savings won’t be dramatic.
If on the other hand the family consists of three boys all into rugby that constantly come home needing baths and clothes washed at higher temperatures just to get them clean, or are lucky enough to have a swimming pool, then solar water heating panels are a must.
Richard and Sandy Soper live in a converted Victorian five bedroom property and have updated their heating system to include Worcester Greenskies solar water heating system. The couple were surprised by just how much of difference it made as Richard explains.
“During the summer months, we have been able to switch off the boiler as all our hot water needs were generated by our Worcester Greenskies solar system and even during winter months, around 25% of our hot water has been generated by the panels. We were very impressed with how much hot water it has produced for example, we didn’t expect the panels to be so effective on cloudy days, enabling us to still get two thirds of our hot water costs paid for by the sun.
"After seeing these results, we became convinced about the benefits of renewable energy so we decided to go one step further and installed a Worcester Greenstore ground source heat pump last year, as we thought the less we had to rely on a non-renewable source of energy, the better.”
Planning permission may be required in certain areas and installing thermal panels for heating water is obviously more involved than PV panels, because it will require additional plumbing. However, don’t be put off because depending on circumstances, solar water heating panels still have a lot of benefits.
PV panels will not heat water directly, but they will provide the electricity required to run appliances and light the home. Although the technology has been around for some time powering calculators and even parking meters, it is only now that the cost has reduced enough to make it a viable option when pitted against rising energy costs, not just a desire for a greener lifestyle.
As demand in the UK becomes greater it is likely that the cost will fall even further. Last year Curry’s introduced a range of PV panels to some of its larger stores, a strong indication that the market is taking a step forward.
But in all of these cost considerations we should not forget the green benefits of solar power. Unlike other types of renewable energy, which have been linked to having a knock on effect to the wider environment, solar panels are clean and silent. Using them will allow you to not only generate electricity that produces no harmful by-products, but increase your self-sufficiency too.