Solar Power in the UK
Harpenden, St.Albans, Hemel Hempstead, Welwyn Garden City, Watford and Tring

Solar panel technology is now very well-developed and the solar panels absorb energy from the sun even on cloudy days, as the technology does not rely on sunlight but on diffused solar radiation so it can work efficiently in our UK climate. Domestic solar power can be installed on almost all properties and 20,000 homes in the UK already use solar technology. The government is also encouraging this further by setting planning targets for newly built homes.

The DTI (Department of Trade and Industry) has calculated that there is sufficient solar radiation levels received across the whole of the UK for solar water heating to be a viable supplement to existing domestic water heating.

The Solar Trade Association states:

"Solar energy in the UK is far greater than most people imagine. In the summer, when items such as car bodies are often too hot to touch we become aware of the sun's heat. However, even in the spring and autumn and on clear winter days we receive very useful amounts of solar energy. By tilting a surface to an angle the amount of solar radiation falling on it will be greater than that falling on a flat surface in this country."

They draw the conclusion:

"... figures bring out the remarkable fact that the amount of solar energy falling on the total roof area of an average house is many times that required to provide all its heating and hot water."

For more information, please see the Solar Trade Associations website.

Naturally, summer provides the largest amount of solar hot water heating but a useful contribution is provided by the other seasons as well. As an indication, a well-sized typical installation will provide the following proportion of a household’s hot water requirement:

• Spring – 40-50% of domestic hot water requirements
• Summer – 80-90% of domestic hot water requirements
• Autumn – 40-50% of domestic hot water requirements
• Winter – 20-30% of domestic hot water requirements

Over the whole year, this translates to approximately 50% of the annual hot water requirement of a typical household, thereby cutting fuel bills in half.