Natural Generation, Solar hot water

Microgeneration Approved Installers Certification Number MCS 1029


	Why solar energy? According to the Energy Saving Trust installing solar hot water heating into your home is the most cost effective way to provide maximum energy for minimum cost. Solar panels can provide almost all of your hot water during the summer months and up to 60% year round. This of course dramatically reduces your impact on the environment. The financial savings are a big benefit. Solar hot water systems can be particularly beneficial in commercial applications where there is a greater hot water demand and also in heating swimming pools e.g. in the tourism industry.
How does it work? The theory of solar hot water heating is very simple. Solar thermal systems collect and convert energy from the sun’s rays using solar collector panels positioned on a roof or South facing space. Liquid in the system pipe work is heated up and circulated through a solar coil in the base of a specially designed hot water cylinder which then transfers the heat to the stored water which can be drawn off at the taps. The temperature in the collector is constantly monitored by an electronic controller and compared with the temperature in the cylinder – when the temperature in the collector exceeds the cylinder by a pre-set amount the pump is activated to circulate the heat transfer fluid. In the winter months, when the days are shorter and the sun’s rays less intense the useable energy is still significant but much reduced. This means that an additional heating source such as an immersion element or a conventional boiler is still necessary.
	Installation The collector is best mounted on a South West to South East facing, inclined roof. Alternatively, East-West systems can be installed, or the panels located on a separate frame to maximise solar gain. The hot water system is usually up and running on the first day and the whole installation normally completed within 2 to 3 days. Our trained fitters will ensure the whole process is carried out with the minimum of disruption and we will always try to install at the most convenient time for the business or householder. Swimming pool systems and larger installations will take longer to install but equally, disruption to the existing system will be minimised as much as possible.
Natural Generation are independent, accredited solar thermal installers, and we commonly work with a number of high quality manufacturers such as Roth, Vaillant and Worcester for whose products we are fully approved. These generally meet the requirements of most projects, however, should there be another, better suited product for a project we may specify and work with any government Microgeneration approved product. We carry BPEC solar, BPEC un-vented, BPEC Water Regulations, and Water Industry Approved Plumber certifications so that all our activities can be properly signed off. For further info visit our downloads page Or see our Solar thermal FAQs