TRECO Products
Solar Power
"Solar Water Heating can provide almost all of your hot water during the summer months and about 50% year round" - Energy Saving Trust
"A House adapted for Solar Power will produce 34 fewer tonnes of CO2 emissions in its lifetime- and that is a major contribution to the environment" - UK Net Guide
What is Solar Power?
Solar Power is Energy derived directly from the sun. The Solar Energy that Britain receives each year is 750 times more than we currently consume. The Sun's energy is most commonly used for heating water in the UK.
How can we use Solar Energy in the UK?
Active solar heating includes the use of solar panels to heat large tanks of water mainly for domestic hot water systems and swimming pools.
Active solar radiation also includes the use of photovoltaic cells, where the solar energy is converted to electricity. This is available in the UK but is currently an expensive option.
Passive solar heating involves the design of homes and other buildings to make full use of direct sunlight for heating purposes. Houses can be designed with large windows in the south facing walls and small windows in the north facing walls, reducing the need for other heating sources such as electricity or fossil fuels.
Using the Sun's energy reduces our consumption of conventional fuels and helps to reduce the emission of harmful greenhouse gases.
What are Solar Panels?
Solar Panels are collections of Solar Cells that capture the energy in sunlight and transform it into either hot water or electricity. There are two types of Solar Panels:
- Solar Hot Water Panels- most commonly used to provide domestic hot water.
- Solar Photovoltaic Panels- used to create electricity.
Which is best?
This depends on the energy cost you wish to reduce, but Solar Hot Water Panels are considerably less expensive and highly effective in saving conventional energy. However, the choice of which technology to use depends on the application. Please call us to discuss your specific needs.
Can I have a Solar Water Heating System fitted in my house?
"Over 42,000 Active Solar Heating systems are estimated to be currently in use in houses in the UK" ??
Solar water heating systems integrate particularly effectively in housing, but also can provide heat for commercial water heating applications. All a property needs is an area of roof roughly south facing to give maximum exposure to the sun. Active Solar Heating can also be used to heat water for swimming pools, for hotels and for agricultural applications such as in dairy farms.
Will I need Planning Permission?
Not usually, as you are permitted to make certain minor changes to your home without needing planning permission, and installing a solar panel comes into this category. However, if you live in a listed building or in a conservation area you may need consent. We advise that you contact your local authority planning department for advice and also check if building regulations might apply. If there are problems installing the panels on the roof, it may be possible to put a system in the grounds of your house.
Aren't Solar Panels ugly?
Solar Panels are now designed to be discreet, slim-line and attractive and come in a range of colours. Rather than ruining the appearance of your house they can actually increase the value of your property.
How long will a Solar System take to install?
Solar water heating systems can be installed in around two days.
Do they need regular servicing / maintenance?
They require almost zero maintenance except for the occasional cleaning of the surfaces with warm water and washing up liquid to ensure optimum light transmission so that performance is always high.
Will they work effectively in the UK?
Yes. A standard system will provide 30-70% of a UK home's hot water.
"In the UK we receive vast amounts of solar energy with the average amount of energy received in a year being as much as 60% of that received on the equator. This radiation is similar to the output of 1,000 power stations." - (Solar Trade Association)
How do Active Solar Heating Systems Work?
Solar Panels are fitted to your homes roof collecting heat from the sun. This is piped into the house's hot water system where it joins the heat produced by your standard domestic boiler (or biomass boiler). An electronic controller constantly compares the temperature of the solar collectors with the temperature of the water in the cylinder. On a sunny or light day the energy from the sun can provide all an average house's daily hot water. On cloudy days the boiler will have to kick in to bring up the temperature.
How hot is the water?
On sunny days, temperatures of 70 to 90 degrees are common. Even on cloudy days in winter some hot water will be produced as the system utilises energy from diffuse light. In winter the system will pre-heat the water in your cylinder, meaning the solar system will make meaningful reductions to your gas, oil or electricity consumption throughout the year. Also, as solar hot water systems are designed to store larger amounts of hot water than conventional systems, a correctly sized system will have hot water left over from the previous day. If you have a few cloudy days in a row the thermostat will turn the booster on to bring the water up to temperature
How much will a Solar Water Heating System cost?
Present system costs are typically £1,500 to £2,000 (new build housing) and £2,000 to £3,000 (when fitted to existing houses). Please call us for accurate figures based on your specific requirements.
Are there Grants available for installing Solar Heating Systems?
There are a number of Government Funded Grants available. Please call us for information on those currently available.
How long will my Solar Heating System last?
System life expectancies can exceed 30 years.
