Solar power hots up

As fuel bills rise, here’s the latest on using the sun to generate your own heat and electricity

 

Installing solar hot water and electricity

Solar technology is developing fast, and there are now two main ways for homeowners to use the power of the sun: heating water and generating electricity. Which you choose depends on the needs of your household and, just as importantly, your budget.

 
Solar hot water

The most effective way to use the sun's power is with a solar hot-water system, also known as solar thermal. ‘It's one of the cheapest and easiest renewable technologies to install and also the most popular,' says Neil Schofield, Head of Sustainable Development at Worcester, part of the Bosch Group. ‘The solar panels will produce up to 70 per cent of your hot water, while a condensing boiler produces the rest. It should allow you to turn off your boiler during the summer months,' he says. Solar hot-water panels cost from around £2000, and you'll need at least two sq metres of space on the roof to fit them. Not all boilers and cylinders are compatible with solar heating, so check with your installer before you buy. Don't forget that you'll also need space in your home to run the pipes down from the panels to the hot-water cylinder.

 
Solar electricity

It's more difficult to run your home on electricity from solar panels,
but it's still possible. You'll probably be able to generate about 30 per
cent of the electricity you need, and if there's not enough power from
the panels it will just come from the national grid instead. If you generate electricity that's not used, for example if you go away on holiday or it's a particularly brilliant summer, then the excess flows back to the national grid for someone else to use. You can make a deal with your electricity company so that they pay you for this extra energy, which will bring your bills down even further. This kind of power, known as Solar PV (photovoltaics), is likely to cost from around £6000. You'll need around eight sq metres of space for the panels, and an area, often in the loft, for all the equipment needed.

 
What you need to know

● Solar panels do not need continuous sunshine to work, so they're fine even in the UK's unpredictable weather.

● Whether you want hot water or electricity, the panels will work best if they're facing south and as free from shadow as possible.

● Ideally, panels should be at an angle of 30-60 degrees. However, if you have a flat roof, or even a wall or floor in a good position, you can get brackets to fix them in place for maximum daylight.

● Your installer will be able to advise you on how many panels you need for the size of your household. It's likely to cost between £2000 and £10,000, depending on where you live, the type of panel and any difficulties with installation.

● If you live in a listed building or conservation area, you'll probably need planning permission.

● You may be able to get a government grant to help fund the installation. For details, visit lowcarbonbuildings.org.uk.

Next steps

If solar panels appeal to you, these companies can offer more information and advice

 

● Greenshop Solar (0845 223 5440; greenshop-solar.co.uk)

● Kingspan Solar (0845 812 0007; kingspansolar.co.uk)

● RM Solar (01924 224272 for a brochure; 01924 224282 for sales; rmsolar.com)

● Solar Century (020 7803 0100; solarcentury.co.uk)

● Solartwin.com (0845 1300 137; solartwin.com)

● Solex Energy (01305 837223; solexenergy.co.uk)

● Worcester (0845 725 6206; worcester-bosch.co.uk)

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