Zed's Guide to Renewable Energy
With rising fuel prices and the ever growing consciousness for the environment, more and more people are realising the benefits that Solar Energy can bring. The sun is there every day providing us with free energy, Solar Power enables us utilise this energy for our own benefits.
Solar Panels
Solar Panels are one of the most effective renewable energy products currently available as they can provide you with between 50%-70% of your domestic hot water.
Solar Panels/collectors are the main elements of a solar system. Many people are still under the misconception that solar panels work solely from the direct heat from the sun’s rays, and therefore solar panels wouldn’t be feasible for use in the UK. However this is wrong, because Solar Panels actually also operate by diffusing light (as well as heat) from the sun using a special fluid (water and glycol) that is being circulated through the panel/collector. The heat gained from this fluid is then transferred to the stored water via a coil/heat exchanger within the cylinder, thus providing substantial hot water for the home.
There are two main types of solar panel used for solar water heating systems, they are flat plate and evacuated tube types. Tube type Solar Panels, are specially designed to give maximum absorbance and are therefore considered more efficient however, they can be more expensive to purchase and maintain. Flat Plate Solar Panels however are still highly effective, and can be lower in cost, making them the more popular choice. They are also more flexible, and can be installed vertically or horizontally.
Solar Panels can be installed on almost any roof type. E.g. Slate, Tiles etc. They can either be mounted “on-roof”, where brackets are fixed and the panels held into place, or alternatively they can be installed “in-roof” where the panels are set into the roof covering. In-roof applications tend to be used in new build projects rather than existing buildings.
The amount of Solar Panels required for your property is determined by the amount of hot water that needs to be heated. PlumbNation recommends that you seek further advice from your installer or manufacturer, if you are unsure about your requirements.
Solar Cylinders
Solar Cylinders are specially designed for Solar Heating installations. A mixture of water and a special Glycol liquid (specially designed to absorb maximum heat from the sun’s rays) is circulated through pipe work in the solar panels. This liquid is then returned to the cylinder where the heat is transferred to the stored water via an internal coil/heat exchanger, the liquid is then pumped back to the solar panels to be reheated.
An additional coil is also required to obtain heat from an alternative source, if the heat from the Solar Energy is insufficient. This is most commonly referred to as Indirect “Twin Coil” Cylinder. Direct Cylinders can be used for Solar Power, with the added heat source being supplied via the internal immersion heaters. It is advised however, to install an Indirect Cylinder, as this provides faster heat up and recovery time.
Ground Source Heat Pumps
Ground Source Heat Pumps are electrically powered systems that use the natural energy stored within the earth.
The easiest way to describe how a heat pump works, is to say that it operates similar to that of a refrigerator, only in reverse. A refrigerator moves heats from inside to the outside, whereas in a Ground Source Heat Pump, heat is moved from the outside to the inside. (from the ground and into the house). Ground Source Heat Pumps collect stored solar energy that is then transferred to the house via a collector system. The pump will increase the temperature of the stored heat and then distribute that heat through the house, via Underfloor Heating/Radiators.
With Ground Source Heat Pumps, there are no direct CO2 emissions, and therefore no damage to the environment, and they also help conserve the Earth’s diminishing renewable fossil fuels, such as Gas, Coal and Oil.
Ground Source Heat Pumps are one of the best highly efficient forms of renewable energy on the market today. The performance and efficiency of Heat Pumps are measured in COP Ratings (Co-efficient of Performance).
The performance and efficiency of a heat pump system is commonly measured by the Co-efficient of Performance (COP). The COP is a simple calculation which works out how much energy the heat pump is able to extract from the energy source compared to the amount of electrical energy used by the heat pump. The higher the COP rating, the more efficient the heat pump.
Ground Source Heat Pumps feature highly efficient and effective compressors, which allow higher flow temperatures from the appliance. The high output temperature allows Heat Pumps to be effectively combined with radiators. Radiators should however be typically oversized by around 30% in order to gain full effect. However, it is recommended that instead of radiators, an Underfloor heating system should be used as it offers the most compatible heat emitter. It is the Scroll Compressors that offer excellent COP ratings.
PlumbNation offer a great selection of Renewable Energy products ranging from Solar Heating Packages, Solar Cylinders, and Ground Source Heat Pumps, all from the UK’s market leading manufacturers, such as Vaillant, Worcester and Glow worm.
Water Butts
