How Many Solar Hot Water Panels Do I Need?

Before installing a solar hot water system on your community building, there are a couple of things you need to consider:

Is there sufficient roof space for collecting sunlight?

If your roof faces south and receives direct sunlight for the main part of the day, depending on the size of your building you will need approximately 5 square metres roof space. Alternatively, if you don't have a south-facing roof, you could install two panels, one facing east and one facing west.

Another option if your commercial building is a flat roof structure is to mount the panels on a-frames which can positioned at the optimum angle and orientation to maximise the output of the system.

Do you have sufficient space within your home for a large hot water cylinder?

If the cylinder you currently have installed is not able to be used for a solar hot water system or you don't yet have a cylinder then you will need to purchase one to be installed. The size of the cylinder is directly related to the amount of

 hot water you need to generate. Typical estimations for domestic homes suggest each person would require 50 litres of hot water, although this would obviously be different for community buildings and very much depend on what the building is used for and how often. For more advice on this please call us on 0845 873 8612 or contact us via email.

Using your existing boiler with a solar hot water system.

Most conventional boilers are suitable for use with solar hot water systems. If you have a combi boiler and you don't currently have a hot water tank then a solar hot water system may not be compatible, please contact us for advice.

Planning permission.

In England most solar water heating systems don't need planning permission, but it is always best to consult your local planning office if you live in a listed building or a conservation area, world heritage site etc. If you live in Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland you will need to consult your local authority.