How Solar Hot Water Systems Work

Solar power is one of the cleanest forms of renewable energy available and systems are now readily available to transform this energy into hot water which you can use in your home.

Solar hot water heating systems have existed for centuries, and with continued development and innovation coupled with an ever increasing understanding of how these systems work; solar hot water heating systems can now provide an affordable and efficient solution to providing your home with hot water.

Explained simply, solar hot water systems collect solar energy through a collector which absorbs energy from the sun. This energy is transferred into heat in a glycol solution that flows through pipes in the collector, and this heat is then transferred to the water which is stored in a cylinder as normal.

Solar hot water systems are designed to fulfil 90% of the heating demand in the period of highest resource (summer) when little space heating is required, and can provide at least 40-60% of all your hot water requirements throughout the year. The average domestic system reduces annual carbon dioxide emissions by around 400kg. Over 70% of the average household's energy use goes into space and water heating, so a source of free hot water to use instead of commercial energy can make a dramatic financial saving.