Can I use solar PV to heat water?

Can I use solar PV to heat water?

With no moving parts, and with an immersion diverter being an affordable add on, using your Solar PV System to heat your water is a reliable option.

Can I connect a solar panel directly to an immersion heater?

A great way to use solar panels for hot water is with two immersion heaters. With this setup, you connect a power diverter to the lower immersion heater and grid electricity to the upper immersion heater. Hot water rises, so the lower immersion heater heats the whole tank using surplus solar electricity.

Can you run a heater on solar power?

The electricity produced by solar panels can be used for any home appliance, not only heat pumps or resistance heaters. A solar collector only produces hot water.

Are solar diverters worth it?

If you’re looking for the cheapest way of using some of the surplus energy generated by your solar panels, then a Solar Power Diverter is probably for you. You’ll be making use of more energy as well as taking some of the workload off your boiler, with the added bonus of having a source of free hot water.

How big of a solar hot water system do I need?

As a rule of thumb, a relatively water efficient household is looking at a system size of 75 litres per person. A typical solar hot water panel is 2 square metres and will supply 150 litres. So a typical 4 person family will need a system sized at 300 litres which has 2 panels.

What are the disadvantages of using a solar heater instead of an immersion heater?

Solar heaters require sufficient roof space to accommodate them. Solar water heaters require direct sunlight to function. The system does not function on cloudy, rainy, or foggy days. Annual maintenance is recommended to check the pump and antifreeze.

What is a solar PV Optimiser?

Solar panel optimisers are an additional feature that can be fitted to a standard solar panel system. An optimiser is fitted to each solar panel to optimise the power output generated by each panel independently.