One Sun – Two Energy Systems

There are two principle ways to use solar energy: equipment which produces electricity from solar energy and equipment which produces heat from solar energy.

Solar equipment for producing electricity, also called photovoltaic systems,produce electricity from sunlight, mostly for direct input to the electricity grid. These systems can usually convert 15-17% of the insolation to electricity. They require a very large roof area to be able to contribute significantly to your total energy use.

Comfort and Security with Heat from the Sun

Energy collected by solar thermal equipment can be used in a hot water system to provide heat for hot water or can be used in a combination system to also provide solar thermal support for an active space heating system. Passive solar gains will be achieved by the sun's heat entering the buildings through the windows, this is an advantage in the winter and can be a disadvantage in the summer.

Using solar thermal energy means that you are more independent of rising oiland gas prices. As other energy costs increase, the savings from solarthermal systems increase further still. Solar thermal technologies aremature and very efficient – solar collectors can convert 70-90% ofthe solar insolation to useful heat.

A solar system producing hot water only would need between 2 & 4m2 of solar panel on the roof and a solar thermal space heating support system for a one family house would need some 4 to 12 m²of collector area -  a relatively small area on your roof. The heat collected is used in the house, and it is usually possible to connect to your existing space heating system. If your boiler is old and needs replacing, new condensing boilers or, even better, woodpellet boilers are available and should be considered as part of the upgrade.

The ideal combination a Consolar SOLUS store with a wood pellet boiler. find out more...