Solar Panels

What is Solar Panel Technology?

Solar energy is the light and radiant heat from the Sun that influences Earth's climate and weather and sustains life. Since the early years, solar energy has been harnessed for human use through a range of different technologies. Solar radiation along with secondary solar resources, such as wind and wave power, hydroelectricity and biomass account for most of the available renewable energy on Earth. A solar thermal collector (solar panel) is specifically intended to absorb sunlight and collect heat.

Solar radiation is absorbed by the solar panel which in turn heats a water/glycol mix that is pumped through it. This heated water/glycol mix is circulated through a separate coil in the hot water cylinder and used to heat domestic tap water. As well as heating domestic tap water the same solar array can be used for central heating and swimming pools.

Depending on the location and size of the solar array installed, the annual space heating contribution can range from 10% to 60% or more in a modern ultra-low energy type buildings; even up to up to 100% where a large seasonal thermal store is used. If you are building or planning to build and are interested in how eco hometec solar panel technology can contribute to your hot water and central heating demands please select a link below for specific Solar Panel information or submit your Building plans here.

Why invest in Solar Panel Technology?

Saves Energy which saves Money & Reduces _C02 Emissions which saves the Environment.

'Greening the home' can be achieved through a series of steps, including double glazing and adding a condensing boiler. However, solar panels and solar hot water heating are considered as "the ultimate way to achieve a large reduction in carbon emissions".

eco hometec believe that the UK should follow the Spanish model of installing solar hot water heating and solar thermal technology in all newly built houses. Spain has adopted a blanket policy, which stipulates that all new homes should include solar hot water heating solutions.

House builders are under increasing pressure to improve the energy efficiency of their homes, with ambitious government targets to make all homes zero carbon by 2016. However, the UK is currently lagging behind Europe when it comes to building energy efficient homes. Solar thermal technology and solar hot water heating can complement an existing heating and hot water system by providing up to 70 per cent of a house's hot water requirements.

Solar water heating can provide almost all of your hot water during the summer months and about 50% year round. The average domestic system reduces C02 by around 350kg - 400kg per year, depending on the fuel replaced.

Types of Solar Panels? - Flat Plate Solar Panel

The most common type of solar thermal collector is described as a flat plate panel. A weatherproofed, insulated box containing a black metal absorber sheet with built in pipes is placed in the path of sunlight. Solar energy heats up a water/glycol mix in the pipes and this is then pumped through the system. The eco hometec solar panel consists of a transparent cover, absorber & frame. At eco hometec, we use a copper black chromed manufactured collector surface.

A transparent cover - made of iron-poor tempered SUN PLUS glass panes with very high transmittance (about 92%) of short-wave light spectrum.
An absorber - a copper plate coated with a black chrome selective surface (having properties of high-absorption - about 95%) and low-emissivity of solar heat. Our collectors are coated with a black chrome selective surface to absorb solar radiation. As this process is electrolysis and does not involve any coatings the long term performance is not affected in any way from peeling or lifting. The eco hometec KS2000 panels are constructed so that the copper absorber plate is welded to the copper heater pipes. As copper is a better conductor of heat than Aluminium, the all copper construction is the preferred.
Aluminium frame - with insulation are needed to reduce the heat losses.

The eco hometec Flat Plate Solar Panel section
(shown below)

Flat Plate Solar Panel

The eco hometec Flat Plate Solar Panel
(shown below)

Solar Panel Flat Plate

The eco hometec Evacuated or Vacuum Tube Panel
(shown below)

Vacuum Tube Solar Panel Collector

These collectors have multiple evacuated glass tubes which heat up solar absorbers and the water/glycol mix circulating through them. The vacuum within the evacuated tubes reduce conducted heat losses, allowing them to reach considerably higher temperatures than most flat-plate collectors. The evacuated tubes draw their energy from the available light rather than outside temperature.

For these reasons they can perform well in colder typically alpine conditions. The advantage is largely lost in warmer climates, except in those cases where very hot water is desirable, for example commercial process water.

The eco hometec vacuum solar collector consists of 10 vacuum tubes made of glass pipe with antireflective coating with absorbers inside.

Please browse our website for more information about eco hometec and our range of Eco Heating products including Solar Panels then click here to submit your plans or contact us on Freephone 0800 8620278 to speak to one of our team or e-mail us on sales@eco-hometec.co.uk. www.solarpanels.uk.com