Where a project uses solar water heating (SDHW) on a large scale, either as one large collector or multiple small units, then a different approach is required compared to a typical family sized house.
 

New build SDHW multiple units

Solar water heating is increasingly specified in new housing, for example, by Housing Associations keen to reduce their residents annual fuel utility bill. The Dutch have been pioneers in this field and installation costs are already past the £ 1500- per household level. To achieve such low prices requires bulk purchasing, design and planning at an early stage to ensure space is available for the equipment and careful co-ordination of construction trades.

For a small site (less than five homes) a specialist contractor such as ourselves will ensure the smoothest installation. Larger sites with numerous replications allow the economic use of the existing plumbing, roofing and electric trades for which we can provide on-site training which may be required to re-enforce written instructions.
  

Large Single SDHW installation

These are common for multi-occupancy domestic projects i.e. hotels and hostels greater than 10m ² collector area. Whilst economies of scale help reduce the pro-rata cost of the collector, the use of non-standard storage and control equipment can proportionally increase. Project leaders are advised to use an installation guide price of £ 500 per resident using hot water in large installations.

Though the required roof area is rarely a problem, the space taken for solar storage (typically 2 m3 per 6 residents) hence the weight-loading of floors soon becomes an issue. Consider also the pipe distance between an existing boiler plant room and the collectors hence we suggest our early involvement with the design team.

With some scheduling of main hot water loads such as laundry later into the day, solar fractions in excess of 50% can be achieved. Slightly less can be expected where hot water use is daytime based and summer holidays are prevalent i.e. offices and schools.

 

Single installation for industrial process heat

Where there is a process requiring heat, it may be possible to add solar input especially if part of the circuit has temperatures below a nominal 50 C.. Applications include drying, food preparation and laundries.

 

 

 

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