Evacuated - Solar tubes installations

Why, we're passionate about evacuated solar tubes?

Investing in your home and energy future with the latest evacuated solar tubes with a life span of 30 years. Solar tubes have never made such financial sense in a world of constant fuel price rises.

Learn about solar tubes

Evacuated Solar Tubes for Hot Water and Heating for UK Homes

In a nutshell, evacuated tubes, commonly known as solar tubes, are amongst the most efficient of all panels. These domestic systems for water heating, work all year round contributing to your homes heating requirements, with the energy that hits your roof every day of the year.

Evacuated tubes made easy

A solar tubes installation is like converting a car into a hybrid running on LPG. After the initial investment, your car or in this case, your home will run efficiently and cheaply for the 30 years.

What sets a quality system apart is modernising and bringing the heating system up to modern 'building regulation' standards. Installing solar tubes are only a small part of that.

From March to October you may not need to use your boiler and in winter, it will dramatically reduce the need for your boiler to fire up.

No planning permission needed in most cases.

How these supersede other solar panels?

These European manufactured solar tubes system includes a patented Low E glass technology. This uses a distinct low iron glass formula which has reduced the reflective properties, increasing the absorption properties. Contributes all year round.

The absorbing glass surface is not flat. It has 360 deg absorption ability, which gives better efficiency, performance and a more even heat output throughout the whole day, compared to a flat panel.

Solar tubes have twin-skined vacuum filled glazing, giving better heat retention. Just like a thermos flask, once the heat is in it becomes trapped recovering the heat lost by traditional flat solar panels.

Combi boilers are possible but, please bear in mind, that we will need to re-install a hot water tank. Most homes with combi's will not have the space to install a domestic sized hot water tank. If you are able to re-install a hot water tank, then yes an installation may be possible.

My solar heating panels have been tremendous saving a tank of oil, just through the summer months alone.

Size: 2040 x 1000 x 80 mm.
Aperture Area: 2.15 m2.
Weight: 50 kg.
Absorption area: 2.73 m2.
Efficiency 95%.
Max pressure: 10 bar.
Standard pressure: 3 bar.
Roof, wall and free standing.

Renewable Heat Incentive Scheme

Beat the banks and energy companies - The Renewable Heat Incentive Scheme is a feed-in tariff which pays a fixed amount per kw h of heat generated. Those who install renewable heat equipment, such as solar heating panels and air/ground source heat pumps will benefit from this additional incentive payment, giving an average of 8% return on investment.

Payments made on systems up to 20 KW and paid 8.5p per kw h produced even if you use the energy yourself. The annual tariff payments are guaranteed for a minimum of 20 years and index linked.

Solar panels can contribute to your home, even on cloudy days in the UK climate.

Common questions about installations

Solar tubes are no longer viewed just as a green product. Most people installing solar panels today, do so to reduce dependence on expensive fossil fuels, or as an investment opportunity which will receive and make them more money than keeping the money in the bank.

Most homes are suitable, if you have a S/SE/SW or east/west facing roof space, then probably. Your internal plumbing will need to be checked for compatibility, and this can be done through our free home survey and "get a quote" service.

The UK receives 60% of the solar radiation compared with the equator. Each square metre of the UK receives between 900 to 1,300 kw h annually of solar radiation each year.

Developed for northern european climates, creating the highest performing solar, even contributing on some cloudy days.

Evacuated tubes were developed for the UK climate; they use a thermos flask principle, which allows the inside of the solar vacuum tubes to get very hot regardless of the external air temperature.

The cost of a solar heating system depends on several factors, usually based on water tank sizes. A home survey and consultation appointment can be arranged.

The science bit - When solar radiation or solar energy hits an object, the short-wave radiation is converted to long-wave radiation and this process creates heat.

1. Evacuated solar tubes heat up due to the sun's short-wave radiation output converting to long-wave radiation.

2. The solar controller controls a variable speed pump based on temperature outputs.

3. The circulation pump circulates a special fluid through the hot solar collector and trough a heat exchanger in your hot water cylinder; the heat is transferred to your cylinder.

5. System shuts down automatically when, not in use, or when the collector temperature is lower than the cylinder.

6. Your solar collector will store up heat even on cloudy days, so when the controller detects useable heat it will start up again.

Yes, glazed flat panels and evacuated solar tubes. Usually a flat panels salesmen will say their system performs best, and solar tubes salesmen, will say the same. Independent testing has concluded that evacuated tubes perform best in the UK climate and flat panels closely second.

Also, another flat solar panel with unglazed plastic panels with rubber pipes. This is one of the lowest performing of the technologies tested in a government DTI test.

Very simply, old copper hot water tanks run exceptionally inefficiently, especially after many years of use. Lime-scale will reduce performance even further. When installing solar tubes, it is essential to install a modern more efficient tank to get the most out of your solar generated heat gain.

"Adding solar tubes to an old tank would be like converting your car
to LPG and running it on semi flat tyres"

This depends on the type installed. We would need to inspect your home to see if the heating management system is suitable. In most cases, solar can contribute to your central heating using under floor heating technology, but not all solar installation companies offer this technology.

The solar panel gathers accumulated heat, which it uses to heat up a fluid within the panel. This fluid circulates through the solar panel and then through pipes into a heat exchanger within a special tank. The heat can then be used as hot water or space heating with under-floor heating.

1. Can you face the tubes roughly towards the sun? South, southwest or southeast roofs are ideal. Even east or west roofs offer 85% performance.

2. If your hot water cylinder is twin coiled. It does not matter if not, as we can locate a solar compatible and more efficient tank as part of your installation.

3. Listed buildings, conservation area homes, national parks may require permission. Please consult with your local planning officer.

This rather depends on which solar panel technology installed and the density of cloud; flat plate panels do not contribute as much as evacuated solar tubes in these conditions. In moderate cloud density, solar energy can still be used. With very heavy dark, dense cloud cover, probably not. Use your solar powered calculator out on a cloudy day and it will still work.

No, if your tank is solar compatible or has a twin coil unused. In most cases, we update your hot water tank when installing solar panels or solar tubes to allow the system to work at its full capacity.

Around half a tonne each year, but this is dependant on how much hot water is used and how you heat your water at present.

A good proportion of the year, temperatures of above 60 deg C are reasonable, but on a sunny day as high as 80 deg C.

Solar tubes out perform flat plate panels. All system components are European engineered for quality and full Solar Keymark accreditation.

In most cases no, however, if one has Part P electrical and plumbing skills, then it may be possible to install in a diy capacity. New diy solar water heating panels and evacuated tubes self-install kits are available.

All eligible solar installations must be carried out and certified, by an accredited MCS solar installer, to qualify.

This depends on quality type; with a robust quality system, it will easily last 25-30+ years, but a poor quality system may only last a couple of years.

Evacuated solar tubes and solar panels in general are becoming a key necessity for small and large companies alike. If using hot water during your daily operations, then including solar into your business plan can reward, with lower running costs in an expensive world of energy.

The golden age of cheap energy is over. We must all be responsible for reducing dependence on this increasingly expensive fossil fuels as they continue to rise further down the timeline.

As with anything in life, you get what you pay for, so a cheap option will be a false economy when efficiency and performance are concerned.

The MCS accredited solar panels come with a full 15 year warranty and performance life span of 30 plus years.

Evacuated tubes generate heat all year round using direct and diffused sunlight.

"We have recently had a solar heating system installed to provide for our outside swimming pool. We are thoroughly enjoying the benefits of free additional heating which makes our pool both enjoyable and economic, and extends the season both in spring and autumn. As gas prices increase the value of energy provided by our panel's increases, making this a extremely worthwhile investment.

We are pleased with the neat arrangement of the completed installation and noticed immediate benefits with the hot water system since the installation, although the time of year precludes full benefits being realised."
Mr Parker, Lincolnshire

"We chose to install solar panels because it is the most effective and efficient system to meet our environmental and cost effective requirements.

The installation, despite a small two day delay, caused by weather was undertaken within the time specified without significant disruption to the running of our home.

We only lost water and heating for a short time while the new storage tank was fitted and everything was made fully functional soon after installation. At the end of the day, everything was cleared up and left tidy even returning the next day to complete the fitting of the solar panels themselves.

Since it has been fully operational we have noticed a significant reduction in the frequency with which the boiler switches on, even though the weather has not been particularly bright since the install.

We would have absolutely no qualms about recommending solar to anyone interested in the benefits and we have already interested some friends and acquaintances."
Mrs Harding, Slough