SOLAR THERMAL BEST COST REDUCTION POTENTIAL OF ANY LOW CARBON HEATING TECHNOLOGY
Solar thermal systems are a simple and well-proven technology for producing low-carbon heat. Globally solar thermal capacity is double the capacity of solar power, illustrating how firmly established this technology is. The UK market is dominated by domestic water heating, but solar thermal also has huge potential for commercial heating, space heating and even industrial processes where it can deliver temperatures over 200 degrees centigrade.
The relative immaturity of the UK market means that the potential for solar thermal applications has yet to be appreciated. The greatest non-financial barrier for solar thermal in the UK is poor awareness and understanding of the technology’s applications. Many European markets are much more developed and boast diverse uses of solar thermal, such as for air-conditioning, heat storage and district heating.
Demand for hot water is fairly constant year round, which means that there is a significant demand for hot water when solar energy is at its peak in the summer months. Solar thermal systems can provide most of the hot water during this period, as well as making a useful contribution in winter months. Typically, in the UK, solar water heating is most economic when used to heat water for baths, showers, hand washing and other domestic hot water requirements. Even in Northern climates solar thermal can provide 50-70% of hot water needs over the year.
The market is broadly split into flat plate collectors, which are relatively cheap and give good performance for lower temperature applications, and evacuated tube collectors, which can achieve higher temperatures. The retrofit solar thermal market in the UK suffered as a result of extensive delays to the introduction of the domestic RHI while solar power flourished under the Feed-in Tariff. However, the domestic RHI is now in place and is offering good support, sensibly based on occupancy. There is concern though that the Government’s Zero Carbon Homes agenda has been watered down, as solar thermal is an excellent technology to incorporate in new build
developments. The Solar Trade Association (STA) has calculated that installing 200,000 systems per annum would reduce unit costs by a third, making solar thermal highly affordable.
Solar thermal is supported in industrial applications up to 200kW in size, and this should be extended in recognition that the technology is very effective at heating swimming pools and has been used in industry, in hotels and on farms.
MANIFESTO ASKS
• Expand the solar ambition - Extend RHI support for solar thermal to: • PVT combined panels • Space heating • Swimming pools
• Future-proof new build - Focus on on-site solutions by ensuring carbon compliance standards in building regulations that promote integrated heating solutions to protect new housing from future retrofitting
• Promote renewable heat - Educate and promote the domestic use of solar thermal under the RHI to the public
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