FAQ

Solar thermal FAQ's

What is the difference between solar PV and solar thermal?

Solar PV is a renewable energy technology that uses the power of the sun to generate electricity. Solar thermal is a technology that uses the power of the sun to heat water for your home.

My roof faces east/west - will solar thermal panels still work for me?

If you have an east /west split roof, you can still use solar thermal but we would recommend that you install a separate collector/panel on each side of the roof. although this will obviously increase the cost.

My roof is old and in fairly poor condition - can I still install a solar thermal system on it?

Although solar thermal systems are unlikely to be heavy enough to cause structural problems, if you think that your roof maybe in a poor condition we would highly recommend that you undertake a structural survey before proceeding with your installation (we can arrange this if needed).

Do I need planning permission?

Using solar thermal panels on the roof of a single dwelling house is usually considered to be within 'permitted development rights' under planning law, so there is usually no need to apply for planning permission.