Products - solar hot water heating

Viessmann and Solar Thermal

Viessmann has been selling solar panels worldwide for decades and already has the largest UK* and European market share of solar panels. Viessmann has always led the way in the design, development and manufacture of solar panels and the result is the Vitosol range of high quality, durable products for domestic and large scale commercial installations. All Viessmann renewable energy products are designed to be totally compatible with Viessmann boilers, cylinders and controls for easy installation and maximum efficiency.

Solar Thermal Panels

The Facts

Solar thermal panels, along with a condensing boiler, most often represents the best green investment for all types and sizes of buildings.

They can heat 100% of your hot water in the summer and save at least 60% of the annual fuel cost for heating hot water (that's just the hot water part of your fuel bill - not the total fuel bill). For homes with high levels of insulations, solar thermal panels can also be used to support your heating system.

Solar panels can absorb direct and indirect energy from the sun even on dull days and convert it into heat.

Panels are easily connected together, to generate the right amount of hot water for your building - or swimming pool! For a domestic installation (without a pool), a rule of thumb is 0.8m2 of solar panels per person in the household.

The panels are connected to a hot water cylinder, which has 2 coils. The solar panels are connected to the bottom coil & the boiler to the top coil. Sensors ensure that when there is insufficient solar energy to heat the water, the boiler fires to take over.

Solar panels are usually quite straightforward to install, but mistakes can be made and with temperatures reaching 180'C, badly installed solar panels can be dangerous. Flat plate collectors (such as the Vitosol 200-F ) should ideally be sited on a south facing, pitched roof facing between SW and SE.

Tube panels (such as the Vitosol 200-T and Vitosol 300-T ) offer more flexibility in siting, as the individual tubes can be rotated towards the sun, to maximise absorption. There is also the option to install tubes on flat roofs and vertically on walls.

Tubes tend to be slightly more expensive than flat panels, but they offer higher efficiency levels, especially in colder times of the year.

Another advantage of tubes is that they are much easier to lift onto the roof, as the tubes and components can be carried up individually, rather than one heavy unit. It's also easy to replace a tube, should one get damaged, thanks to the patented click-system. (Vitosol 200T).

Where flat panel installations are an option, the panels can either be mounted on top of the roof tiles, or integrated into the roof. The Vitosol 100F has optional colour coded edge strips, to match to the roof tiles.

A domestic installation can cost around £4,000 - £5,000, with a payback on fuel bills that could be as little as 9 years. The good news is that research has shown that solar panels for hot water can add up to £10,000 to the value of a house.

Grants are available for solar panels, but the different schemes are subject to change. Go to www.lowcarbonbuildings.org.uk for the latest information.

The Benefits of Kingspan Hot Water Systems and Thermomax

Solar Energy for a Brighter Future

Solar energy is free, clean and safe. It is environmentally friendly and produces no waste or pollution. Using solar energy enables you to reduce your carbon footprint as well as your energy bills. Grants are available through many Government Schemes (see links section).
The Sun radiates enormous amounts of energy to the earth. As an example, the UK and Ireland receive on average per year, as much as 60% of that received on the equator. This radiation is similar to the output of 1,000 power stations.

Solar Thermal Vacuum Tube Systems

Solar thermal technology transforms direct and diffuse solar radiation into useful heat using a solar collector, which should face as closely as possible to the south at an angle perpendicular to the sun.

Each Thermomax collector consists of a highly insulated manifold and a row of tubes. The vacuum inside each tube provides perfect insulation, protecting the system from outside influences, such as cold and windy weather or high humidity. This vacuum insulation also ensures that the energy collected from the sun is very efficiently and effectively transferred into usable heat as there is minimal heat loss.

Benefits of a Thermomax System

With over 25 years of experience, the Thermomax brand is firmly established as a world leader in solar thermal products. Thermomax collectors are the premium product in the market, designed specifically for a Northern European climate.

A Positive Environmental Impact

Burning fossil fuels produces vast quantities of carbon dioxide, a major contributor to global warming. The average household with a Thermomax system installed can expect to generate approximately 2,256 kWh/year with zero emissions.

High Performance Vacuum Tubes

Thermomax solar thermal tubes maintain a superior vacuum over a longer period of time through:

• High quality glass - unique properties give good transmissibility with low reflection losses and increased durability
• Superior vacuum - by creating a vacuum of 10-6 bar within the tube, thermal losses caused by conduction and convection are eliminated
• Glass to metal seal - unique fusing process for durability

Performance and Savings

Thermomax products have been designed specifically for Northern climates:

• Supplies up to 70% of your annual hot water needs
• Works from dawn until dusk and throughout the year
• Provides heat even in cold, windy or humid conditions
• Rapid conductivity and transfer of energy into heat
• 30% more effective than flat plate collectors

Easy installation

The unique ‘plug and play' design of Thermomax solar collectors makes installation quick and easy. There is no need for heavy lifting equipment as tubes can be carried onto the roof by east-fit brackets, which are simply fixed to the rafter.

100% European Design and Manufacture

Thermomax products are manufactured and designed in Ireland. A full service package is offered including bespoke design, technical advice, training and sales support. The quality of our product is paramount to Kingspan's success. This differentiates us from the influx of inferior products being imported from the Far East.

Network of Accredited Installers

With a nationwide network of Kingspan Solar Accredited Installers, you can be confident that your investment in a Thermomax system will be an informed one. Only installers who have met strict requirements are awarded Kingspan Solar Accredited Installer status. Each member is given expert product training and kept up-to-date with the latest regulations, environmental standards and health and safety guidelines, giving you the confidence that your system is installed and maintained to the highest standards achievable.