SOLAR POWER IN IRELAND
A solar water heater is an efficient and reliable technology that converts sunlight into heat to produce your hot water.

Solar energy can provide cost-effective solutions to fight climate change and reduce our dependency on expensive and polluting fuels.

Solar thermal energy panels have a life expectancy of at least 30 years and require little or no maintenance.

Ireland is just as suited to solar heating as Germany and Austria, two of the largest markets for solar in Europe.

Ireland receives from the sun the equivalent of 600 times its total annual
energy consumption. On a bright day, any surface standing in the sun will
receive about 1,000 watts of solar radiation.

Solar energy saves up to 70% of the energy used for water heating in a 4-
person household. This is equivalent to approximately 300 litres of heating
oil and a CO2 saving of around 800 tons per year.

HOW SOLAR POWER WORKS
A solar water heater is composed of:

• A solar collector, which absorbs solar sunlight and changes it into heat
• A pump, which transfers the heat from the collector to hot water in a
  storage tank
• The storage tank accumulates hot water produced by solar energy so that it can be used when it is needed
• A number of accessories, which ensure the regulation and the safety of the system

THE TANK
The tank is a twin coil unit, this consists of two separate heating coils in the base and the middle of the cylinder. The solar collector is connected to the lower coil and the back-up heat source to the upper coil. These tanks are available in various sizes typically 160, 210, 250 and 360 litres. The tank is then coated with insulation to reduce heat loss.