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Wednesday 20 February 2008
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 The common conception is that Ireland’s long winter nights and seemingly perpetual cloud cover make it an unsuitable location for harvesting solar energy. The truth is, however, that with the right technology and a properly designed installation the average Irish home can cover as much as 50-60% of their hot water heating bill with free solar energy (according to Sustainable Energy Ireland).
The average home requires approximately 3000 kWh per year for hot water heating. The above map shows the amount of solar radiation falling on a single square meter over the course of a year (this is with the solar plate facing due south and tilted at 30 degrees). Given the typical square meterage of a roof, there is the potential to harvest many times the required heating energy needs for your home.
The above map shows the energy available, but there are a few factors to take into account that affect how much energy you can actually capture and use. Below is an explanation of the main issues to be aware of with solar heating. However, even after taking into account all of these considerations it is likely that solar energy can supply 50-60% of your hot water needs.
As seen in the graph, the amount of heat supplied by the solar collectors does vary over the course of the year. But with vacuum tube collectors, described in detail below, your home will benefit all year round and over the course of the year the energy gains add up to a significant portion of your hot water bill.
Modern solar collectors do not need direct sun light to function. Because the solar collectors are designed to trap the sun’s energy and hold onto the heat, even on overcast or rainy days the ambient day light will provide energy to heat your water or home.
Solar collectors are typically installed on the roof of your home. The maximum energy gains are acquired when the collectors are pointed due south and angled between 30 and 45 degrees. As you move away from this ideal orientation the effectiveness of solar collector drops. Typically an orientation between south-west through to south-east is acceptable. The effectiveness will also be diminshed if the collectors are shaded or partially shaded by trees or nearby buildings.
The effciency of a solar collector refers to how much of the sun’s energy that hits it is turned into useful heat energy for warming your home. There are two main types of solar collectors for domestic use; Flat Plate and Vacuum Tube Collectors. In broad terms, flate plate and vacuum tube collectors have comparable levels of efficiency at hot temperatures and in direct sun light. However, Vacuum Tube Collectors are significantly more efficient in low light and with colder outside temperatures, making them ideal for Ireland. |
 | Vacuum Tube Collectors are made up of a number of glass tubes. The glass tubes have all the air vacuumed out to create an excellent insulating barrier, like a thermos bottle. The energy of the sun’s rays passes through the glass and heats up an inner copper tube, but the heat can’t get back out. This is a key advantage for Vacuum Tube Collectors in cooler climates, such as Ireland (aka Hibernia).
The copper tube in the centre of the tube carries a heat transfer liquid (distilled water or alcohol). This inner tube is also a vacuum. Due to this vacuum the liquid boils at a lower temperature, turning it into steam which rises out of the solar collector. This heated fluid is then used to heat a water tank or it can be used directly for space heating.
Vacuum Tube Collectors are the ideal solution for Ireland’s climate. The vacuum tube allows the inner liquid to be heated to a relatively high temperature even if the outdoor temperature is cold. In addition the sun’s rays deliver the most energy when they shine directly onto a surface, not at an angle. Due to the shape of the glass tube, sunlight is able to directly strike the inner heating element from many directions. This allows the solar collector to make the most of low lighting conditions and allows it to work well in summer and winter. |
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This information was provided by "Solar Creations"
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