So electrically it is about four times less efficient than a heat pump but many people are cool with the low efficiency if it only uses solar electricity.
Solar pv panels to heat water.
A high quality solar pv system can be expected to last for 40 years plus whereas solar thermal is unlikely to last 20 years.
Another option for heating your water with solar electricity is to use dedicated solar panels.
One of the most important aspects of heating water with solar power is the fact the sun can be harnessed to provide a constant stream of hot water in recent years.
An immersion heater unvented hot water cylinder might be needed as a back up heater or to get the water to the temperature you want.
Solar photovoltaic panels turn sunlight into electricity while a solar water heating system uses the heat from sunlight to heat your property s water supply.
Although the production of power using solar energy dates back to the end of the 19th century mass production of panels did not begin until the 1950s.
When the water hits its temperature set point the panels are deactivated.
Solar energy and solar water heating are two similar technologies that allow you to lower your residential or commercial property s dependence on non renewable energy.
While both technologies use sunlight to create energy they achieve very different results.
A diverted pv system uses an intelligent control box to divert spare solar electricity from your solar pv panels into a conventional hot water tank.
As the solar power panels used throughout the world have improved in efficiency and power produced the ability to heat water has developed.
This is then used to heat your water which is stored in a hot water cylinder.
These panels put all their power directly into the hot water cylinder s heating element.
If there is not enough sun you can use grid electricity to boost the heating.