a lot of uncertainty exists about solar panels, including widespread confusion between them and photvoltaics, so I picked up these facts from a recent magazine article I was reading.
Installing solar heating panels is expensive? Typical installations would probably start from around the £5k mark, and grants are available to offset part of this.
The cost will never pay for itself in terms of the savings made? Payback in raw terms for an average family will typically be 15 - 20 years, but as gas prices continue to rise, this period will shorten. Installation of solar will also improve the energy rating on your energy performance certificate, which is needed when the house is sold as part of the Home Information pack.
The water will not be as hot? The temperature will be exactly the same. On sunny days the solar conductant can reach temperatures approaching 200 degrees C - more than enough to raise your typical HW to 60 degrees C - which is the normal temp for domestic hot water.
The UK isn't sunny enough to provide the hot water I need? there is actually plenty of sun in the UK to provide enough energy for solar heating. solar panels will absorb infrared rays from the sun as well as visible sunshine, so they are still acting on cloudy days.
Planning permission can be difficult? Local government are now actively encouraged to give this permission, so in most cases it will be more or less automatic, but do check with your local council for specifics in your area.
Hopefully this helps explains some of the popular misconceptions behind solar power.
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