Cost-effective novel solar water heating developments for retrofit applications

SYNOPSIS: The retrofit solar water heating market represents the greatest single area in the UK where significant application of solar energy capture can be achieved. However, many barriers exist to wide-scale implementation. Cost-effectiveness is by far the greatest single factor, created by high installation cost and reduced solar collection due to the typical prevailing solar conditions in a Northern Maritime Climate. The installation of a solar water heating system typically requires disruption to the existing domestic hot water system, quite often including disruption to the auxiliary space heating system as well. Finally, the typical installation produces a certain amount of waste arising from the removal of existing components that have been, prior to the solar water heating installation, in perfectly good working order. Two alternative novel retrofit solutions have been identified and their advantages over current installation practice presented. Both systems have been shown to offer a substantial cost saving, offering the domestic end-user a more cost-effective alternative to the traditional forms of solar water heating systems that currently exist.