Solar Thermal HVAC explained
Solar thermal systems use solar collectors to transfer the sun’s heat to water, which is pumped, pre-heated, to the building’s domestic hot water store.
Unlike photovoltaic systems, which convert sunlight directly into electricity, solar thermal systems collect and transfer solar heat using an absorber, typically a dark-coated metal plate or glass tube. Within the absorber is a system of pipes filled with a heat transfer medium, usually water or anti-freeze. This liquid takes up the heat, which is then sent to the domestic hot water (DHW) storage tank. The cooled medium then flows via a second pipeline back to the solar collector to be reheated, completing the cycle.
Solar hot water systems can, depending on collector size, provide up to 80% of DHW requirements during summer, leaving the balance of the heating requirements (typically during winter) to alternate fuel sources.
Solar thermal energy displaces fossil fuel use in powering space heating, air conditioning, pool heating and domestic hot water systems, thus reducing energy costs, air pollution and carbon outputs.
Potentia provides customers with solar thermal heating installations at fixed prices that cover equipment purchase, installation and servicing costs with monthly utility-like billing.
