domestic solar water heating

1449 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Advantages and disadvantages of solar energy

Introduction
What is Solar Energy
Solar energy is the energy of the sun falling onto earth. The amount of energy received from the sun is much greater than the amount of energy that can be consumed by people. The sun is located 148 million kilometres away from the sun, however it produces more energy in four hours that the entire human race does in one year. This energy gives life to this planet and without it; humans, animals, plants etc. would not be able to survive. Generations have used glass and other materials and structures to capture and magnify the sun’s energy and these systems have gradually evolved to form the basis of mature techniques that are used today to harness solar energy. [1].
Why solar energy
The most common sources of energy is received from the burning of fossil fuels such as oil, wood, coal etc., however, all these forms of energy have had inputs from the sun. Since the depletion in the worlds amount of fossil fuels, renewable energy is a way of “never” running out of energy [2].
What is a solar thermal heating system
A solar thermal heating system is a system designed to heat water using energy from the sun. The most common and cost efficient type of solar system installed in Ireland is used to heat domestic hot water but a system can also be designed to contribute some heat to the central heating (Though this will not suit every situation) [3].
How solar water heating system works
A special liquid is circulated through the solar panel (which collects the solar energy) and transfers this heat energy to the liquid. The solar panels are designed to maximize the solar radiation absorption and minimize heat loss. This liquid is then pumped to the storage/hot water cylinder where it heats the water and leav...

... middle of paper ...

...eholds. Ireland is a good country for solar water heating as it has the same climate as Paris. On a surface of one metre squared, Ireland receives on average 1100 Kilowatt-hours (kWh) of solar energy per year which is the equivalent of 120 litres of oil. Direct sunlight in Ireland accounts for 40% of solar energy and indirect sunlight accounts for 60% of Ireland solar energy. That means when there is an overcast day, is radiation is available at ground level and can be converted into heat by a solar water heater. If a six metre squared solar panel is installed in Ireland, then this is the same as having a 3KW immersion heater on for 2.5 hours every day for a year [16].
A solar panel has a guaranteed life of 25 years (MP Solar) and could last for 30 years and with an average pay off of 7-8 years, solar water heating is going to be more common throughout Ireland [16].

Show More
Related

  • Case Study A New Norris House

    635 Words  | 2 Pages

    ... the sun isn’t as high up in the sky. Large open spaces and a covered loft promote stack ventilation which also further increase the comfort zone. A mud room/hallway doubles as an airlock during extreme temperature months. The addition of active systems suffices for the rest of the heating load. On the roof positioned is a solar hot water panel which has access to solar gain. A small tankless electric water heater boosts stored hot water temperatures when needed. The ultimate goal is to simply reduce energy use by half of what the average household uses. The equipment chosen is an Eemax Electric Tankless Hot Water Heater. A solar hot water panel mounted on the dormer heats water through glycol exchange. A tankless electric hot water heater 1) boosts the solarheated stored water if it is below desired temps and 2) provides back up water heating during cloudy periods.

    Read More

  • Developing Solar Power in Canada

    1432 Words  | 3 Pages

    Solar energy is energy taken from the light that reaches earth's surface from the sun. There are four different kinds of solar energy, which are active solar systems, passive solar systems, photovoltaic cells and concentrating power systems. An active solar systems is a system that captures solar energy by mechanical means. Common active solar systems are often in buildings or homes. Some examples are roof collectors and water heating. Low Intensity and high variability have limited the use of active solar energy in Canada. A pass...

    Read More

  • The Pros And Cons Of Solar Energy

    1122 Words  | 3 Pages

    The sun has been a major aspect of life since the beginning of time. People used many other forms of energy before electricity was discovered. There has been a debate over energy resources for years. Many people are worried about what current energy resources may be doing to the environment. Oil spills and nuclear power plant mishaps have only been a few accidents that have had a big impact on the environment and the people who inhabit it. There are plenty of energy sources that do not harm the environment and are still able to get the job done. Solar energy is one energy alternative that will insure the betterment of the country and, at the same time, protect the natural environment.

    Read More

  • Piezoelectricity In Canada

    973 Words  | 2 Pages

    Although solar seems to be excluded from most of the disadvantages listed above tied to using renewable energy sources, it still has two big main disadvantages. The first being that, it is impossible to shut off. The fact that there is no way to shut these solar panels off makes them prone to catch fire. This is harmful to the place they are located. It is especially bad when people put them on their roofs which can cause house fires. Another big issue with solar is that it takes a lot of room for the amount of energy that it produces. According to the U.S. Energy Information Association to produce 1 MW of solar energy, assuming that your panels are located in price sunny locations, it takes 7.4 acres of solar panels. When you compare it to the nuclear reactors that produce on average 770MW for approximately 500 acres of land. To produce the same amount of energy as one single nuclear reactor you would need approximately 5698 acres of land which is 11 times the amount of space that nuclear

    Read More

  • Persuasive Essay On Solar Energy

    863 Words  | 2 Pages

    All energy comes from the sun. It is the most abundant form of clean, renewable energy. 173,000 terawatts of solar energy strikes the Earth continuously, which is more than 10,000 times the world’s total energy use (Pierce). It does not produce carbon dioxide emissions, it will not deplete, and it is free. The way solar energy works can be demonstrated when one walks outside. The sunlight hits an object, the skin, and the energy turns into heat, which is the warmth that is felt on the skin. The way to harness this energy is when the sunlight hits certain materials, the energy turns into an electrical current instead (Locke). Solar cells are a device that can convert sunlight into electricity. Solar cells have crystals, which are bonds between silicon atoms made of electrons shared between all atoms (Locke). The light gets absorbed and the...

    Read More

  • PEST Analysis: The Solar Energy Industry

    1512 Words  | 4 Pages

    Solar energy’s largest substitutes are nuclear power and fossil fuels - coal, oil and natural gas. Even though these are not renewable energy sources they are considered substitutes for electricity production.

    Read More

  • Renewable Energy: The Future Of Renewable Energy

    1172 Words  | 3 Pages

    Energy is the basic necessity of daily life. Nowadays, dependence on fossil fuels for energy needs becoming lower in numerous countries due to the potential of renewable energy to supply sustainable energy to the huge populations in many developing countries who are short of clean and continues energy. Generally, renewable energy can be defined as energy that is derived from natural resources which are constantly replenished and theoretically inexhaustible. Fossil fuels on the other hand can be described as energy that cannot be renewed and will eventually diminish. Thus, in many developing countries renewable energy is the alternative energy to replace non-renewable energy or commonly known as fossil fuels. In addition, according to Sorensen (2004), there is a greater demand for renewable energy sources nowadays due to the uncertainty of fuel price rise in living expenses. Commonly, there are many types of renewable energy available in our world such as wind power, biomass energy, solar energy, hydroelectric power and geothermal energy. However, the main three example of renewable energy are hydroelectric power, solar and biomass energy (Refer to Figure 1 in Appendix 1).

    Read More

  • Solar Thermal Energy

    1314 Words  | 3 Pages

    Solar thermal energy is dead! A solar thermal heating system can cost upwards of $7,000 to install and it most likely won't even save you too much money. This is why many people debate over whether they should use a solar thermal water heating system, because they think they are saving money, or an inexpensive traditional water heating system. A traditional heating system is a system that is powered off of electricity, gas, oil or some other fuel. A solar thermal heating system uses the energy from the sun, hence “solar”, and it turns that energy into hot water to either heat a home or to provide domestic hot water. The energy from the sun is captured by energy collectors, also known as solar panels. The water is heated inside the panels and then distributed throughout the home for use or stored in a tank for later use. The ideas behind this sound great, but in reality that is not the case.Solar thermal energy is not the best choice for home heating a home or hot water heating.

    Read More

  • Solar Panels At My House

    852 Words  | 2 Pages

    ... and monthly water filling. Solar energy is the cleanest and purest form of energy, allowing for cleaner air overall in our environment. There is great hope for a lot more solar panels to be installed worldwide. Solar is a viable alternative energy with solar panels becoming more affordable and more efficiently designed.

    Read More

  • The Benefits of Hot Water Heaters

    1028 Words  | 3 Pages

    Solar water heaters work by using energy from the sun. There are two types of systems for solar water heaters, an open system and a closed system (“Tapping into the Sun”). These systems depend on the type of climates they are installed in (“Tapping into the Sun”). Open systems are worth the installation if the weather is year round sunny, closed systems are better if the weather gets cold. The water cannot be run during winter so the system will be switched to fuel and in the summertime when it is warm, so the sy...

    Read More

  • Solar Power: The Future of Energy

    1447 Words  | 3 Pages

    I am certain that all have heard of the terms greenhouse gases, fossil fuels, and global warming. Have you ever questioned what will happen if nothing is done about the environmental problems facing the world today? What if I answer you that, we can merely use the power from the sun to power up our entire planet without the use of harmful energy sources, which affect our atmosphere? The power from the sun is what we call solar power. Solar power is the energy that comes from the sun as light and heat energy, and then it is later converted into electrical energy through solar panels (Nelson, 2008).

    Read More

  • Solar Energy Essay

    1263 Words  | 3 Pages

    Hot Water Heaters: The easiest way to exploit solar radiation is as thermal energy. One way to harness this solar energy is to heat water. Aro...

    Read More

  • Alternative Energy Advantages And Disadvantages

    1066 Words  | 3 Pages

    Another alternative energy source is solar energy. This is predicted to be the most promising source of energy for the future, but there are still a few things that need improving to make it work in the most efficient way. Solar energy is produced when photovoltaic cells in solar panels absorb sunlight and convert it to energy. The energy from the cells is converted to electricity in an inverter and can be used or stored for later use. Solar energy is both renewable and sustainable. It is also a clean and quiet way to produce energy. Solar energy is good for remote or rural areas where it may be difficult to get power lines. Although solar panels are expensive to install they are low maintenance after installation. However, there is a need for a large, open area for the solar panels. Solar panels can only absorb energy during the day and even though the energy can be stored for use at night, it can be expensive to store energy. Solar panels are also less effective in bad weather when there is less sunlight to be

    Read More

  • Simple Solution to Climate Change

    1076 Words  | 3 Pages

    One of the most compelling arguments for the use of renewable energy is how many forms exist of it. Nuclear power, solar power, wind power, tidal power, hydroelectric power, pumped storage, wave power, geothermal power, biomass, and biogas are the most widely known renewable energy sources (Darvill, 2013). This large selection of fuels supports the idea of renewable fuels one day powering the entire planet. All the sources of energy have different niches and benefits. Solar energy is extremely ef...

    Read More

  • Renewable Energy Essay

    1034 Words  | 3 Pages

    When the sun heats the panel, it generates clean energy, which does not pollute the environment. All in all, the costs of solar power might not be applicable when it is certainly the best way to have a clean environment.

    Read More

More about domestic solar water heating

Open Document