solar energy in kent Installing Solar Water Heating panels

Kentish Flats seen from top of North Downs near Lenham. Turbines are about 30 miles away - see map

 



Headlines

FITs. Helping us generate energy or just a money making scam?
21p means the FIT scheme can be retained for far longer, it means the cost of installation can comedown and the industry retained. At 43.3 it means the scheme must close overnight when the set amount of money has run out!
Energy efficiency and renewable energy subsidies
The government wants to encourage everyone to think about how they can pay less on fuel - a pretty sensible idea when energy bills are rising and fuel poverty is on the increase
Solar tariff cuts risk jobs, industry warns
The feed-in tariff for solar power is to be cut in half from 12 December of this year, the government has said.
New record in world CO2 emissions
Energy-related carbon emissions hit a record high last year, casting doubt on plans to limit global temperature rises, an energy watchdog says.

energy saving trust

Clear Skies

Feed in tariffs
Preparation: The following images record the installation of a Genersys solar water heating system on my roof. The roof comes down to ground floor level so scaffolding was not required, however we installed a scaffold tower to allow for the easy rasing of the panels.
  

Laying out and checking the lengthwise support brackets
The lead inlet panel. This replaces a slate and provides weather protection where the pipes from the solar panels enter the roof.
Checking the position of the joists.
  

Using a Diamond Core drill to drill the holes for the panel supports.

Once the Slates have been drilled, the joist is pre drilled prior to screwing in the support bolt.

    

The bolt assembly is screwed into the joist to provide a solid base for the solar panels.

The assembly is screwed down onto a foam washer which is held by a stainless steel cup. the washer prevents any water coming into the roof.

    

Bolt, foam washer, cup and support in place - 11 more to do!
    
    
The stress is taken by the joist not the slate! the bolt is tightened to compress the foam, not to put undue pressure on the roof covering.
    
Brackets mounted on support bolts ready to take the cross members on which will sit the solar water heating panels.

  

Pump Station, expansion tank and new hot water tank in place ready for connection to solar water panels.
Images include Chris Flaherty from Vtec, a genersys authorised installer who carried out the installation.