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

Property prices soar in the desert
India's thirst for solar energy has transformed Mr Singh's property from a dry, dusty inhospitable environment into a sun-drenched power socket that promises much, both for energy companies and for a country that still suffers black-outs.
UK 'needs new climate policies'
Major changes in policy are still needed to meet climate targets despite emission cuts brought about by the recession, say government advisors.
Barack Obama calls for clean-energy push
US President Barack Obama has called on his party and supporters to back a "new future" of clean energy.
EU 'half way to 2020 emissions target'
The EU is more than halfway to its target of cutting emissions by 20% from 1990 levels by 2020, a report shows. The assessment by the European Environment Agency (EEA) reveals that emissions across the 27-nation bloc fell by 11.3% during 2008.

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.