Solar Water heating and Solar PV

Solar water Heating 

There are three main parts of a solar water heating system:

• Solar collectors – these are tubes or panels filled with fluid, usually on your roof
• A pump.
• A hot water cylinder.

Solar water heating works by sunlight heating up the fluid inside the solar collector.

When this fluid is hotter than the water in the cylinder, the pump circulates the fluid in the collector to heat the cylinder. Your solar water heater will work alongside conventional water heating systems, such as your boiler or heat pump, to heat your water using less gas or electricity – this will save you money on your energy bills and reduce your carbon footprint.

You can find out more about solar water heating on the CSE website.

Controlling your solar water heating

To get the most out of your solar water heating, you should try to use more hot water in the evening, after the solar has had time to heat the water up.  

Solar PV

The main components of a solar photovoltaic (PV) system are:

• Solar PV panels – these convert sunlight into electricity.
• Inverter – this converts the electricity from the panels into the form of electricity which is used in the home. The inverter is usually fitted in your loft.
• Generation meter – this records the amount of electricity you are generating. Be careful not to accidentally provide your generation meter reading when you give your electricity supplier your electricity meter reading.

Controlling your heating with solar PV

If you do not own the solar PV panels or if you do not have battery storage, it is usually best to use any electric heaters (and other electric appliances such as electric showers, electric cookers and washing machines) when the sun is shining. This is because the PV panels will generate electricity when the sun shines, saving you money if you use the electricity they generate. 

However, if you are on an ECO7 tariff, this may be different. On this tariff, any electricity you use from the grid (not generated by your solar PV panels) is more expensive during the day. To find out the best way to save money with solar PV whilst on an ECO7 tariff, you should speak to your local energy advice agency. 

To find out more about getting the most out of your solar PV panels, read our short guide this guide from National Energy Action.

Solving issues with your solar PV panels:

Visit our Solve an issue page for more information on solving issues with solar panels.

Can I sell the extra electricity made by my solar PV panels?

No, you cannot sell any surplus electricity to the grid. This is because LiveWest already has arrangements in place, so you can benefit from the electricity you generate while in the home, and any surplus goes towards the cost of installing and maintaining the system as well as helping other customers who are not able to have the benefit of solar PV panels.