Solar panel schemes ?

[maccasa]

That was less then €2500 with the installation then?

[widge]

I didn't pay for it the guy who built the hose did. I accept that technology has moved on in 16 years and prices have dropped but storing the solar heat and releasing it on days the sun doesn't shine to heat domestic hot water or your pool or the underfloor heating system was fairly innovative back then.

[RichardHenshall]

We have something similar (on a smaller scale) installed in the late 1980s but the thermal store is 1500 litres of water through which there are heat exchange coils to directly heat the hot water (or underfloor heating) on demand. Sadly due to the increasingly ineffective (nearly 30-yr old) solar collectors we have to make regular use of the off-peak electric immersion heater in all but high summer.

[maccasa]

I had mine installed 2-3 yrs ago in UK and the technical guff says they will lose 25% of their effectiveness in 25yrs. That will last me! When I had my house built in 2004 I researched everything available for heating and water. The most effective system was underground geothermal pipes and a heat pump, but it was expensive to install when we found we were on rock! I eventually chose to use 2 large solar panels for water heating (with standby electric immersion heater), solar mats for the pool water and a log burner for winter nights. The solar mats don't put enough in for swimming in nov - march (rarely gets above 25/26c) but as its usually so windy and cold when u get out of the water we don't bother anyway - the grandchildren do and wear thin wetsuits. I understand from people who use them that heat pumps (as widge bought for his pool) are good in winter and although they cost ~€3/day its a good alternative - problem is - again - you don't need them in may - Oct so the capital cost has to be evaluated as well

[shaz1967]

Considering the high price of electricity in Portugal i am suprised that lots of home owners have not taken up the solar panel sytsem for generating electricity as with greater levels of sunlight etc i would guess that the savings would be bigger than the savings to be had in the UK which as we have solar panels on our home in the UK we think are really good.

[Sheila]

Excess heat generated from solar panels can be stored as hot water or as in my case hot concrete, a bit like an old fashioned night storage heater. This is my underfloor heat store under construction in 1998.

heat store 1.jpg

Doesn't the floor get a bit warm in the summer?

[widge]

It's below an outdoor terrace Sheila !

[Sheila]

Take a look at this. http://www.lasagesse-energy.com/index.php
They are going to be at the blip.

[pato]

If the villa is unoccupied over the winter months could you use the hot water from the solar panels to centrally heat the premises, I have just two panels in my place, I wondered if it was left on and I installed radiators would it keep the place reasonably damp free?

[maccasa]

You would have to recirculate the water - cool in the rads - hot in the solar panel, but cant see why it wouldn't work: just think the installation cost might offset the savings.

[Sheila]

I asked my builder if he could feed one towel rail in the bathroom from the solar hot water and he said it would be difficult and more expensive.

[maccasa]

I had my builder install electricity points in each bathroom above the doors - then bought 1 + 2 kw fan heaters (Argos £17 each) and fit them myself. 5 mins even when its really cold in Jan (7C?) and the bathroom is very comfortable.

[Sheila]

I had my builder install electricity points in each bathroom above the doors - then bought 1 + 2 kw fan heaters (Argos £17 each) and fit them myself. 5 mins even when its really cold in Jan (7C?) and the bathroom is very comfortable.

Wouldn't be allowed in the UK.

[maccasa]

Well we are talking Portugal? - Anyway how do you fit 2 kW heated towel rails in the uk?

[Sheila]

Well we are talking Portugal? - Anyway how do you fit 2 kW heated towel rails in the uk?

Wire them directly into the socket with a cover. No plugs allowed.