Hi,

I want some information on how I can augment my present domestic gas heating system (Worcester Bosch gas combination boiler) using solar power.e.g. How many collectors and other ancillary equipment I will need to achieve this. I live on the south coast of England(although I am Scottish) which is approx a 3.3 KWhr area. Any information would be much appreciated.

Regards,Don MacSween.

 

Hello and Welcome Don MacSween to the Do It Yourself Web Site.

Since I do not live in your area, about the best suggestion I could offer you is to check with the local heating agencies. Also check the phone book for solar equipment sales dealers in you area.

I doubt solar energy would be of any benefit when added to a gas space {Home} heating unit. However, it would be a benefit for water heating and or water preheating during warm and sunny days.

I could be mistaken on the home heating system since I am not knowledgeable with your climate zone and heating system. Generally speaking, solar does not produce enough warm water to compliment a gas boiler used for home heating during colder months. The installation and maintanance costs would not be beneficial nor cost effective.

Regards & Good Luck
Gas Appliances Forum Moderator
Tom_Bart
Energy Conservation Consultant & Natural Gas Appliance Diagnostics Technician.

 

The system that you are describing will be very expensive to do and would not do that great of a job. For it to be least cost effective, it would require at least a 1,000 liter storage tank for water and have sunlight 80% of the winter days. A better renewable energy source would be wind energy for this application. This depends if you have the property to put one on and if you area averages at least 9 knots of wind. If this is the case, let me know by posting a message on this site and I'll give you a website where you can download diagrams and specifications for a wind generator for free. Bring the blue prints to any machine shop and they should be able to build and install the unit for less than a 1,000 pounds. This could possibly eliminate the need for gas heat and during the summer run all your electrical appliances.

 

'diagrams and specifications for a wind generator for free.'

I would like to have the link, if you don't mind.

 

Sorry, seem to be having trouble with software upgrade. I did a double post and could not delete, so I just changed it.

 

Go to the bottom of this page and click on doityourself.com, on that page click on " Showcase and links " then click on Energy and weatherstripping. The first one listed is Wind energy.

This is the site where you can get the directions and diagrams and expert advise on how to build a wind turbine. It if funded by the U.S. Department of Energy. There are other links and other renewable energy sources that are for free. There is an energy savers lists by the Energy Information Administration, U.S. Department of Energy. This webpage lists the foremost renewable energy resource organizations not only in this country by the whole world. There you can obtain free information on solar, wind, water, photovoltaic and more including fuels cells. My site is listed on that website. If you want to go there, click on the little red house icon at the bottom of this page. Once on my site, go down to the bottom of the index page, on the left you'll see a small blue box that says, " Link to energy savings " click on it and that will bring you to the EIA,DOE webpage.