British Gas Solar Panels and Solar Thermal Panels

British Gas Solar thermal panels use energy from the sun to heat water for your home. Solar thermal systems work in conjunction with conventional water heaters.

How solar thermal panels work
A solar thermal system consists of three main parts: solar panels, a heat transfer system and a hot water cylinder. They work together in three ways:

1. Panels are fitted to your roof to collect heat from the sun.
2. The heat transfer system transfers the heat collected to a dedicated solar hot water cylinder.
3. Water is warmed within the cylinder and stored for future use.

Are solar thermal panels suitable for your home?
By using the solar panel five-point check-list, you’ll be able to determine whether solar panels are suitable for your home. If you can answer yes to all of the following questions, then your home may be suitable for a solar thermal system.

1. Your home already has a metered electricity supply.
2. You own the freehold to your property.
3. Your property is not a basement or mid-floor flat.
4. Your property is not a listed building and it isn’t in a conservation area.
5. You have an unshaded roof space facing between east and west through south.

Your current hot water cylinder will need to be replaced with one that is suitable for solar water heating. As most conventional systems are compatible with solar water heating, your current boiler and hot water system should not be affected.

What happens next?
A British Gas Energy Expert will be able to guide you as to your home’s suitability. They will visit your home to carry out a free myHome Energy Assessment.

From start to finish you’ll get peace of mind with British Gas mySolar Energy because they use all their own installers to ensure you are looked after by experts. Every quality installation is carried out by a Government approved installer who is a member of the Renewable Energy Assurance Listed (REAL) assurance scheme.

Savings and costs
By using solar thermal panels, you can cut your water heating bill by up to £85 per year, by providing approximately one third of your hot water. And you can cut your CO₂ emissions by approximately 580kg, depending on which fuel you are using. Systems cost approximately £5,000 (inc. VAT).