| The United Kingdom has recently embraced its role as | | | | Although a relatively large number of citizens in the |
| a leader in renewable energy, and solar power is one | | | | United Kingdom have voiced an interest in solar |
| of its main targets. Solar water heating in the United | | | | heating as an appealing use of renewable energy, |
| Kingdom is one of the more attractive aspects of | | | | some question what they are supposed to do in the |
| utilizing the sun's energy. In accordance with the | | | | winter months when the amount of captured solar |
| European Union's plan to generate at least 20% of its | | | | rays is not enough to heat the water in their homes. A |
| power by way of renewable energy, the UK has set | | | | modest boiler or compression tank is usually an |
| their own goals to lead the low-carbon, or even | | | | adequate method to back up a solar system. Because |
| carbon-free, charge. | | | | the boilers and compressors are not performing the |
| Whether by powering homes with photovoltaic (solar) | | | | entire workload and receive assistance from the solar |
| energy, or by heating water with water heating | | | | system, the carbon emissions remain low. |
| systems, the UK hopes to reduce its carbon footprint | | | | There is even more incentive for citizens of the United |
| significantly in the coming years. Photovoltaic energy is | | | | Kingdom to install a solar heating system. In addition to |
| that which is used to power a home by converting | | | | the £500 annual return that solar heating already |
| sunlight into electricity, but even with government | | | | affords, the UK government has enacted the |
| grants and incentives such as feed-in tariffs, the | | | | Renewable Heat Incentive. This act calls for the |
| upfront installation cost can still scare some potential | | | | payment of £400 per year for those who apply |
| customers away. | | | | heat pumps, biomass boilers, and solar energy |
| Solar water heating systems, on the other hand, have | | | | systems. |
| a much lower initial cost to install than photovoltaic | | | | Because of the relatively cheap installation costs, solar |
| systems. Whereas photovoltaic systems cost around | | | | water heating is likely to be preferred route of |
| £12,500 to set up, a 2 kilowatt solar water heating | | | | homeowners partaking of the incentive. Along with |
| system generally requires the much lower sum of | | | | governmental incentives and grants, the attraction of |
| £4,000 to £5,500. With a return of around £500 | | | | the returns presented by solar water heating is sure to |
| annually for the next 20 years, more citizens view this | | | | spur the United Kingdom's renewable energy efforts |
| method of renewable energy as the way to go. | | | | further. |