Welcome to Daystar Energy

Daystar Energy are accredited suppliers and installers of renewable energy systems specialising in Solar Hot Water systems.

Our company was established to help provide alternatives to current methods of domestic and commercial energy use.

The present reliance on traditional sources such as Oil, Gas and grid produced Electricity is becoming increasingly unviable both in financial and environmental terms.

With that in mind and with the grant incentives available the ability to meet some or all of ones own energy requirements is now a more valuable proposition.

Your Questions Answered

Not every property is best suited to the installation of a Solar Hot Water System and it is the policy of Daystar Energy never to recommend or sell a system which would not be suitable for the particular location.

Here are a few questions that are commonly asked by people who are considering purchasing a solar hot water system which may help you decide whether such a system will meet your requirements.

Should you have any further questions perhaps relating more directly to your property then please do not hesitate to contact us.

Why buy a solar hot water system from Daystar Energy?

There is little doubt that the cost of heating water via the use of fossil fuels will continue to rise and as it does so the cost of using an alternative source of heating has become a realistic choice that will become better value for money as traditional methods of heating become more expensive.

In addition to this there is knowledge that this method of heating water is beneficial to the environment.

Daystar Energy is a recently formed company behind which is a wealth of experience and expertise in the design and installation of heating systems using similar technology to that used in the solar hot water systems.

How much of my hot water requirements will a Daystar Energy System produce?

We will specify a system based on your current usage . This system will be able to produce up to 100% of your requirements during the summer months, 50-60% in the autumn/spring period and 20-30% during the winter. On average you can expect to produce 50-60% of your annual hot water requirements.

Are there any grants available to help fund the project?

Yes. The Energy Savings Trust is in control of a grant scheme which is called the Low Carbon Buildings Programme which is available to private householders and individual property owners. Details are available from www.est.org.co.uk.

Several criteria have to be met which are detailed on their web site and the grant is paid directly to the householder so would not be reflected in any quotation given by Daystar Energy.

Other grants may well be available depending on individual circumstance and the location of your property.

It is worth contacting your local authority to enquire whether they offer any incentives.

The situation with grants and/or reductions in taxes or duties is constantly being reviewed and more information will be posted on this site as soon as we have it.

Do I need planning permission?

Planning restrictions for solar installations are under review at the moment in an effort to encourage environmentally friendly energy systems. At the moment our advice is to enquire at your local planning department.

Does my roof have to be facing south?

A south or south-western aspect is ideal however good returns can be provided from roofs facing west or south-east. East or north facing roofs would require more solar panels to produce sufficient hot water, would not work efficiently and would therefore not be financially worthwhile.

When will the system pay for itself in savings?

This is a difficult one to answer since it is not possible to accurately predict the rate at which fossil fuels will rise however at present rates a pay back period of around 10 years is considered realistic. If you considering installing a new boiler or hot water tank however the investment will be more attractive which is another reason why it is worth considering a solar hot water system when replacing worn or inefficient systems.

What are Solar Hot Water systems?

Solar Hot Water systems gather heat from sunlight.

Typically a water/glycol mixture is circulated through solar collectors (panels) – usually roof mounted – and back to a specialised hot water tank with an additional heating coil.

This process heats the water providing up to 100% of hot water requirements in the summer months and 30% in the winter. For this reason it is not commonly used in conjunction with heating systems.

This technology is also used as an alternative method of heating swimming pools.

How does a Solar Hot Water heating system work?

The only part of the system that is shared with the regular water heating system is the Hot Water Cylinder. The cylinder which is specifically designed for solar hot water systems has two heating coils. The solar coil is towards the bottom of the cylinder in order to best gradually the whole cylinder. The second coil positioned higher up in the cylinder is used to top up the cylinder from the boiler or other heat source (This is usually best done at end of the afternoon when the solar collectors have done a full days work thereby reducing the extra heating requirement).

The system has its own pump, expansion vessel, pressure relief valve, air vent and controller. A specially produced anti-freezing liquid is circulated through the solar panels and down through the heating coils in the hot water cylinders and then back up to the panels.

It is important to use the correct size hot water cylinder for your system. If your cylinder is too small then it will heat up quickly and the solar system will turn itself off and stand idle for a large part of the day not making the most of your investment.

There two types of solar collector or panel commonly used in solar hot water systems, the flat plate and evacuated tube collector. Technology is constantly changing in this area but it has been considered that the evacuated tube system is best suited to properties in the UK unless the roof faces due South when there is very little difference in comparable performance.

What other types of system can Daystar Energy advise on?

As well as Solar Hot Water systems. Daystar Energy can advise on:

• Biomass methods which burn biomass fuels to generate heat.
• Ground Source Heat methods which gather heat from the ground.
• Solar Photovoltaic methods which convert sunlight into electricity.
• Wind Powered Generation methods which convert wind into electricity.

For further information on these alternatives, please contact us.