Underfloor heating (UFH) and solar panels have both increased in popularity amongst homeowners seeking an eco-friendly approach to energy use.
Over a million homes in Britain benefit from harnessing solar energy, while the UFH market in the UK has an estimated value of about £171 million and is enjoying steady growth.
Many people trying to improve the energy efficiency of their homes are curious about whether the two technologies are compatible. The answer is yes, and when combined, they are commonly referred to as “solar UFH”. Below, we discuss the two main options and key considerations.
Solar electric UFH
Solar electric UFH consists of electric cables or heating mats installed beneath flooring. It effectively converts electricity generated by solar photovoltaic (PV) panels into heat.
While solar electric UFH can capture and use energy during daylight hours, at night, this capacity ends. Users can either opt for a solar battery to store electricity for use later, or simply access electricity from the energy grid when it’s dark.
Solar hydronic UFH
Water-based solar UFH involves pipes below floors that circulate warm water heated with energy from solar thermal panels, or by an electric water heater running on solar PV panels.
Solar thermal panels use energy from the sun to heat up water used in the UFH. The heated water is held in a thermal cylinder to keep it warm. Hydronic solar UFH typically requires a heat pump or backup boiler to ensure consistent heating.
For UFH equipment that works with renewable energy technologies, contact our experts at FastWarm today.