Dynamic Energy Panel vs Solar Thermal for hot water?

[upinthehills]

We are remodelling atm and want to gain some or all of our hot water from the sun.

Has anyone had any practical experience for solar thermal - we are south facing but East Scotland so don't know how much hot water we will get in reality and for how many months.

Dynamic Energy Panels are the new kids on the block and claim to achieve 55C everyday regardless of weather! More expensive though and need electricity to run them. Anyone considering or even got them installed?

the money spent on hot water is very slight (I heat mine by gas and it costs about 25p per day, £91 a year) so beware of spending significant amounts. I reckon that if I got totally free hot water for ever with zero maintenance and zero running costs, it would only be worth bothering if it cost me less that 3 years gas (which is about £275). I'd still need to keep and maintain the boilker as it runs the CH.

If it was going to cost me, for example, £5,000 I would invest the money and make a much better return on it.

p.s.

I just checked my recent gas bill, in 88 summer days I used nearly £18 of gas (HW and cooking)

there was also a standing charge which applies however little I use.

Is there not also the savings in central heating bills to consider - the water has already been significantly heated so the boiler only has to boost it up to the correct radiator temp rather than starting from scratch so to speak.

how many kWh per day do the marketeers guarantee claim their product will provide?

Does it cost more than £275, fitted?

The Sun is still young and has plenty of energy to offer. We use solar energy in many ways. All day, we use sunlight to see what we?re doing and where we?re going. Even if you live in a city, your solar energy system may be able to provide you with enough energy to completely power your home!

Energy Conservation

Also Scotland and am not keen on thermals.. the installations I know don't perform very well

Do you have the option of solar PVs? We installed a hot water heat pump (google ecocent) that takes heat from the house and runs at 600W. It's on for 3-4 hours a day and gives plenty of hot water for a 4 person household. Combined with PV, it is effectively free on sunny days.. even on sunny winterdays there is enough power in the sun to power the hot water. Our electricity bills are significantly lower than several friends with thermal panels & PVs.. one of the best choices we made

fell for the old thread thing.. sorry