What is solar thermal or solar hot water?
Solar thermal or solar hot water (sometimes referred to as “solar domestic hot water” or SDHW) is a water heating system that heats water within units called “solar thermal collectors”, either directly with sunlight or by heating a “working fluid”, such as glycol, that then heats the water. These flow to a hot water heater, which is to be used as a storage tank and for back-up heating at night or during the cold months of the year. A solar thermal system can be used to heat water for use in the home; in swimming pools, spas and hot tubs (a particularly cost-effective application); or to heat water for commercial and industrial applications.
