Heat your water with solar power

Hot water

ZEN Energy solar power systems are perfect for solar hot water needs, utilising your existing water heating systems without the need for complicated additional piping.

What is a solar hot water system

Solar power can be used to heat water in two main ways: through solar thermal or through solar photovoltaic.

Solar thermal hot water systems rely on ‘solar collectors’ - essentially pipes filled with water or antifreeze that sit on the roof and are warmed directly by the sun. This heat is then eventually transferred to the hot water system in the home.

Solar hot water powered by photovoltaic (PV) panels, on the other hand, doesn’t require a complicated piping process at all. Instead, PV hot water systems convert sunshine directly into electricity, which then powers the existing heaters and boilers in a home.

In some homes, a specialised solar power diverter is included, which sets aside a certain amount of solar power specifically for hot water heating.

While both systems have their advantages, the biggest practical difference between solar thermal and solar PV hot water systems is that solar PV systems can be used for more than just warming the hot water tank.

Because PV converts solar into electricity, it can be used to power all the appliances in your home: from the heat pump to the fridge to the kettle. PV panels also last up to 25 years with minimal maintenance, they can’t freeze in winter time like thermal can, and they can be easily expanded with battery storage solutions or additional panels.

And, of course, you don’t have to make any big changes to your existing piping with photovoltaic-powered hot water.