How Much of my Hot Water or Heating Can a Solar System Provide?
Depending on where in the world you live, a solar heating system could provide more hot water than you need. In most countries, you could realistically expect to get 50%-75% of your hot water from typical a solar hot water system, given that you will probably not want to completely cover the sunny-side of your roof in solar panels. Even in Northern Europe, it is common for households and businesses to get 15%-25% of their hot water AND central heating energy this way. Central heating is normally needed during winter, especially during dark mornings. As there is little sunlight during these times, it is usually much more efficient to use the energy for generating hot water. Passive solar heating and ground source heat pump systems are much more efficient techniques for warming your building.
