Flat solar panels for apartment Forum

Post edited 3:22 am – 30 March, 2011 by Ecologics

Hi Tomas,

I lived in an apartment for a few years and looked hard at my options in terms of solar heating.  I had two main issues to figure out:

1.  Space – the hot press where my cylinder was quite small so I had to be sure that it could take the size of the solar cylinder that would be required for the solar panel.  this could be of dimensions around 1400 x 550 mm for a 200L solar cylinder.  Would also need to take into account whether the plumbing system in your apartment was vented or pressurised.

2.  Management Company – this was my biggest issue as the management company for my apartment would not allow any solar panels to be installed on the communal roof or even on the wall of my own apartment.  A tragic case of bureaucracy standing in the way of progress!

In terms of space heating with solar we typically advise against it as the economic costs are too high,  also from what you say about your electric heating it would suggest that it would be a big job to replace this heating system with something suitable for a solar panel system.  However what does sometimes happen on the continent is that the occupants of an apartment block come together and install a communal heating system which can incorporate solar.

Solar water heating on the other hand can work well as you can design quite small systems to suit an apartment.  SEAI grants for solar panels apply equally to apartments as to houses.  We have a small system here  suitable for 3 people which would cost you Euro 2,981 after the grant. 

Hope this helps!

Ecologics