“solar_thermal”

Thermal panels use solar energy to heat water in a buffer tank to satisfy hot water and space heating energy demands. Here’s an example:

"solar_thermal": {
    "include": true,
    "cost": {
      "install_gbp": 2000.0,
      "maintenance_pa_gbp": 0.0      
    },
    "panel": {
      "width_m": 1,
      "height_m": 1.6,
      "efficiency": {
        "percent": 70
      }
    },
    "collectors": {
      "primary": {
        "include": true,
        "cost": {
          "install_gbp": 1500.0,
          "maintenance_pa_gbp": 0.0      
        },
        "area": {
          "orientation": {
            "type": "tilted",
            "tilt_degrees": 45,
            "azimuth_degrees": 185
          },
          "dimensions_footprint_axis": {
            "tilt_m": 6.0,
            "other_m": 1.9
          },
          "shading_factor": 0.9          
        }
      },
      "secondary": {
        "include": true,
        "cost": {
          "install_gbp": 1500.0,
          "maintenance_pa_gbp": 0.0      
        },
        "orientation": {
          "type": "tilted",
          "tilt_degrees": 45,
          "azimuth_degrees": 270
        },        
        "shading_factor": 0.7,
        "panels_number": 5
        }
      }
    }
  },

To describe your thermal panels:

• use the “include” flag to include a collector;

• put your install and annual maintainance costs, “install_gbp” and “maintenance_pa_gbp” respectively, in “costs”;
• describe each of your thermal collector areas using “collectors”;
• state your panel dimensions and their energy efficiency in “panel”, as in the above example;
• include a “panel” or “panels” description. In either case, for each panel, give the panel dimensions “width_m” and “height_m”, and efficiency in “percent”.