Virtu Hybrid Solar PV Water Heating
Virtu Hybrid Solar PV Water Heating
Find out about a new hybrid solar PV and water heating panel - Virtu
solar | water | heating | newsIn our article
Effect of Temperature on Solar Panels we showed how the efficiency of electricity generating
PV solar panels is greatly reduced by the temperature of the panels. The hotter the panel, the lower the efficiency and the lower the power generated - not ideal when PV solar panels are dark, non-reflective, and pointing at the sun all day. For every degree of temperature increase, the efficiency of a photovoltaic panel falls by around 0.5 percent.
Over the years we have received many emails from REUK site visitors suggesting it would be a very good idea to combine a PV solar panel with a
solar water heating panel so that the PV solar panel could generate electricity at a higher efficiency thanks to the cooling effect of the water which would in turn be heated in the panel and put to use.
Now finally such a system is coming to market - Virtu, the
hybrid solar panel.
Virtu Hybrid Solar Panel
Virtu is a combined solar photovoltaic solar water heating panel developed by British company
Naked Energy. By combining solar photovoltaic panels with solar water heating
evacuated tubes, the temperature of the PV panels can be kept at a uniform (high efficiency) temperature while the usually unwanted heat is used to heat water. This
PVT (Photovoltaic Thermal) technology enables more power per square metre than standalone solar PV or solar thermal can achieve
As the chart shows below, not only is the overall
solar PV output increased just by keeping the solar cells at a uniform temperature, but large quantities of
hot water are also produced. Extracting so much power per square metre from the Sun's rays, Virtu will make it practical for homes with small roofs to have a meaningful solar installation generating ample hot water and electricity.
Because Virtu is both a
solar photovoltaic AND a
solar thermal installation at the same time, in the UK both the
Feed in Tariff AND
Renewable Heat Incentitive (RHI) payments can be claimed providing an excellent 25 year guaranteed return on investment (ROI) and rapid payback time in addition to
reduced electricity and water heating bills.
Using the Virtu
heat management system, the end user will be able to alter the balance of the system to generate more electricity or more hot water depending on their particular needs.
Article Last Modified: 13:10, 26th Apr 2012Comment on this Article
If you have any comments on this article, please email them to
neil@reuk.co.uk.
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