Solar hot water for the home
Learn the basics of installing solar panels to heat hot water at home.
Solar hot water vs Solar Photovoltaics
Solar hot water (solar thermal) panels use sunlight to directly heat water, while Photovoltaic (PV) panels convert sunlight into electricity.
Solar thermal panels are up to four times more effective at collecting the sun’s energy than PV. A panel the size of a double mattress is often all that is needed for a tank of hot water, so they are particularly useful to maximise the energy you collect from a smaller space such as the roof of most houses.
However PV has the advantage of producing electricity which is more versatile. Both types of panel might be what you need for a small roof, or if you have more space and want to maximise the renewable electricity you export for others to use. If you have plenty of room, PV panels can generate all the electricity you need for hot water and other uses. It’s all about which are the appropriate technologies for your location.
Course Content
We will build ourselves a live working Solar Thermal water heater, monitoring its progress through the day.
The course will cover:
- What is Solar Thermal?
- Solar Thermal vs PV, which is right for your situation? It could be both
- Drain-back vs Pressurised systems
- System design
- Controls
- Apparatus needed and where best to source materials
- Case studies
- Practical workshop
We will look at the different types of Solar Thermal systems and see how best to match them for the application you wish to use them for.
We will also discuss legal and safety requirements and best practice, both in design and installation.
You will leave this course with a good understanding of how the systems work and what is involved to set one up.
The tutors have over 20 years of experience in the field and are excited to share what they have learnt with you.
Who is the course for?
This course is open to anyone aged 16 or over. It is relevant to anyone who wants to simply create their own system for their own use, or to work in the industry.
The practical activities will be outdoors so you will need to be prepared for sun and rain.
Course Tutors
Daniel Holloway
The course will be led by Daniel Holloway who designs and installs renewable heating systems and related technologies. Daniel has installed a number of rainwater harvesting systems from domestic harvesting for garden use to working on the water filtration system at Earthship Brighton.
Ilya Schippers
Ilya Schippers works with Daniel and will be assisting him with the course.
A one-day course, 10am to 5pm
2026 Course
Venue
Earthship Brighton
Stanmer Park (near University of Sussex)
Brighton
Sussex
South East England
Fees
Fees include tuition, refreshments, handouts and information sheets.
Sponsored / Organisation rate
£175
Individual income: more than 25k/yr
£175
Individual income: 18-25k/yr
£140
Individual income: less than 18k/yr
£105
Individual: Concessionary rate
£70
(check eligibility)
Concessionary places are limited.
Our commitment to affordability relies on voluntary support.
ACCOMMODATION
If you intend to book accommodation, please check availability before booking a place, as accommodation in Brighton can be hard to find, especially over the summer months.
Get details of local accommodation and Brighton Permaculture Trust supporters who can provide accommodation in their homes.
BOOKING
Booking is essential, as most of our courses/events are fully booked weeks in advance. However, if places are still available, then bookings can be made until midday the day before the course/event. A place is not secured until we have received the requested payment.
If you have completed the booking process but you haven’t received a confirmation email from us please contact us to check your booking has gone through.
If you are booking within two weeks of the event, or the event is nearly full, you will not have the option to pay by BACS. Instead, you will need to pay immediately using a credit/debit card or PayPal.
ACCESSIBILITY
If you have any accessibility needs or concerns, please contact us in advance, and we will do our best to accommodate you.
Have questions?
For any enquiries or if you need further information, feel free to reach out. We’re here to help!