Commercial Solar Thermal Systems

Commercial solar thermal is a system that uses roof-mounted flat plate collectors to capture heat from sunlight and transfer it into a building’s hot water supply. The collectors heat a fluid which circulates through a heat exchanger into a storage cylinder, raising the temperature of incoming cold mains water before it reaches the main water heater. This reduces the energy that gas, electric or heat pump water heating systems need to provide, cutting fuel use, carbon emissions and operating costs.

No. Adveco specialises in solar thermal, not photovoltaic (PV) systems. Solar thermal collects heat from the sun and uses it directly for hot water. PV panels generate electricity. If your project needs a commercial hot water system that uses solar energy, solar thermal is the relevant technology and Adveco can help. If you need solar electricity generation, you will need a different supplier.

Solar thermal delivers the best return where hot water demand is large, consistent and relatively predictable day to day. Hotels, leisure centres, healthcare facilities, student accommodation, care homes and food service operations tend to be the strongest candidates. Buildings with substantial unshaded south-facing roof area get the most from the system. Solar thermal is less effective in buildings with intermittent or highly variable hot water demand.

A Drain Back module protects the solar thermal system when collectors overheat or power is lost. Without overheat protection, high summer temperatures can degrade the glycol fluid in the collectors and pipework, which can make the system inoperable and in serious cases require a full replacement. Drain Back uses gravity to drain the solar fluid out of the collectors automatically when the system is not running, removing the heat source that causes the damage. It also removes the need for components like non-return valves that can fail over time. Adveco recommends Drain Back on all commercial solar thermal installations.

Yes, and it is one of the most carbon-efficient hot water configurations available for commercial buildings. The air source heat pump preheats cold mains supply to around 40°C, operating at its most efficient coefficient of performance at that inlet temperature. Solar thermal then provides a second preheat stage, raising water temperature to 50°C or above. An electric water heater handles the final boost to 65°C and manages peak demand. This three-stage approach minimises electrical consumption across the whole system and delivers the lowest carbon output of the configurations Adveco offers.

Adveco flat plate collectors are built for long service life. The copper meander absorber is manufactured using high-quality ultrasonic welding for durability and reliable fluid flow over many years of operation. With a Drain Back system fitted, the solar fluid only needs refreshing every eight years at most, which keeps maintenance requirements low. Well-maintained commercial solar thermal systems regularly operate for 20 years or more.

In most cases, yes. Adveco Drain Back modules are designed to be extendable and suitable for solar thermal refurbishment projects, and can be installed without further hydraulic adjustments in many retrofit situations. The flat plate collectors support a variety of roof and wall mounting options, which gives flexibility on older buildings where roof access or structure may be a constraint. Our team can assess your existing system and advise on the best integration approach.