Sun
Available radiation
→
SOLAR THERMAL · HOT WATER
Solar water heating
Use solar energy to reduce the gas or electricity demand associated with heating water.
A DIFFERENT DEMAND · HOW IT WORKS
Heating water is not the same as generating electricity.
Solar thermal uses radiation to transfer heat directly into water. Design starts with demand, pressure, climate, space, storage and available backup.
Collector
Captures thermal energy
→Transfer
Moves heat
→Storage
Keeps water hot
→Use
Home or operations
PV
≠Converts radiation into electricity.
TH
Transfers thermal energy into water.
SYSTEM TYPES
Hydraulics and use define the architecture.
WHERE IT MAY APPLY
Value changes with each demand profile.
There is no universal savings percentage: each case is evaluated by use, schedules, climate, storage, losses and backup.
Residential
Daily comfortPredictable demand from showers, kitchen and services.
Apartments
Shared demandAggregated profiles requiring well-defined hydraulics and storage.
Hospitality
Guest experienceContinuity and recovery around peak-demand schedules.
Business
Efficient operationsHot water for services without separating consumption and backup.
Continuous demand
Scalable architectureApplications whose hourly profile merits thermal assessment.
Technologies and manufacturers we can work with according to project requirements.
LOOKING TO HEAT A POOL?A pool requires a different thermal architecture.
Volume, climate, losses, cover and schedule completely change the strategy.
View pool climate↗FAQ
Questions about solar thermal.
How is a solar water heater different from photovoltaic panels?+
A solar water heater transfers solar heat into water. Photovoltaic panels convert radiation into electricity. They are different technologies sized with different variables.
Does it work when cloudy?+
It can capture some diffuse radiation, but thermal output falls. Hot-water availability depends on storage, climate, demand and the backup system.
Should I keep my current boiler?+
A gas or electric backup is often retained for low-radiation periods or extraordinary demand. Coordination depends on the existing system.
How much hot water can it produce?+
There is no universal figure. Users, daily demand, inlet and outlet temperatures, climate, collector, storage and losses all matter.
How is size determined?+
We review daily demand, schedules, radiation, temperature, space, orientation, pressure and backup capacity. Liters alone do not describe the entire system.
Does it work with high-pressure showers?+
It requires an architecture compatible with building pressure. Low-pressure and pressurized systems cannot be substituted without reviewing hydraulics, valves and storage.
Can it be used in hotels or businesses?+
Yes, when continuous demand, schedules, space and backup allow an appropriate thermal architecture. Commercial projects need load profiles and redundancy.
What maintenance is required?+
It depends on collector type, water quality, scaling, anodes, seals, piping and controls. Current manufacturer instructions and periodic system review must be followed.
NEXTLUM / SOLAR TÉRMICO