Solar Thermal & Thermal Store Systems
Roof-mounted collectors that capture the sun's heat directly, paired with a thermal store to buffer that heat until it's needed for hot water or space heating.
Heat captured on the roof, stored until you need it
A solar thermal collector heats a fluid circulating through the panel, which transfers that heat via a coil into a hot water cylinder or a dedicated thermal store. Unlike solar PV, it generates no electricity: its only output is heat, which makes it a simpler, lower-cost way to cut hot water and heating costs on buildings where that's the priority.
A thermal store sits at the centre of most of our solar thermal designs, buffering the heat collected through the day so it's available whenever demand actually falls, which matters most for buildings like schools and leisure centres with concentrated peak usage rather than a steady draw.
- ✓Flat-plate collectors: cost-effective and robust, suited to most roof types
- ✓Evacuated-tube collectors: higher efficiency in low light, useful where roof space is limited
- ✓Thermal store integration: buffers collected heat for use later in the day or overnight
- ✓Retrofit-friendly: works alongside an existing boiler or heat pump as a hot water pre-heat stage
For most projects we now recommend PV-T hybrid over standalone solar thermal: one panel generates electricity and captures heat together, getting more value from the same roof area. See the comparison →
Solar thermal, PV-T, or both
One roof, two outputs with PV-T
PV-T hybrid panels generate electricity and capture heat from the same panel, usually the better use of a limited roof area.
Learn moreWhen standalone solar thermal fits
Hot-water-only projects, tighter budgets, or adding heat capture to a roof section that isn't suitable for PV.
Learn morePairs well with a heat pump
A shared thermal store buffers solar heat and heat pump output together, reducing the electrical load your heat pump needs to cover.
Learn moreSolar thermal: your questions answered
What's the difference between solar thermal and PV-T hybrid panels?
A standard solar thermal panel captures heat only, warming a fluid that's transferred into a hot water cylinder or thermal store. A PV-T hybrid panel generates electricity and captures heat from the same panel. For most roofs we now recommend PV-T over standalone solar thermal, since it gets more value from the same limited roof area. See our PV-T hybrid solar page for the comparison.
Do I need a thermal store with solar thermal panels?
Usually, yes. A thermal store buffers the heat your panels collect during the day so it's available whenever hot water is actually needed, which matters most for buildings like schools and leisure centres where demand is concentrated into a few peak periods rather than spread evenly through the day.
Can solar thermal work alongside a heat pump?
Yes. Solar thermal can pre-heat water before it reaches the heat pump or act as a parallel heat source into a shared thermal store, reducing the electrical load the heat pump needs to cover for hot water. We size both systems together so they complement rather than compete with each other.
Is solar thermal still worth installing today?
For most new projects, PV-T hybrid now delivers better value per square metre of roof, since it produces electricity as well as heat. Standalone solar thermal still makes sense in specific cases: hot-water-only projects with no interest in electricity generation, or adding heat capture to a roof section that isn't suitable for PV. We'll give you an honest comparison as part of your survey.
Not sure whether solar thermal or PV-T is right for your roof?
Book a free survey with our technical team. We'll give you an honest comparison based on your building, your hot water demand and your budget, not a one-size-fits-all recommendation.