The complete guide to solar panels for swimming pools

Solar panels for swimming pools

Most of us have heard of solar panels being fitted to roofs to provide electricity for home use, but did you know that solar panels for swimming pools are available? If you have a pool at your property, solar panels are an efficient and cost-effective way to ensure the water stays heated. But how does it work and what are the costs involved? Let’s take a look.

Is it possible to heat a swimming pool with solar panels?

The short answer is yes. There are two ways you can heat a swimming pool with solar energy: with solar collectors or with a solar PV system.

If you use solar collectors, which are made of durable rubber or plastic, they sit alongside your filter and circulate water via the pump, with manual or automatic flow control valves that direct the pool water. They come in glazed and unglazed types, depending on your needs.

If you’re choosing a solar PV system, you simply divert some of the electricity generated by your solar panels to the electric pool heater or heat pump. Of course, you’ll need enough panels to ensure there is plenty of energy to cover this as well as your other electricity use. Your solar panel installer will choose a sunny spot – either your roof, a shed roof or a space at the poolside – to securely mount the panels. They’ll then connect them to the filtration system.

How many solar panels do I need to heat a swimming pool?

The number of solar panels you’ll need for your pool depends on the size of the pool, the average temperature in your location, and how warm you need the water to be. The larger and deeper your swimming pool, the more panels you’ll require.

You should aim to allocate at least 50% of your pool’s surface area to heating it. If you’re only looking to use the pool in the summer months, a 50% offset should be fine. If you want to swim for six months or more, you’ll likely need a 70-100% offset. If you have a pool that’s 44 square metres, you’ll need at least 22 square metres of panels. Since most solar panels are around two square metres, that’s 11 panels.

How much are solar panels for swimming pools?

If you plan to use a solar PV system to heat your swimming pool, you could be spending up to £3,000 for a pool measuring 11m x 4m. Bear in mind that if you’re going to have solar panels installed on your roof, you’ll also want to use them for your other electricity needs – and for a system big enough to power a 3-4 bedroom home, you’re looking at between £7,860 – £11,005. Although this might seem like a big outlay, you’ll be making significant savings over time by reducing your reliance on the National Grid.

To find out more about solar panels for swimming pools, Contact Kent solar PV installation specialists South East Solar & Electrical. With over 15 years’ experience in supplying and fitting solar panels, as well as carrying out solar PV maintenance, we can help you choose the right number and type of solar panels for your property.