Should I use the solar panels to heat water or to store electricity, or both? How much will it cost for a 2 bedroom flat? Can I get a grant – if so how much?
solar panels for electricity are a bit of a waste of time in this part of the country, allowing for the initial expense of the installation, the cost of maintenance and replacment of the batteries between three to five years will cost more than paying a standard supplier.
As for water, some useful gains can be had, i.e. it will take the chill off the incoming water and so reduce your base energy supply costs, but not to any great extent.
Roll on global warming when these systems will become far more viable at these lattitudes.