tube solar panels

Tube solar panels (evacuated-tube collectors) are made up of a set of parallel glass tubes. They are excellent for cloudy and freezing climates and for applications requiring high temperatures (they can provide hot water temperatures between 170°F/75ºC and 350°F/175ºC).

The tube Solar Panels technology

Evacuated-tube solar panels involve literally a visible set of parallel glass tubes (solar tubes). “Evacuated”, in this case, means a “vacuum” layer within the tubes, where it is also located heat pipes to absorb the solar energy and to transfer it to a liquid medium.

The vacuum allows very small heat losses and eliminates the impact of ambient temperatures - making evacuated-tube technology particularly suitable for solar solutions for colder climates.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Tube Solar Panels

Tube solar panels are a tested technology, allowing higher efficiency and smaller and lighter collectors. Solar tube panels technology

The disadvantage of tube solar panels is that they are more expensive than flat panels - though much more cost-competitive than some years ago.

Image: EERE

Tube Solar Panels vs Flat Solar Panels

Choosing tube solar panels or flat solar panels is a question of price, climate and type of application. In colder-freezing climates and in applications requiring higher temperatures, tube solar panels are preferable.

Tube Solar Panels Prices and warranties

Prices vary with the number of... tubes.

A solar kit with a 20 tubes solar panel, a roof fitting kit, a solar expansion vessel, a solar controller and pump station and some accessories more, with a capacity of 40-50 gallons (150-200 liters) of hot water may cost you $3,000-$3,500.

The same solar kit with a 30 tubes panel for a tank of 50-80 gallons (200-300 lts) will probably cost you $500 more...

Warranties of 10 or more years are common.