In the UK uses are primarily domestic water heating and other low temperature heating applications such as swimming pools. In hotter climates a wider range of applications is possible, including electricity generation.

Domestic water heating schemes consist of solar collectors, (usually) a preheat tank, pump, control unit, connecting pipes, the normal hot water tank, and backup heat source such as gas or electric immersion heater. The collectors are mounted on the roof and heat the water tank via a fluid circulated between the collectors and the tank. The overall area of the panels is typically 3-4 square metres.

A plane inclined at about 30 degrees, facing due south ranges from around 900 KWh/m2 per year in the North of Scotland to around 1,250 kWh/m2 in the South West of England.

The optimum angle for a south facing collector is 0.9 multiplied by the latitude + 29°. This maximises winter collection and reduces over-production in the summer. The optimum angle of tilt for the spring and autumn is the latitude minus 2.5°. The optimum angle for summer is 52.5° less than the winter angle.