ST-01
MCS 024 §2 estimate — 4 m² flat plate, 3 residents, 200 L cylinder, condensing gas boiler
Inputs
- 4 m² flat plate glazed collector, MCS 024 §2 (f) defaults η0 0.75, a1 6.0 W/m²K, a2 0.016 W/m²K²
- South-facing at 35°, SAP region 0 (UK average): S = 1081.4 kWh/m² (the PV page's hand-derived Appendix U figure)
- 3 full-time residents; both electric and non-electric showers; not a water-efficient dwelling
- 200 L twin-coil cylinder, 100 L dedicated to solar; no overshading
- Back-up heater: gas system boiler, post 1998, condensing (A1 0.768)
The whole MCS 024 worksheet on one case, each line derived by hand from the printed method. The same system by the SAP 10.3 Appendix H monthly method on the calculator's 150 L/day demand gives 1 488 kWh; the MCS figure is the one an MCS installer gives the customer.
| Quantity | Expected | Source | MEPCalc | Δ | Tolerance | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Household occupancy N (full-time equivalent) | 3 | MCS 024:2025 Issue 1.0 (01/01/2025), Solar Heating Performance Estimate §2 (a), printed p7 | 3 | 0.00 % | exact | Pass |
Daily hot water demand Vd = 25N + 36 Vd = 25 × 3 + 36 = 111 L/day | 111L/day | MCS 024:2025 Issue 1.0 (01/01/2025), Solar Heating Performance Estimate §2 (c) and (d), printed p7 | 111L/day | 0.00 % | exact | Pass |
Energy content of hot water Σ(45) Σ(45) = 4.190 × 111 × 365 × 37 ÷ 3600 = 1744.7 kWh | 1744.7kWh/yr | MCS 024:2025 Issue 1.0 (01/01/2025), Solar Heating Performance Estimate §2 (c) and (d), printed p7 | 1744.7kWh/yr | 0.00 % | ±2 % | Pass |
Hot water use adjustment H = h1 × h2 × h3 | 1 | MCS 024:2025 Issue 1.0 (01/01/2025), Solar Heating Performance Estimate §2 (e), printed p7–8 (h1 1.00 both shower types, h2 1.00, h3 1.0) | 1 | 0.00 % | exact | Pass |
Annual cylinder heat loss C | 505kWh/yr | MCS 024:2025 Issue 1.0 (01/01/2025), Solar Heating Performance Estimate §2 (e), printed p7–8 (C at 200 L) | 505kWh/yr | 0.00 % | exact | Pass |
Linear heat loss coefficient a* = 0.892 (a1 + 45 a2) a* = 0.892 × (6.0 + 45 × 0.016) = 5.9942 | 5.9942W/m²K | SAP 2012 version 9.92 (October 2013), Appendix H and Table 1b Appendix H worksheet (H1)–(H17), printed p78–79 (H3b) | 5.9942W/m²K | 0.00 % | ±2 % | Pass |
Collector performance factor f1 (H10) a*/η0 = 5.9942 ÷ 0.75 = 7.9923; f1 = 0.97 − 0.0367 × 7.9923 + 0.0006 × 7.9923² = 0.7150 | 0.715 | SAP 2012 version 9.92 (October 2013), Appendix H and Table 1b Appendix H worksheet (H1)–(H17), printed p78–79 (H10, ratio < 20) | 0.715 | 0.00 % | ±2 % | Pass |
Solar energy available (H7) H7 = Aap × η0 × S × overshading = 4 × 0.75 × 1081.4 × 1.0 = 3244.2 kWh | 3244.2kWh/yr | SAP 2012 version 9.92 (October 2013), Appendix H and Table 1b Appendix H worksheet (H1)–(H17), printed p78–79 (H7) | 3244.3kWh/yr | 0.00 % | ±2 % | Pass |
Modified solar-to-load ratio (H8) (H8) = 3244.2 ÷ {[1.0 × 1744.7] + 505} = 1.4420 | 1.442 | MCS 024:2025 Issue 1.0 (01/01/2025), Solar Heating Performance Estimate §2 (e), printed p7–8 | 1.4421 | 0.01 % | ±2 % | Pass |
Utilisation factor (H9) 1 − exp(−1 ÷ 1.4420) = 0.5002 | 0.5002 | SAP 2012 version 9.92 (October 2013), Appendix H and Table 1b Appendix H worksheet (H1)–(H17), printed p78–79 (H9) | 0.5002 | 0.00 % | ±2 % | Pass |
Effective solar volume Veff (H13) Veff = 100 + 0.3 × (200 − 100) = 130 L | 130L | SAP 2012 version 9.92 (October 2013), Appendix H and Table 1b Appendix H worksheet (H1)–(H17), printed p78–79 (H13, combined cylinder) | 130L | 0.00 % | ±2 % | Pass |
Storage volume factor f2 (H16) Veff/Vd = 130 ÷ 111 = 1.1712; 1 + 0.2 ln 1.1712 = 1.032, capped at 1.0 | 1 | SAP 2012 version 9.92 (October 2013), Appendix H and Table 1b Appendix H worksheet (H1)–(H17), printed p78–79 (H16) | 1 | 0.00 % | exact | Pass |
Estimated annual solar input to the cylinder Qs (H17) Qs = 3244.2 × 0.5002 × 0.7150 × 1.0 = 1160.2 kWh | 1160.2kWh/yr | SAP 2012 version 9.92 (October 2013), Appendix H and Table 1b Appendix H worksheet (H1)–(H17), printed p78–79 (H17) | 1160.2kWh/yr | 0.00 % | ±2 % | Pass |
Solar efficiency factor A1 of the back-up heater | 0.768 | MCS 024:2025 Issue 1.0 (01/01/2025), Solar Heating Performance Estimate Appendix A, Table A1, printed p11–12 (gas, post 1998, condensing, system boiler) | 0.768 | 0.00 % | exact | Pass |
Estimated annual fuel saving Qs ÷ A1 1160.2 ÷ 0.768 = 1510.7 kWh | 1510.7kWh/yr | MCS 024:2025 Issue 1.0 (01/01/2025), Solar Heating Performance Estimate Appendix A, printed p11 (Qs ÷ A1) | 1510.7kWh/yr | 0.00 % | ±2 % | Pass |
Additional fuel energy saving Qs × {(1/A1) − 1} 1160.2 × {(1 ÷ 0.768) − 1} = 350.5 kWh | 350.5kWh/yr | MCS 024:2025 Issue 1.0 (01/01/2025), Solar Heating Performance Estimate §2 (additional fuel energy saving), printed p9 | 350.5kWh/yr | 0.00 % | ±2 % | Pass |
Installed capacity, aperture × 0.7 4 × 0.7 = 2.8 kWth | 2.8kWth | MCS Technical Note: Calculation for Solar Thermal Total Installed Capacity v1.1 §2, the 0.7 kWth per m² of aperture convention | 2.8kWth | 0.00 % | exact | Pass |