Some advice/ideas on solar thermal

[jonboy]

Hi all
I have recently had solar pv fitted, and am very pleased with the results. I would now like to improve the hot water system in my house.
At the moment i have a standard boiler (g rated) connected to a vented copper tank in the airing cupboard up stairs, the system is a y plan system with radiators in all of the rooms. the house was built around 1980 and is well insulated. we have one bathroom and a en suite, which both have 8kw electric showers.
I would like to install a thermal store cylinder, i like the idea of using mains pressure water through a coil in the tank to give me hot water at a good pressure, without having to run an electric pump, this way i can get rid of the electric showers. I would also like to install a thermal tubes on the roof.
In the future i would like to install a solid fuel burner downstairs. I was also looking at using the excess pv power to run a 1kw immersion heater.
My plan was to fit a thermal store first, get rid of electric showers then look at the following over a longer period of time, fianance allowing. (immersion,solar tubes, new boiler then possibly solid fuel).
I would like to fit a s plan system a i feel that i would have better control.
Do i go for a sealed system for the boiler? pros/cons
will i have enough energy in the thermal store (say 250 litre) to run the heating in the winter?
Does anybody have any thoughts/ideas or advice?

[Brandon]

Do i go for a sealed system for the boiler? pros/cons
will i have enough energy in the thermal store (say 250 litre) to run the heating in the winter?

vented allows a direct connection to the thermal store for both your gas and wood boilers.
and in a word, no.