Solar Water Heating

Solar water heating is the conversion of sunlight into renewable energy for water heating, using a solar thermal collector. This system comprises of various technologies and acts as a solar geyser.

RenSolar specializes in the “close-coupled” heating system, where a storage tank is horizontally mounted immediately above the solar collectors on the roof. No pumping is required as the hot water naturally rises into the tank through thermosiphon flow. In a “pump-circulated” system the storage tank is ground or floor mounted and is below the level of the collectors; a circulating pump moves water or heat transfer fluid between the tank and the collectors.

Upgrading your home or business with a solar water heater to a more sustainable way of living will save you money, you can save up to 40% of your bill. Experts in South Africa say that a typical household of four will save a 1/3 off their electricity bill, and the savings will pay back the cost of the solar water heater in a few years.

Solar heating is the first step towards solar power. Convert your household hot water needs to solar, RenSolar offers Solar Water heating at Affordable price.

Generate free hot water to use on site and reduce gas and electric water heating costs

Optimal return on investment

System size can be matched to the hot water demand of the building and backed up with conventional gas or electric water heating to ensure a constant supply. It is important to match the size of the installation to the average demand in order to avoid over heating the storage tank. For this reason they are particularly effective where hot water is required for an industrial process or swimming pool for example where excess heat that is generated can be stored.

Considerations

The collector unit is situated to catch the optimum energy from the sun and there are broadly two types. Flat plate collectors are the simplest with water pipes running behind thick black glass that collects and traps the heat like a greenhouse, this is then transferred to the hot water tank by a pump. The second type consist of evacuated tubes that collect the heat from the sun which is then transferred to a collecting manifold where a high specific heat capacity fluid is pumped in a circuit to heat the hot water tank. The evacuated tube type is more efficient.

Installation

Installation can be carried out on a wide range of roof types including flat and pitched roofs however it is important that a full structural evaluation is carried out to ensure the roof’s integrity will not be compromised. While planning is not normally an issue with solar thermal installation it can be refused in conservation areas, so it is important to ensure that all permissions are secured before proceeding with any installation.