It is believed that the earth receives more energy each hour from the sun than the world can use in a full year.
Solar power is one of the most effective renewable energy sources available. By implementing it in water heating, we can target one of the most electricity hungry household appliances for maximum power saving effect. Solar energy is not affected by the current shortage of electricity and does not stop providing hot water during load shedding.
Your electric geyser contributes between 39 and 60 percent towards your household’s electricity bill (depending on your hot water consumption).
Scenario 1: One SA household
What is the potential impact if one household replaces their conventional 200 liter geyser with a solar geyser system (or retrofit the geyser with solar)?
A conservative view from Eskom shows that the saving potential of a solar water heater could be 4.5 kWh (electricity) per day. This means that in one year, a household’s solar geyser can save them between 39% and 50% on their electricity bill, but also add the environmental savings of:
– 2,07 kiloliter of water
– 1000 kg of coal
which would otherwise have been used to generate this amount of electricity (by burning coal).
It also means that 4.5 tonnes of harmful CO₂ is not released into the air.
A saving of a potential 4.5kWh per day for 30 days would be an equivalent of a swimming pool pump (0.75kWh) running for 6 hours per day for 30 days.
Scenario 2:..If a 100 households switch to SWH
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How does Solar Water Heating (SWH) work?
Solar systems use the sun’s energy, collected by solar panels to heat up stored water in a geyser.
The system is installed with electrical backup for use during periods of high demand for hot water or for use during days with minimal hours of sunlight or during the early morning hours.
High pressure systems: Different options
- On-roof systems (close coupled) – the geyser and panels are located on the roof.
- Thermosiphon (natural flow)
- Tandem systems
- Flat roof: a stand is required.
2. In-roof systems (where the geyser is located inside the roof and the panel(s) on the roof.
- Thermosiphon (natural flow)
- Pump system
- Retrofit on a kwikot geyser
Low pressure systems
The low pressure systems are usually installed at low income houses (it can be installed with or without an electrical backup system).
Geyserwise: This is a timer device installed for high pressure solar water heaters
Standard with all solar water systems we install a Geyserwise timer which enables the home owner to regulate geyser temperature, and controls the time and period for how long your geyser element need to work. The system also has a holiday mode and an override function when more hot water is needed.
To claim for a rebate (on the installation of a solar hot water system) from ESKOM a timer device must be installed as part of the system.
Solar water heating systems are not a one size fits all technology. In order to assist the home owner to make an informed decision and to find a balance between a high quality service and a fair price, we do on site visits to determine the variables, e.g. geyser volume & condition, number of people in the house using hot water, distance between hot water points in the house, best location & orientation, etc.). It is usually the best if the owner can be present at the visit, being able to ask all the questions, although not compulsory.
Do you have a burst electrical geyser?
Make use of the payment from your insurance – this is the ideal time to switch your geyser to solar.
Step 1: Contact Solar Juice to visit your house for a free onsite visit and to provide you with a replacement quote which you submit to your insurance – please remember to notify them that you are switching to solar and that they must provide you with the money and not replace your electrical geyser.
Step 2: At the same time as step 1, we provide you with a solar geyser system installation quote. Please note: It is your choice which installer you use and your insurance must respect your choice.
Step 3: When you are ready and satisfied with our quote, kindly let us know and we can arrange for the installation.
If your insurance already replaced your geyser, then we can make the following suggestion:
- Keep your new geyser and we retrofit the geyser to solar (connect it with solar panels, etc.).