Solar Water Heating is a system for heating water using energy from the sun. Solar energy is collected by a panel, which is connected by pipes to a hot water storage device such as a hot water cylinder
How much of my total hot water requirements can a solar water heater provide?
A solar water heater can provide between 50 and 90 percent of your total hot water requirements, depending on the climate and model of heater.
By how much will replacing a conventional geyser with a solar powered system reduce electricity consumption?
The electrical geyser uses 30 – 50% percent of your household’s monthly electricity bill. Replacing your conventional geyser with a solar powered system will reduce that percentage of your electricity consumption by up to 70 percent
Given our current electricity crisis, how much can solar water heaters help reduce demand?
If a 100,000 geysers were to be installed this would offset 300 MW worth of connected load. However if we take diversity and usage into account this equates to a 63 MW load that is actually removed during our peaks.
Do I need to install a new geyser or can solar panels be added to the existing system?
Standard geysers are not designed to be utilized with solar collectors as they do not have sufficient inlets and their linings are often not designed to withstand the temperature experienced from solar energy.
The supplier should evaluate the existing geyser and, based on your needs, the supplier can evaluate the possibilities of using the existing system.
How much will it cost to install a solar water geyser?
Costs can only be provided taking into account your specific hot water usage habits but an approximate cost can be given here. Installing a 200 liter solar water geyser costs approximately R10 000 with an additional R6 installation fee. The upfront cost of a solar water heater (including installation) is higher than electric or gas water heaters but the savings on your electricity bill will compensate for this over time. Once you have paid back your system, your hot water is for free!
Where can I obtain information on accredited suppliers?
The suppliers that are part of the rebate program (those that have passed quality and reliability tests) are listed on the supplier section on the Eskom DSM website. There are other suppliers in the market, but if they are not part of this program to reduce costs to the consumer, they may not have been passed through the SABS testing or approval.
What happens in winter or on rainy days, when there isn’t enough sunlight to heat the water?
Solar water tanks are better insulated than electrical geysers and can keep water hot for a longer period of time. This ensures that there is always a tank full of hot water (and a back-up of hot water) in the early evenings/mornings provided the tank size is correct. An electrical back up system is allowed on the program provided it has a timer switch that ensures it does not operate during Eskom’s peak demand periods.
What is Eskom’s involvement in the solar water heating programs?
In order to reduce the growing demand for electricity, Eskom is embarking on energy efficiency and alternative energy programs that promote energy savings on a large scale in order to mitigate system constraints. Eskom is working towards a goal to meet government’s target of 10 000 gigawatt hours of renewable energy generation by 2013.
