Solar Water Heating Basics

Progress Energy Florida

Solar Water Heater Incentive Program
Colleen Kettles
Florida Solar Energy Research & Education
Foundation (FlaSEREF)
Solar Water Heating Basics
 How It Works
 How Much Energy It Saves
 How It Helps the Environment
 How To Purchase
 How Much It Costs
 What Incentives Are Available
Types of Systems
“Active” System
 Direct Pumped
 Water is the collector fluid
 Freeze protection provided by drain-back tank
or freeze valves
 Indirect Pumped
 Anti-freeze is the collector fluid
 Heat exchanger utilized within storage tank
Active Solar Water Heater
Active Solar Water Heater
Direct Pumped
Active Solar Water Heater
Direct PV Pumped
Active Solar Water Heater
Indirect Pumped
The Collector
Active Systems
 Use “flat-plate” collector
 Insulated box with ½” copper piping
integrated into a black absorber and glass
cover
 Fluid is water or anti-freeze
 Designed to reach temperatures as high as
160° F
The Storage Tank
Active System
 Specially designed, heavily insulated tank
(R value of 16 or greater)
 Sizes range from 52 to 120 gallons for
residential applications
 Has only a top electric element
 In a system using antifreeze, the tank will
have an internal heat exchanger
Balance of System Components
Active System
 Pump (ac or dc)
 Differential Controller, or
 Photovoltaic Panel
 Assorted valves and vents
 Copper Piping
 Insulation
Types of Systems
“Passive” System
 Integral Collector Storage
 Collector provides additional water
storage
 No moving parts
Passive Solar Water Heater
Integral Collector Storage
Passive Solar Water Heater
Integral Collector Storage
The Collector
Integral Collector Storage (ICS)
 The collector is also the storage medium
 Insulated box with 4” copper tubing
welded together to serve as the absorber
 Glass cover
 Fluid is water
 Designed to reach temperatures as high as
160° F
The Storage Tank
Integral Collector Storage (ICS)
 Collector provides ½ of the storage (32-50
gallons)
 Existing or conventional tank provides the
balance of storage
Balance of System Components
ICS System
 Assorted valves and vents
 Anti-scald valve (optional)
 Copper piping
 Insulation
Types of Systems
“Passive System”
 Thermosiphon
 Tank is roof mounted above collector
 Uses flat plate collector

 No moving parts

 Reminiscent of early solar systems

Early Thermosiphon Solar
Water Heater
Thermosiphon System
Passive Solar Water Heater
Thermosiphon System
The Collector
Thermosiphon System
 Uses “flat-plate” collector

 Insulated box with ½” copper piping

integrated into a black absorber and glass

cover
 Fluid is water or anti-freeze

 Designed to reach temperatures as high as

160° F
The Storage Tank
Thermosiphon System
 The storage tank is specially designed to
be mounted on the roof above the collector
 An auxiliary tank with electric element is
installed in the home
Balance of System Components
Thermosiphon System
 Assorted vents and valves
 Copper piping
 Insulation
Household Hot Water Use
 15% – 20% of total household energy
consumption
 Daily usage is 20 gallons each per day
for the first two occupants; 15 gallons
per day for each additional occupant
 Example: Four person household will
use 70 gallons of hot water and will
need 80 gallons of storage
Collector BTU Ratings
/Solar Fraction
 Central Florida ambient water
temperature is 72 degrees
 Solar fraction is the proportion of hot
water provided by the solar system
 Optimal solar fraction is 70% and is
based upon annual performance
Collector Btu Ratings
/Solar Fraction
 38,000 Btus will be needed to raise 80
gallons of cold water to 122 degrees
 A 32 square foot ICS system is rated at
28,700 Btu/day and will provide a 77%
solar fraction
 A 40 square foot active collector is rated
at 34,400 Btu/day and will provide a
92% solar fraction
 Savings
The kWh equivalent of 38,000 Btu/day is
11.13 kWh per day x 365 days = 4,063
kWh/year (electric load)
 A solar fraction of 70 will offset 2,844 kWh
 A solar fraction of 77 (28,700 Btu/day) = 8.4
kWh/day x 365 days, saves (or produces) 3,066
kWh/year
 A solar fraction of 92 (34,400 Btu/day) = 10
kWh/day x 365 days, saves (or produces) 3,650
kWh/year
Savings
At an average residential rate of $.115
per kWh:
 A solar fraction of 70 will save

$325/year
 A solar fraction of 77 will save

$350/year
 A solar fraction of 92 will save

$420/year
Back-up Hot Water
 All solar water heaters will have a
conventional energy back-up
 No consumer action is required to
activate the back-up
 Back-up is needed for periods of
excessive hot water use or inadequate
solar resource
How It Helps the Environment
 Emission Reductions (One Solar Water
Heater Saves Annually)
 Carbon Dioxide (5,000 lb)
 Sulfur Dioxide (20 lb)
 Nitrogen Oxide (12 lb)
 Renewable Energy Credits
 The “environmental attributes” of solar
energy are a commodity
How to Purchase
 Contact reputable solar companies
 www.flaseia.org
 www.findsolar.com
 Verify contractor licenses
www.myfloridalicense.com
Voice: 850-487-1395
 Solar contractor (CV)
 Specialty solar (CW)
 Plumbing contractor (CF)
 Local solar license (RX)
How to Purchase
 Get more than one estimate, and get
them in writing
 Avoid high pressure sales tactics
 Compare system types, sizes, prices
and warranties
 Ask for FSEC system certification
 Ask for local references
How to Purchase
 A local building permit should be obtained
prior to installation (although some
jurisdictions no longer require)
 Contractor, not the homeowner, is responsible
for the permit
 If in doubt, homeowner should contact the
local building department
 Deed restricted communities will typically
require prior approval (which cannot be
denied)
How Much It Costs
 Cost of a system varies depending upon
the type of system and the size of
system
 Prices range from $3,000 to $5,000 in
general
 Rising material costs and the cost of
doing business (gasoline, insurance,
etc.) have resulted in price increases
Financial Incentives
 Incentives are designed to lower the
cost to the consumer
 Sales Tax Exemption (6-7%)
 Florida Solar Rebate ($500)
 Progress Energy Rebate ($450)
 Federal Tax Credit (30% with cap of
$2,000)
Interaction of Incentives
 Rebates should be deducted from the
cost of the system before the federal
tax credit is calculated
 IRS has not issued regulations under
this tax credit law
 Exception would be if rebates are
included as gross income
Interaction of Incentives
Example –
System cost: $4,000
State rebate: - $500
PEF rebate: - $450
Actual cost: $3,050
Federal tax credit: (.30 x 3,050) = $915
Net system cost: $2,135
Impact of Incentives on
Consumer Savings
Net System Price of $2,135
 Annual Savings of $325 = 6.5 year

payback
 Annual Savings of $350 = 6.1 year

payback
 Annual Savings of $420 = 5 year

payback
For More Information
 www.flaseref.org
 www.flaseia.org

 www.fsec.ucf.edu

 www.floridaenergy.org
 800-59SOLAR

THANK YOU