UNDERSTANDING SOLAR POWER

Energy from the sun is a free gift from the Magnanimous Almighty Creator of the Universe. In addition to its tremendous other benefits within the natural environment, it can also be an important and cost effective source of heat and electrical energy for our benefit, if it is enhanced correctly and efficiently.

CATEGORIES OF SOLAR ENERGY FOR GENERAL DAILY USAGE

The free energy from the sun can be effectively harnessed at any time whilst the sun is shining and visible in the sky. One drawback of solar energy is that it is not available when there is no sun either during the night or on days when the sun is hidden behind cloud cover. It is also not effectively utilised when, due to human error or negligence, its harvesting medium is erected under the shade of trees, buildings or other obstacles that block the sun’s rays from directly reaching it.
To overcome these disadvantages, it is most important that the solar energy harvesting systems are correctly installed and the human error/negligence element is eliminated. To overcome the lack of sunlight hours, the energy that is collected can be stored for later use, as and when required.

For general daily usage, two broad categories of Solar Energy harnessing techniques are in use today:

  1. Solar Water Heating by using the heat directly from the sun to heat water using several available options and store this heated water in an insulated storage tank.
  2. Solar Electricity Generation by using solar panels having photovoltaic cells that convert the sun’s energy into electrical energy that can be stored in solar batteries or in newer technologies such a super capacitors.

This electricity generation is again of two general kinds, viz.: Direct Current (DC) and Alternating Current (AC).
Generally, the photovoltaic cells convert the sun’s energy into DC current that is convertible to AC current via an Inverter to operate lights, appliances, etc. operating on AC current. The DC current is also storable in specialized solar adapted batteries for later use as when needed, either as DC current or as AC current if converted via an Inverter. Many different options exist but the basic principles are the same and the different options provide for differing needs.

WHY CHOOSE SOLAR POWER?

From the foregoing brief notes, it is evident that this natural Gift by the Almighty Creator of the Universe, for the benefit of His creation can be a source of tremendous benefit and cost savings if harvested and utilised properly.

Usually, much electricity is consumed for heating purposes – hot water geysers, stoves, ovens, heaters, irons, under floor heating, dish washers, etc. In most residential applications the hot water geysers are usually the largest single electricity ‘guzzlers’ accounting for some 30% to 50% of total electrical consumption within the homes. When it comes to lighting, refrigerators, radios, audio-visual systems, computers, alarms, CC TV monitoring, mobile phone charging, etc., the electricity consumption is much less than in heating applications.

Hence, it makes sense to target the heating side first, if the objective is to reduce electricity consumption and the consequent exorbitant electricity costs that consumers are faced with today.The additional advantage derived from a relative independence of an unreliable electrical power supply grid, is an added bonus! Consequently, the water heating geyser takes priority due to it being the major electricity consumer in most average sized homes. It is here that Solar Water Heating yields maximum advantage.

SOLAR WATER HEATING IS AN INVESTMENT – NOT AN EXPENSE!

Really? Why? Consider the following facts:

The biggest advantage of solar water heating is immediate electricity bill savings, as long as the sun is visible in the sky and the installation has been properly done. No matter how small your installation, you begin receiving smaller monthly bills from your local utility company – from Day 1.

But how large are these electricity bill savings?

Our Microsolar water heating product is an innovative product with many years of technological experience having installations in many countries around the world. It has quality certification from many international certifiers and was also tested and approved by the SABS in South Africa. It's efficiency rating compares with the best in the world.

The initial prototype developed two decades ago is still functioning reasonably well and on-going research over the years has vastly improved the efficiency of the product. The annual average electricity savings is between 15% and 20% of the cost of the product, depending on ruling electricity prices. Hence at a minimal 15% annual return, it has a pay-back period of just six years, bearing in mind that the electricity costs will continue to escalate after installation, whilst the solar water heating installation initial investment will be fixed and thus pegged. The on-going maintenance costs are minimal under normal operating conditions.

Thus, after the initial approximately six year payback period during which the initial investment is recovered (ignoring capital opportunity costs and inflation), the savings will continue to accumulate, God Willing, for a further six to twelve years. Even if an opportunity cost of around 7% is factored into the equation for the initial investment, there would still remain an approximately 8% positive return on the initial investment! Hence it is a win-win situation for the environmentally conscious citizen of this beautiful Planet Earth.

The relative confidence of being reasonably independent of an unreliable electricity supply grid is an added advantage!

In areas where there is no electricity supply, this is an excellent medium of water heating for all those sunshine days of the year. These Microsolar Water Heaters can heat water using only the Sun’s energy, to over 90°C on a Sunny Day, if no hot water is used during the same day. It's not uncommon to maintain an average 40°C to 60°C on a normal sunshine day with average household water usage. And this is without any electrical back-up. Of course electrical back-up is necessary for the winter months but hardly much for the summer months. On average, with normal usage and depending upon the size of the solar water heating unit, it will maintain an overnight temperature of approximately 20°C above ambient for a cold night of around overnight 5°C outside temperature. This means that if the outside temperature during the night is around 5°C, then the water within the storage tank will still be around 25°C, implying that when the tap is opened in the early morning, the water will not be icy cold, and even with some heat loss in travelling through cold pipes to the point of usage - where there are no long pipe runs - it will be about 5°C to 10°C above the cold outside ambient temperature. This, however depends on several other factors such as extent of usage during the night. Ideally the installation should be closest to the usage point and also facing due north in the southern hemisphere.

During the summer months when the overnight ambient temperature is around 15°C to 20°C and the daylight hours are longer, the overnight water temperature within the storage tank will be higher at around 40°C,without any electricity usage. Again, this will depend on various factors such as extent of usage during the night. Hence solar water heating, in addition to being environmentally friendly, is also a means of earning an indirect passive income by virtue of its direct impact on electricity cost savings.

SOLAR ELECTRICITY GENERATION

This is achieved via Solar Photovoltaic panels that capture the Sun’s rays and convert it to electrical current. This is a modular technology, meaning you can install as many or as few panels as you like – whenever you like. Each new kilowatt of installed solar capacity brings you bigger electricity bill savings.  With a large enough installation, it’s possible to reduce your energy bill completely. Thanks to solar energy, the possibility of reducing conventional electricity usage or even reaching a point of zero conventional electricity usage is well within reach. However large your installation, you can expect your electricity bill savings to grow with time. As electricity prices increase, clean energy from the sun remains consistently free. Solar is an investment that pays increasingly large dividends with each passing year.

HOWEVER, in this form of electricity generation, it is not as cost effective as the direct water heating applications. Usually the investment is high and the investment returns through electricity savings are much lower at around 3% to 5%. Hence this mode of electricity generation is not yet cost effective in an environment that has a stable electricity supply grid. However, technology is developing at a rapid rate and soon it will become more cost effective.

The main advantage currently is its usefulness as an emergency back-up source for important electricity and SAFETY needs such as lighting, CCTV monitoring, operation of fridge/freezers, mobile phone charging and other SAFETY CRITICAL needs in events of power outages. Hence in terms of cost/benefit, it must be viewed as more of a crucially important SAFETY CRITICAL safeguard against potential criminal activity in crime ridden communities. It must be viewed as more of an INSURANCE rather than as an investment under crime-ridden circumstances. In areas where there is no electrical supply, it becomes a very important medium of solar energy to provide for lighting and other essentials so that normal household/business routine, children/adults studies and other essential activities can continue during the night especially with adequate lighting being made available. It is encouraging to note that pricing for basic Solar powered systems, mainly for lighting and one or two other very basic needs, has reduced substantially and this convenience can now be shared by many in rural farming communities, homes, businesses, outdoor activities, etc. It is a very affordable option for most people and has a very wide variety of uses. Its easy installation makes it appealing even to the DIY market.

GENERAL

In the figures below, probable expected savings through solar power are evident. The cost of solar power generally has come down over the years and proposes an affordable, cost saving option for those seeking to save money. Currently the average savings which result from solar power should be better for people who go solar today than they were for people who installed solar powered solutions a few years back. As time goes on the extent of savings increases and that makes solar a wise long term investment.

It is important to note that there has been a proliferation of “cheap” poor quality solar water heating products that have been given out free of charge to many homes in South Africa by State owned entities. Unfortunately this has been an exercise in absolute futility because within a short period of time these inferior products stop working and have little service back-up. Literally, many hundreds or perhaps thousands of them have been installed in various incorrect configurations in poorer communities that do not even have the means to maintain them! Thus a majority of them stop working effectively within a short period of installation and consequently reflect very badly on the integrity of Solar Powered  mediums of energy conservation.

Water heating accounts for a major part of our monthly domestic electricity bill in a small to average sized home.  If we consider the usage , then switching to solar becomes a very attractive alternative as the cost saving will ultimately pay for the unit itself.

SOLAR ENERGY AND HIGHER PROPERTY VALUES

Because solar energy helps us save on our electricity bills, it’s an investment that pays for itself several times over the 15+ year lifespan of the installation. But the advantages of solar energy can extend beyond electricity bill savings. Solar energy installations on a property have the possibility of fetching a higher asking price when it comes time to sell the property. An average sized installation on a residential property has the potential to add to the retail value of a home an amount that equals or exceeds the average cost of a residential solar installation - meaning that one could not only be reducing or eliminating the electricity bill but may also get 100% of the invested money back when  selling the home.

In any home improvement project today, alternative solar energy consideration is an absolute must.It is indeed the pivotal technology of the future, together with wind energy and other sources of natural energy enhancement.

SOLAR ENERGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT

The economic dividends of solar power are easy to measure in Rand and cents, as it offers great benefits by reducing costs and boosting the property value. But solar’s environmental dividends are no less tangible. As more homes and businesses across the country install solar options, our nation moves farther away from fossil fuel consumption and closer to clean, green economy powered by the sun. The benefits of this transition are enormous:

Solar energy’s dividends don’t simply benefit you – the system owner. They benefit anyone who enjoys having a cleaner and more sustainable environment - which means everyone!