Property Plus
Coimbatore
Solar power, a viable and affordable option
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Solar water heaters require only a one-time investment, after which there are no running costs, writes Deepti Adlakha
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Photo courtesy: SOLKAR
Solar solutions: It is important for people to recognise the underlying potential of solar energy.
The recent fuel crisis has created an urgent need to examine and opt for alternate sources of energy. Buildings could be one of the places to begin this rethinking and given the tropical location of this country, solar energy offers itself as a clean and viable option.
A typical solar water heating (SWH) system comprises a stainless steel storage tank, aluminium solar collectors, copper risers and an absorber sheet. The selection of a system to match needs is dependant on the usage and water consumption per day. A 100 litres per day (LPD) capacity system with one panel is suitable for approximately 4-6 people and results in a saving of 120 units per month.
Installation
To ensure efficient functioning of the system and for optimum results, the system must be installed on the roof top in a shadow free area facing south. The bottom of solar tank should be at a minimum of five feet from the roof top. Solar water heaters do not have any capacity constraint, which offers the advantage of modifying and adapting it to suit one’s needs.
TATA BP Solar domestic use water heating systems are available in models of 100 LPD, 200 LPD and 300 LPD and have been designed to work efficiently even on cloudy days and also with hard water with hardness up to 600 ppm. Multiple modules can be added on to further increase the capacity of the system.
Benefits and advantages
Solar water heaters require only a one-time investment after which no running costs are incurred.
Mr. Raghunathan, Managing Director of Solkar Solar Industry Limited says, “The payback period could be computed to less than three years. If you were to buy a solar heater for say Rs.24,000, you could for a payback period of three years effectively save up to Rs 6,000- Rs 8,000 per annum of your electricity bill, assuming that hot water is used for 10 months in a year.”
For domestic applications, the SWH system is the most cost-effective uses of solar energy compared to conventional geysers in the long run. Also, by directly reducing greenhouse gas emissions (carbon dioxide, CO2) released into the atmosphere, it contributes towards a healthier green environment.
An array of photovoltaic panels can be used to generate electricity from solar energy which can then substitute various domestic applications and appliances. Solar modules are designed to absorb and produce electricity from the sun and store it in a battery for usage at night or during power outages.
The solar powered ‘SUN UPS’ and Emergency Module from the Solkar line of products find wide usage in apartments for common area lighting, health clinics, restaurants and office spaces during power outages. In addition to the above, solar lamps, lanterns, torch lights, fans, radios and mobile phone chargers are other products which, if charged on a daily basis, can be used for an average of 4-6 hours everyday.
Solar P.V. lighting panels are widely used in many industrial applications, traffic installations and flood lighting. Energy consumption can be cut down to 1/4th under normal operation conditions and up to 1/6th or 1/8th under the enhanced energy saving mode operation of the system.
The flexibility in controlling the intensity of the lamp results in further energy saving. For example, a 35watts lamp which gives 5200 lumens can be made to work as 18 watts and giving a light output of 2500 lumens, resulting in energy saving of up to 50 %.
The demand for products in this segment still remains subdued and fragmented to select few areas due to the general notion of the high overheads involved. Mr. Raghunathan attributes it to lack of awareness about the recent technological changes that have made solar power easily accessible and more affordable. While it is important to create solar solutions that can seamlessly integrate into the everyday lives of the consumers, it is equally important for people to recognise the underlying potential of solar energy, with the right approach and attitude.
As solar energy technologies become cheaper and more reachable, we will soon start to see a huge shift towards the use of solar energy sources in many countries like India.
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Property Plus
Coimbatore
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