This document provides information on solar technology options for water heating and electricity generation. It summarizes that solar water heating uses solar energy to heat water for taps through solar collectors, while solar electricity uses photovoltaic panels to generate electricity. It then describes the key components of solar water heating and photovoltaic systems, outlining technologies like flat plate and evacuated tube collectors for heating, and explaining grid-tied, backup and off-grid systems for electricity. It highlights the company Soladi's double-jacket solar water heaters and their solar power stations, noting payback periods of 2-3 years for systems.

1. BUYERS GUIDE – SOLAR TECHNOLOGY
Solar energy is abundant, free and carbon-neutral without any downtime, outages or load-shedding
for the next few Billion years.
It can also be harvested to replace 92%+ of our energy needs currently using carbon based energy
sources.
Solar water heating absorbs the heat of the sun and is released through your taps and Solar radiation
that is converted to electricity are the two technologies that are implemented.
Solar water heating
A Solar Geyser will not only pay for itself but also provide substantial savings in energy spend over its
life expectancy. With this technology two factors must be considered:
1. Efficiency
2. Life expectancy
Two technologies are available in both geysers and energy collectors.
1. Geysers
Direct systems heats the water directly in the collectors and in-direct systems use a heat transfer
medium; GLYCOL or anti-freeze that circulates through the collectors and transfers absorbed heat
to the water in the geyser through a heat exchanger. Direct systems are very robust and the
original technology but in-direct systems can be also be used in frost prone or freezing conditions.
Calcification because of minerals and impurities in the water also affects the life and maintenance
of direct systems so we use in-direct systems.
2. Collectors
The original “Flat Plate” panels are very durable and robust; it uses 6-10mm copper tubes encased
in a “Hot-Box” behind low iron, solar glass while Evacuated tubes use a copper tube surrounded
by a vacuum inside a glass or poly-carbonate tube as a heat extractor. Quality tube systems are
10 - 15% more efficient than flat plates, it was developed for hot water north of the arctic circle
with its low radiation but is relatively fragile and isn’t suited to Africa’s harsh conditions. We simply
enlarge our flat plate area commensurate with demand for a low maintenance, efficient system.
Why a Soladi Geyser?
We market, support and maintain systems using latest generation “Double-Jacket” technology with
an international footprint and enviable track record. Our flagship range with a 10 year guarantee and
maintenance plan and a German developed system manufactured locally to SABS standards with a 5
year guarantee and maintenance plan.
1. Efficiency
Our “Double-Jacket” technology uses a double skin, filled with GLYCOL which is connected to the
collectors to form a closed-loop system that ensures the warmest part of the geyser surrounds
the water for a highly efficient optimization of captured heat. Heat loss during the night is less
than 10% where other geysers lose up to 35%.

2. Life expectancy
All our systems come standard with a maintenance plan as part of the guarantee, either
5 or 10 Years. The weather proof outer skin encloses another 2 skins of 2mm high grade steel
(Soladi 5) or 2 skins of 3mm mild steel (Soladi 10) that make up the “Double-Jacket” heat
exchanger, same technology, different application but both extremely robust and efficient.
Both inner skins are coated with a waterproof fused enamel lining to prevent rust and are tested
and rated to operate at up to 6 BAR. A 200 L Soladi 5 weighs 44 Kgs and a Soladi 10,87 Kgs.
Soladi systems are the best in their fields, one an international import and others the best available
locally with international standard technology.
Peace of mind is priceless and both offer this with our unique, inclusive maintenance plan.
Photo-Voltaic Electricity
Solar Photo-Voltaic technology converts solar radiation (photons) into electricity by the photons knocking
electrons from the atoms in the Solar cells and these flows through the cells, producing electricity in
a direct current. This is used to charge the battery bank of a Solar Power station and an inverter then
converts it to alternating current for our daily use. This technology is applied in three ways:
1. Grid-tied
The most economical way to use this technology because
it works symbiotically with the national grid, using it in-
lieu of a battery bank to subsidize normal consumption.
Biggest shortfall is that you can’t access it during grid
failure, outages or load-shedding and mostly used by larger
consumers as a hedge against escalating cost and to reduce
consumption.
2. Back-up
This application has an energy bank that supplies lighter
consumers 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and provides
basic but constant and reliable electricity, even during grid-
failure, outages and Load-shedding while also feeding excess
generated capacity back into the grid.
3. Off-grid
For reliable, constant electricity where there is no grid
available or no grid connection is wanted. Has a bigger
and higher energy bank rating to support full demand
with generator support to load batteries during overcast
conditions.
As the above graph clearly shows, payback varies depending on application. By combining the two
solar technologies (See Soladi ”Load-shed buster” Super combo), payback can be achieved in as
little as 30 - 36 months.
There are up to 5 components that has to be integrated with the above three systems.
1. Solar array
The solar panels are the collectors of the energy supply and require light, not heat to work. Each
must be connected in “strings” or “blocks” to be integrated with the system electronics and the
grid to be supplied with the energy. Positioning of installation is important and tracking arrays are
used in low radiation areas.

2. Electronic suites
The electronics converts and regulates the collected energy for easy, everyday use by means of
inverters, charge controllers, isolators and various components according to design parameters.
The integration of these is critical to ensure the efficiency and longevity of the Power station and
should be done by experts.
3. Energy bank
The one component where future developments could bring down the cost, currently lead- acid,
gel, saturated matt, lithium-ion etc. is available with varying benefits. Lead-acid technology has a
life expectancy of 10 - 13 years+ if properly specified, controlled and maintained and is the only
tech we specify.
4. Installation and support
The design, installation and support/monitoring of the installation will ultimately determine its
efficiency and return on investment. Soladi has a built in 10 or 20 Year maintenance plan on our
standard designs to ensure this.
5. Support energy source
Where a grid is available or connected, this will provide energy to charge the batteries during
overcast conditions or to supply additional energy on demand. With an off-grid system, a
generator (diesel or petrol) or even a wind turbine could provide this.
Extensive research that is constantly upgraded with improvements ensures
that the Soladi range of Power stations is, and will remain on the cutting
edge of applied solar technology.
TM
A F R I C A
To m o r r o w ’s E n e r g y To d a y
SOLAR GEYSERSINTRODUCTION SOLAR ELECTRICITY CONTACT US
24/7
LOADSHED BUSTER
HOME PROJECTSBUYERS GUIDE
1800
1600
1400
1200
1000
800
600
400
200
0
Midday EveningMorning
D A I L Y S O L A R E N E R G Y G E N E R A T I O N
Energy Need Production Renewable Energy Self-use
S O L A R R E P L A C E S 9 2 % O F C A R B O N - B A S E D E L E C T R I C I T Y
11%42%
W
AT
ER
HEATING
LIGHTING
BALANCE ENERGY DEMAND
COOKING
8%
39%
Soladi Africa (Pty) Ltd
PO Box 1897
Somerset West 7129
www.soladiafrica.com
info@soladiafrica.com
Tel: 074 272 9757
M A I N T E N A N C E P L A N
TM
A F R I C A
Maintenance plan for Soladi solar water heating and photo-voltaic electricity installations.
Membership No.
BENEFICIARY:
To m o r r o w ’ s E n e r g y To d a y
R500
R400
R300
R200
R100
R0
-R100
Years
CUMULATIVE, NON-DISCOUNTED PAYBACK AND SAVINGS
S O L A D I P O W E R S T A T I O N P A Y B A C K
* Estimates vary according to usage patterns
** Calculated @ 17.5% average escalation per annum
*** Eskom escalation since 2009 @ 28.9%
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
Thousands
Not financed with depreciation with kVa savings
Not financed with depreciation without kVa savings
Between 7 and 10 year payback
15KW 4/5KW
DETERMINED BY EFFICIENCY,
SIZE AND DEMAND
SOLADI’S APPLIED SOLAR TECHNOLOGY
R750
R500
R450
R300
R150
R0
-R150
Years
BREAK-THROUGH AND CUMULATIVE, NON-DISCOUNTED SAVINGS
S O L A D I O F F - G R I D P O W E R S T A T I O N
* Estimates vary according to usage patterns
** Calculated @ 17.5% average escalation per annum
*** Eskom escalation since 2009 @ 28.9%
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
Thousands
Not financed with depreciation with kVa savings
Not financed with depreciation without kVa savings
Between 7 and 10 year payback
ONCE-OFF INVESTMENT WITH NO OUTAGES,
LOADSHEDDING OR MAINTENANCE
SOLADI’S APPLIED SOLAR TECHNOLOGY
BACK-UP
PV INSTALLATION COMPONENTS
SOLAR ARRAY
INSTALLATION
36%
21%
24% 19%
ENERGYBANK
ELECTRONICS
GRID-TIED
PV INSTALLATION COMPONENTS
30%
21%
49%
ELECTRONIC COM
P
O
N
ENTS
INSTALLAT
IO
N
SOLARARRA
Y
OFF-GRID
PV INSTALLATION COMPONENTS
35%
22%
20% 18%
5%
SOLAR ARRAY
BACK-UPINSTALLATION
ENERGYBANK
ELECTRONICS
GENERATOR
I f i t d o e s n ’ t s a y S o l a d i . . . i t ’ s n o t S o l a d i .
R500
R400
R300
R200
R100
R0
-R100
Years
CUMULATIVE CASH FLOW SAVINGS
G R I D - T I E D P A Y B A C K
* Estimates vary according to usage patterns
** Calculated @ 17.5% average escalation per annum
*** Eskom escalation since 2009 @ 28.9%
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
Thousands
Not financed with SARS depreciation with kVa savings
Not financed with SARS depreciation without kVa savings
Between 5.5 and 6.5 year payback
18KW
SOLADI’S APPLIED SOLAR TECHNOLOGY
R150
R120
R90
R60
R30
R0
-R30
Years
CUMULATIVE,
NON-DISCOUNTED SAVINGS
S O L A D I S O L A R G E Y S E R P A Y B A C K / S A V I N G S
* Estimates vary according to usage patterns
** Calculated @ 17.5% average escalation per annum
*** Eskom escalation since 2009 @ 28.9%
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Thousands
Soladi Solar Geyser: 24 – 36 months
Not financed with depreciation, with kVa savings
Not financed with depreciation, without kVa savings
SOLADI’S APPLIED SOLAR TECHNOLOGY
CONSERVATIVE USE
NORMAL USE