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3. Soladi Buyers Guide FA 2
- 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