Felicity Bradstock
Felicity Bradstock is a freelance writer specialising in Energy and Finance. She has a Master’s in International Development from the University of Birmingham, UK.
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By Felicity Bradstock – Sep 29, 2024, 12:00 PM CDT
- Solar heaters are gaining popularity worldwide due to government incentives promoting renewable energy and consumer desire to reduce utility costs.
- Cyprus leads in solar water heater adoption, with 93.5% of households utilizing this technology, exceeding renewable energy targets.
- The solar water heater market is projected to reach $6.18 billion by 2028, driven by government policies, technological advancements, and consumer demand.
Solar-powered heating systems are becoming more popular as governments encourage a transition away from fossil fuels to renewable alternatives and consumers look for ways to reduce their utility bills. Just like residential solar panels that provide consumers with electricity, solar heaters are being installed in homes around the globe as part of government initiatives as well as privately.
Solar water heating systems include a storage tank and a solar collector. There are two types of systems available: active, which have circulating pumps and controls, and passive, which do not. There are two types of active solar water heating systems: direct circulation systems, which have pumps that circulate household water through the collectors and into the home and indirect circulation systems, which have pumps that circulate non-freezing, heat-transfer fluid through the collectors and a heat exchanger, heating the water that flows into the home. The latter works more effectively in cold climates than the former.
Passive solar water heating systems are generally less expensive than active systems, although not as efficient. However, they can be more reliable and last longer. There are also two basic types of passive systems. The Integral collector-storage passive system has a storage tank covered with a transparent material, which allows the sun to heat the water before delivering it to the plumbing system. Thermosyphon systems work by heating water in a collector on the roof before transporting it to the plumbing system when a hot water faucet is opened. Most of these systems have a 40-gallon capacity.
As they rely on solar power, these systems typically require a backup system for cloudy days and times of high demand. Backups can come in the form of conventional storage water heaters or as part of the solar collector, such as rooftop tanks with thermosyphon systems. Solar water heaters need to be maintained every three to five years and some parts may need replacing every two to 10 years. Once installed, they can massively reduce consumer utility bills, particularly in regions with greater solar irradiance.
In Europe, Cyprus has the largest proportion of solar-powered water heaters. The island country in the eastern Mediterranean Sea is embracing solar heaters to take advantage of its favourable weather conditions, support a green transition,