With an average of more than 2,500 hours of sunshine every year, South Africa has the perfect climate for solar panels.
South Africa’s solar radiation output is over twice that of Europe – making it one of the highest in the world – and is the most readily accessible resource available.
South African Solar Water Heating Programme
Water heating accounts for a third to half of the energy use in the average South African household. This comes mainly from electricity. If solar energy replaced electricity for this then it would save the lower income households significant money, whilst saving energy, which will in turn improve the environment in which they live.
A roll-out programme of solar water heaters has started, with the focus on higher income households in Gauteng, the Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal. This program is led by the Central Energy Fund (CEF).
Conclusion
Solar water heaters have many benefits both for the customer and for South Africa. The customer benefits by having a reduced electricity bill and the country benefits because less power has to be generated and so less pollution is generated.
Solar water heaters and photovoltaic solar panels can be used both at residential and commercial buildings.