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Here in Spain, years of bureaucracy held the solar energy market at a stand still. In Europe, countries in the north like Sweden produce 56% of ALL energy consumed by renewable resources including solar. In contrast, Spain’s percentage of solar energy that makes up its total consumption is a meager 5%.
Why? Spain had a tax policy in place since 2012 that made it compulsory for any person or business who uses solar energy to apply it to the main energy framework. They would then have to pay tax on top of any use.
Seems unfair but fret not, legislation has been changing and Spain now has a goal of reaching 100% energy neutrality by 2050. Woo Hoo Go Spain!
In this article we will be discussing the pros and cons of pool heaters that run on Solar energy. What type of system you should have or would need in place to achieve the highest level of benefits. We will also give you a clear path to be more energy neutral while saving money; not to mention the planet.
Most types of electric powered pool heaters will work with a solar system. But, if you are planning a new solar installation, you’d want to have in place or be interested in a modern heat pump pool heater like we sell at Tropical Energy Solutions. Our pool heaters are specially designed to last 15 years or more and are durable enough for whatever the weather throws at it.
The reason solar electricity and our pool heaters work so well together is because of efficiency. Let us explain.
In Spain, the average annual electricity consumption for a home is just over 4,000 kWh according to data from a recent study which you can read here.
If you break this down into usage per hour, you end up with this equation → 4000 kWh per year / 365 days = ~ 11 kWh per day.
* This figure can be verified by your own electricity bill which we would assume per month average to be about 60 to 75 euros here in Spain.
If we break down costs even further, we figure an average home is using:
11 kWh per day / 24 hours = ~ 0.45 kWh per hour or about €2 to €2,50 a day.
Given that a solar system’s goal is to reduce your energy bill costs to zero, that only works if you plan your system accordingly. Extra air conditioners or a pool heater will need to be factored into the solar power plan.
Remember growing up the first time you saw a calculator with those 4 small glass windows on the front of it? When you asked someone what they did and they told you that it powers the calculator, weren’t you just amazed. I remember blocking the light coming with my finger and watching the numbers on the screen dim. It seemed like magic.
Fast forward many years later and now entire houses and factories are powered by the same technology. But how does it work?
Without getting too scientific, solar panels convert light energy into electricity by moving electrons. When light enters a solar panel, the panel moves electrons from one place to another thereby creating electricity. The more movement (sunlight) there is, the more electricity is created. Currently the best solar panels are about 25% efficient, but technology is advancing and we should see more efficient solar panels in the years ahead.
The Valencian coast enjoys over 300 days of sunshine a year. Infact, Spain’s solar energy potential stands as one of the highest in all of Europe. Pool heaters like our heat pump high efficiency models are perfect candidates for your current or future solar transition.
Our pool heaters at peak use an average of 2 kW or about .26¢ per hour. A dedicated solar system will be designed to handle such a load as the solar contractor will try to future proof the system ( haha upsell the system ) to handle any future plans or needs.
In short, if you are planning on exploring the potential cost savings by switching to solar energy, let the contractor know your energy needs, a great contractor will be able to create an energy plan that works for you and your needs.
Now, if you look at the power consumption of our most popular models of pool heaters, you will see that they usually run at peak around 1 kWh. The interesting part of it is our systems are at least twice as efficient than most comparable models on the market. Meaning, your chances of using power in excess of your solar energy production is greatly reduced.
Our pool heating systems have some of the highest COPs or Coefficient of Performance on the market and are readily available for purchase today. Our catalogue will help guide you as to what size pool heater you will need according to the temperature you’d like your pool to be. It will also help any solar technician draft an energy plan and nail your solar installation.
For a link to our 2021 catalogue click here or call us, we would love to help you find the answers you need to be energy neutral.
Most types of electric powered pool heaters will work with a solar system. But, if you are planning a new solar installation, you’d want to have in place or be interested in a modern heat pump pool heater like we sell at Tropical Energy Solutions. Our pool heaters are specially designed to last 15 years or more and are durable enough for whatever the weather throws at it.
The reason solar electricity and our pool heaters work so well together is because of efficiency. Let us explain.
In Spain, the average annual electricity consumption for a home is just over 4,000 kWh according to data from a recent study which you can read here.
If you break this down into usage per hour, you end up with this equation → 4000 kWh per year / 365 days = ~ 11 kWh per day.
* This figure can be verified by your own electricity bill which we would assume per month average to be about 60 to 75 euros here in Spain.
If we break down costs even further, we figure an average home is using:
11 kWh per day / 24 hours = ~ 0.45 kWh per hour or about €2 to €2,50 a day.
Given that a solar system’s goal is to reduce your energy bill costs to zero, that only works if you plan your system accordingly. Extra air conditioners or a pool heater will need to be factored into the solar power plan.
Solar pool heaters that use sunlight to directly heat pool water are a novel idea. On the Costa Blanca, we have 300+ days of sunshine as mentioned above. But, the power of the sun is usually not strong enough to heat pool water sufficiently for year round swimming. If it was, electric pool heaters wouldn’t be on the market. The truth is, while a novel idea and possibly a great solution for seasonal swimming, these types of pool heaters rely only on the sun to heat your pool. What’s more, they tend NOT to add any additional value to a property and are most of the time very unattractive to install.
On the other hand, a heat pump pool heater uses electricity which can be harvested from the sun any time of year. Our units at Tropical run on just pennies an hour and provide TRUE pool heating that is temperature controlled. Our units are all smartphone enabled meaning you have complete control over the water temp and energy consumption from any place in the world.If you would like to learn more about the benefits of having a pool heater, read our article about it here.
Future-proofing is a new term adopted at the height of the consumer electronics age. Oxford’s official definition of future-proof is:
adjective
1. (of a product or system) unlikely to become obsolete.
In short, if you are going to spend money on a product you’re going to want it to last; especially if it costs thousands of euros like a solar panel install or a pool heater.When selecting solar panels, be sure to ask about the efficiency rating. As a rule of thumb, anything over 18% is considered good, while anything over 20% is considered excellent.Solar panels should last for at least 25 years. This is usually enough time for their cost savings to justify the cost of the panels and install.Pool heaters follow the same principles, they should be cost effective, serve your goals and be useful. Our pool heaters have been designed with these three principles in mind. They have the lowest operating costs and highest output compared to any other heaters on the market. Best of all, because of the level of craftsmanship, our pool heaters should last at least 15 years or longer. And, because of our smartphone technology, your pool heater will remain on the cutting edge of easy to use technology.
Is that future proof enough for you? How about pool heaters designed for the road ahead. As stated earlier, Spain is ready to become 100% renewable energy enabled by 2050. What this means is outdated or bloated systems will need to be replaced well before their life-span is complete. So make the smart choice and choose a pool heater from Tropical Energy Solutions. Our friendly sales team and installers are willing to work with your solar energy installers. This way, we are able to design a system that goes well beyond your expectations.
To get in contact, simply click this link or give us a call on +34 665 54 29 21, we’d love to help you find the pool heater that meets your goals and allows you to enjoy tropical pool temps all year round!
On 7th August 2021
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