Technological advancements are driving the growth of the solar water heater market

Solar heating systems are becoming increasingly popular as governments encourage a transition from fossil fuels to renewable alternatives and consumers look for ways to lower their utility bills. Like residential solar panels that provide electricity to consumers, solar water heaters are being installed in homes around the world as part of government initiatives as well as privately.

Solar water heating systems include a storage tank and a solar collector. I am two types of systems available: active, which have circulation 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 collectors and into the house, and indirect circulation systems, which have pumps that circulate non-freezing fluid, heat transfer through collectors and a heat exchanger, heating the water flowing into the house. 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 passive collector-storage system has a storage tank covered with a transparent material, which allows the sun to heat the water before delivering it to the sanitary installation. Hot water systems work by heating water in a collector on the roof before transporting it to the plumbing when a hot water tap is turned on. Most of these systems have a 40 gallon capacity.

Because they rely on solar energy, these systems usually require a backup system for cloudy days and periods of high demand. Backups can come in the form of conventional storage water heaters or as part of the solar collector, such as roof tanks with thermosyphon systems. Solar water heaters should be serviced every three to five years, and some parts may require replacement every two to 10 years. Once installed, they can massively reduce consumers’ utility bills, especially in regions with higher solar irradiance.

In Europe, Cyprus has the highest proportion of solar water heaters. The eastern Mediterranean island nation is adopting solar heaters to take advantage of its favorable weather conditions, support a green transition and help lower energy bills for consumers. Some 93.5% of households now use solar water heaters, which has helped Cypris exceed its renewable energy targets for heating and cooling buildings.

The Environment Commissioner of Cyprus, Charalampos Theopemptou he stated“There are many areas where Cyprus has not met its greenhouse gas emissions targets… But in terms of renewable energy resources used for sustainable heating and cooling of buildings, we have easily met our target, precisely because of the use so extensive of solar energy. water heaters for so many years.”

Cyprus has been using solar water heaters since the 1960s, putting it well ahead of most other countries. The technology has become popular because it only requires solar panels, a tank and copper pipes – as well as the right weather conditions. On average, Cyprus enjoys over 300 days of sunshine per year, making it the perfect environment for technology. The launch of solar heaters has led to the development of a domestic manufacturing industry and the creation of many jobs. Although installation costs have increased over the years, there are EU-funded grants for households wishing to install solar heaters.

In the Middle East and North Africa region, solar water heaters have also grown in popularity in recent years. In September, in Jordan, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Saleh Kharabsheh launched the second phase of the government’s solar heating subsidy program, which covers 30 percent of the cost. The schematic will support the installation 5,000 solar systems at a cost of up to $4.2 million. The previous phase involved the installation of 3,500 solar water heaters.

in egypt three out of four households relied on butane cylinders just a decade ago because there was little access to a grid-connected natural gas supply. In 2023, Egyptians were consuming around 800,000 butane cylinders per day, many of which were subsidized by the government. This has encouraged many households to invest in solar water heaters in recent years. In 2024, the solar water heating market in Egypt is estimated to over 100 million dollarswhile conducting its Solar Heating in Industrial Processes (SHIP) program supported by UNIDO. There are currently 11 solar heater manufacturing operations in Egypt, and the government is looking to strengthen ties with Tunisia and Jordan to further grow the market.

The market value of solar water heater is expected to grow from USD 4.26 billion in 2023 to approx. $6.18 billion by 2028with a compound annual growth rate of 7.4 percent. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest growing region for solar water heaters during this period. Industry growth will be fueled by technological innovation as companies introduce predictive analytics and artificial intelligence into their heaters to improve performance. The market will be largely driven by government policies to shift from fossil fuels to green alternatives, national and regional subsidies for disadvantaged communities, and increased consumer demand to reduce their energy bills.

By Felicity Bradstock for Oilprice.com

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