Solar Pool Heating Will Save big Time
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In fact, a well designed and installed solar heating system can pay for itself with a ROI within three years.
With low running costs (just the power for a circulating pump) and no maintenance costs from a quality system, the savings on gas or heat pump running costs will very easily be quite substantial over the system's 10 to 20 year life span.
And the best news of all for pool operators is the solar system doesn't have to replace their existing system. The solar works in conjunction with an existing gas or heat pump system, so pool operators have the best of both worlds:
- A solar system providing free heat to their pool (thermostatically controlled to provide just the right amount in summer) and Year round swimming with constant pool temperatures from their gas or heat pump system.
So, how does it work?
Not all commercial pools are the same, with a variety of gas boilers, heat pumps and heat exchangers, together with varying filtration equipment and control mechanisms being used.
However, the procedure for installing a solar system is usually quite simple. If the pool was originally built with separate suction and return limes in preparation for a secondary heating system, the solar design and installation company will use these lines. This keeps the solar system on its own plumbing circuit making control and operation easier.
If separate lines were not provided, the solar system will connect into the existing filtration lines; drawing water from after the filter, pumping this water to the solar panels and returning the now heated water to the filtration lines prior to the any sanitation equipment.
An electronic controller (like a thermostat) will control when the water is pumped to the solar panels. This maximises the heat transfer to the pool water as and when required, and turns the flow off during low solar gain periods. It also turns the solar off when the pool water reaches the pre set maximum temperature so the pool is not over heated.
If required, this same controller can also control the gas or heat pump systems to ensure the best possible energy savings, whilst still ensuring comfortable temperatures for hotel guests during low solar gain times such as the middle of winter.
Environmental savings - Many operators of commercial pools are also becoming aware of the potential of a well designed solar pool heating system to decrease their carbon footprint by lowering their fossil fuel consumption. Not only does it make good economic sense to decrease the use of non-renewable fuels, it demonstrates tremendous environmental responsibility.
A great example of this thinking is the Crowne Plaza Resort in Alice Springs in Australia. Over the past few years this forward thinking hotel has demonstrated a willingness to save on hotel running costs and at the same time reduce its carbon footprint.
As a part of this strategy, hotel management engaged the services of an energy consultant to carry out an energy audit with the aim of reducing energy consumption and costs for the hotel, including their pool heating costs. They determined that a solar heating system would help the hotel with its pool heating expenses and its carbon footprint.
Wayne Greenhill from Heliocol was approached to see what he could do to help. After several visits and consultations, Wayne suggested utilising three pitched roofs and an adjacent flat roof for the installation of a solar pool heating system. Subsequently the solar pool heating was installed as two separate systems utilising two dedicated pumps and solar controllers. This allowed for easier operation and control by the hotel maintenance staff after installation.
The Crowne Plaza also installed the Southern Hemisphere's largest roof mounted PV solar electric system and to further improve sustainability they included into the program, solar water heating, decommissioning of old steam boilers, replacement of inefficient lights and fittings, greater use of re-cycling, installation of water saving devices and improvements to their air-conditioning.
Not all solar systems are the same. Just as all commercial dishwashers, coffee makers and ice machines come in a variety of types, qualities and with differing reputations and guarantees; so too does solar pool heating. If an accommodation provider is considering investing in a solar system for their pool, they should investigate things like:
- the types of product used (plastic, rubber or polypropylene)
- the quality of that product together with its warranty period
- the method of product manufacture and installation
- the quantity of product required to produce the amount of energy needed
- the experience of the designer and the installer
- the reputation of the supplier and the manufacturer.
Peter Haddon
Heliocol Solar P/L
