Solar Hot Water And Solar Photovoltaic Hybrid Systems

Water Heating

Main Article: Combined Solar Hot Water and Solar Water Systems

Solar water heaters face the sun to maximize their benefits.

Solar water heaters use sunlight to heat water. Solar water heaters can provide up to 60-70% of domestic hot water use (below 40 degrees Celsius) at low geographic latitudes, with temperatures reaching 60°C. The most common types of solar water heaters [39] are evacuated tube collectors (44%) and glass flat plate collectors (34%), which are commonly used for domestic hot water use. Unglazed plastic collectors (21%) are primarily used for swimming pool heating [40].

In 2007, the total installed capacity of solar water heaters was approximately 154 GW. [41] China is the world leader in deployments with 70 GW installed in 2006 and a long-term target of 210 GW by 2020. [42] Israel and Cyprus are leaders in per capita use of solar hot water systems, with over 90% of households using them. [43] Heating swimming pools in the United States, Canada, and Australia is the dominant application of solar hot water, with an installed capacity of 18 GW in 2005.