The Solar Water Heater industry seems set to take off in the Western Cape when new legislation takes effect next month.
At least half of the hot water in new buildings will have to be generated by the efficiency by April 1, according to an amendment to the national regulation of construction and the building standards law.
Denis Barker, Manager of Solaheat, expected this to have a drastic impact on the solar business.
"Today our company is of 80 per cent of households retraining existing and only 20 percent is for new developments." We hope that the reason to change at 50: 50 without any decrease in the contracts for the adaptation ", it said.
"The Government wants to renewable energy to replace 10 000 gigawatt hours of electricity in 2013." The Department of energy estimates that 23 percent of this goal could be achieved through solar water heating. "
Barker has also seen a new support from insurance companies that said they were "beginning to cover the installation of new solar geysers, rather than only covers the replacement of the old electrical when not geysers".
Eskom has a program of discounts for people who install solar water heaters and SolarTech CEO James McCallum said he was happy with this and the regulation of the new building.
"The majority of people want energy independence, which does not fully trust the systems that are in place and I want to be able to function if the network fails," he said.
McCallum said that from the month following anyone build a House would have to submit plans that had new regulations into consideration.
The Government had also put "efforts and resources" in the installation of low pressure solar geysers of water in municipalities and peripheral areas. The panels could now see in Darling, Khayelitsha, Mfuleni and many other areas.
The growth of the industry is exemplified in the large number of companies that have entered the market.
Barker said: "about three years ago there were only around 80 (country) companies that installed solar panels to heat the water, and the total is currently around 300".
Specialists in solar energy power plants renewable juwi has just moved its headquarters SA Cape Town.
Juwi has built more than 1 500 plants of solar energy worldwide, with a total production of about 950 megawatts.
The amendment of the rules of construction which entered into force on 10 November of last year, but the developers have been able to apply for exemptions to moderate the pressure on those who had that there are plans for the construction and designs. As of April 1, the period of exemption will be over.
Solar water heating systems cost between 000 and 000 R16 R24, while the traditional geysers cost between R6 and R9 000 000.
Monthly solar water heating savings vary, but you can count on them to be in excess of R150. Eskom create customers who take advantage of your refund to pay for its facilities with electricity savings over five years.
How to obtain a refund:
By Shaun Smilie
The homeowners who replaced SA electric heating of water systems with solar systems are eligible for Eskom rebates.
To keep the SA demands of energy within their capabilities of the power company SA offers a discount of 280 R3 to R8 964. The discount depends above all on "the kilowatt-hours of electricity that is expected to save on a normal day".
James McCallum, director-general of SolarTech, said that his company has tried about R21 million in refunds of Eskom and "typical domestic systems usually get discounts of about 500 R5".
Within six months of the installation, consumers must send your rebate form, available on the website of Eskom, and within eight weeks, the refund shall be deposited in your bank account.
The discount system has been in place since 2008 and is scheduled to last until 2013. Eskom warns that every year the amount of each repayment will be reduced ", based on the influences of the market".
To qualify for the refund of the system you must have stood the test of the SABS, SA met national standards, be installed by a registered supplier division water heating SA sustainable energy society, has a timer to optimize energy savings and to regulate the use of all the days when there is a power back-up. You must also have at least one five year warranty. -Cape Argus
