Off Grid Solar Water Heating

Many people who buy our solar systems do so because they wish to be "off grid". They want to be able to provide power to their homes without being dependent on the usual utility companies. For most people who live in the city, going off grid is not really option because the amount of energy our homes consume is so great that to go off grid would be so expensive it is not really worth doing. Instead city owners are better off supplementing their electric heating system with our solar water heating packages and on-grid PV systems.

There are a growing number of people who want to live off grid, including commercial lodges. Also people living in remote areas can benefit from these systems if their utilities are either unreliable or expensive to run if they are powered by diesel or gas generators.

If you heat your water by propane which has to be trucked in frequently, then you will also find these off grid solar hot water products valuable.

We have two off grid solar water heating solutions.

• Integrated Solar Water Heater - This all- in-one solar water heating system is for seasonal use and is ideal for summer cottages and vacation property. The large insulated double walled stainless steel tank houses the potable water. Vacuum tube collectors are inserted directly into the tank and heat the water inside the storage tank. While these systems are very well insulated, there is a chance of freezing when temperatures drop below freezing and as such they should only be used in when there is little chance of freezing and in Canada are seasonal usage only. However, in the Southern USA and Caribbean this are ideal systems for all year round!

• Solar PV pump and Panel - This is our closed loop Solar Heating System but replaces the RESOL 110 VAC pump station with a Laing DC5 magnetic pump that can be powered directly off a 30 WATT solar panel. The variable speed control works such that as the solar energy increase so does the speed of the pump. This system can be used with glycol in a closed loop and either an exterior heat exchanger or an internal tank heat exchanger.

Both of these products are ideal for Off-Grid because they eliminate the need for the solar water heating system to be connected to the main electricity grid. 

A great example of an Off Grid Solar Water System can be found at Scott Lake Lodge that boarders NWT and Saskatchewan. This high-end fishing lodge went Green in 2010 and converted all its hot tanks powered by Propane to solar hot water heaters using evacuated tubes. Each system is powered by a 30 Watt PV panel. The estimated payback was less than one year because of the high cost required to fly in propane tanks each year.

A great example of an Off Grid Solar Water System can be found at Scott Lake Lodge that boarders NWT and Saskatchewan. This high-end fishing lodge went Green in 2010 and converted all its hot water tanks powered by propane gas to solar hot water heaters using evacuated tubes. Each system is powered by a 30 Watt PV panel. The estimated payback was less than one year because of the high cost required to fly in propane tanks each year.

This commercial lodge feeds up to 40 guest per week and that is a lot of dishes, not to mention the laundry! The main lodge and laundry room received extra collectors to keep up with all the hot water. Customer's appreciate the lodges attention to its environmental impact, and the lodge owners appreciate the energy savings!

And Who said solar does not work in the North?