Tag Archives: solar geyser

  • Written by  Janine Myburgh, President of the Cape Chamber of Commerce

Predictions: Unaffordable increases in future electricity tariffs

The massive cost overruns on Eskom’s new power stations mean huge and unaffordable increases in future electricity tariffs, says the Cape Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

“We are afraid there is no escape from the consequences of the quadrupling in the cost of the Ingula pump storage scheme and the doubling of the costs of the two coal-fired power stations, Medupi and Kusile,” says Janine Myburgh, President of the Chamber.

“To make matters even worse, the cost estimates do not take into account the huge amounts of interest which Eskom has to pay on loans during the construction period. This includes dollar loans which have to be repaid with weakening rands.”

The original cost estimate for Ingula was R8,9bn but this has now ballooned to R36bn. In April 2007 the cost of Medupi was estimated at R69,1bn but in July this year costs were, according to Eskom, R135bn while the cost of Kusile has increased from R80,6bn to R135bn.

“We learn two things from these figures,” says Myburgh.

“One is that electricity from the Medupi and Kusile will cost well over R1 a unit and that costs will continue to rise each year along with the costs of coal, transport and wages.”

“The second thing we learn is that massive cost overruns are normal for big projects and this will also apply to any nuclear build programme. There are many examples from around the world which confirm this.”

Myburgh says the recent study by the CSIR found that the cheapest “new build” option for additional electricity was a combination of wind, PV solar and gas.

“These three technologies are all ‘quick builds’ and their recent history shows projects are completed on time and on budget and they are not subject to the annual costs increases we see in coal-fired power stations,” says Myburgh.

Eskom had now decided that it did not want to buy any more electricity from independent power producers.

“What this means is that the private sector will increasingly turn to roof-top solar which can already compete with the retail price of electricity. Eskom will lose more customers and as the demand for grid electricity declines the case for nuclear power will fall apart.”

End of article

Comments from Solar Juice:

Solar energy vs coal

Solar energy vs coal

Households can lower their electricity consumption:

An electrical geyser contributes between 39% and 50% towards your home’s electrical bill.  This translates to between R390 and R500 per R1000 of your electrical bill.  The biggest saving for South Africa is when we use less electricity during the peak hours (high demand) and we also set the timers to work outside those peak hours.

You contribute towards a healthier South Africa!!

A big THANK YOU to all the households who have switched to solar water heating so far as well as for those in the process of doing so.  To read more about the environmental contribution you make (one installation and 100 installations)….every switch from electricity to solar counts!! Click here

Solar vs coal

Lower your carbon footprint with one step

Solar Juice services include the installation of:

As well as the following services:

  • Service of existing systems (solar geyser, ITS heat pumps, pool heating) ….…. more info
  • Adapt the settings on your geyserwise controller & also show you how to do to it yourself ….

To request a service or an installation quote from us:

Kindly visit https://solarjuice.co.za/request-quote/ or email: Leon.Needham@solarjuice.co.za or call 083 384 3840

Solar Juice: Service area

Western Cape (Cape Town ,Somerset West, Strand, Gordons Bay, Kleinmond, Stellenbosch, Paarl, Franschhoek, Malmesbury,Piketberg, Montagu,  …)  Please ask if unsure

Retrofit electric geyser to solar

Retrofit electric geyser to solar

Retrofit electrical Kwikot geyser with solar

Retrofit electrical Kwikot geyser with solar

We were contacted by a family in Durbanville to provide them with a quote for:  Retrofit electric geyser to solar.

It helps to timeously empower our client with the correct information:

During the onsite evaluation we noticed that certain standards needed to be implemented and that the geyser was also faulty.  When discussing with the owner, he confirmed that the hot water from their geyser was brown although the water running from the cold tap was clear.  We checked with the geyser supplier, Kwikot, who confirmed that the geyser was still under warrantee.  As standards change over time the galvanized drip tray needed to be replaced by a plastic drip tray and a stopcock needed to be installed.

We provided our client with the abovementioned information and Kwikot therefore came prepared to replace the geyser, install the stopcock & the correct drip tray & outlet.  This was done in a very short timeframe.  Please note that the initial installation was not done by Kwikot or ourselves.  Kwikot did the abovementioned work as part of honouring their geyser warrantee as the supplier.

Our client then accepted our quotation to retrofit their new Kwikot electrical geyser with solar.

Continue reading →

Servicing a solar geyser system in Kuils River

Service a solar geyser system…yes or no?

This article is about a *natural flow solar geyser system with a flat panel (as in the picture) which we serviced recently.  The question is to: Service a solar geyser system…yes or no?

*natural flow = thermosiphon (it is where the geyser is located higher than the solar water panel and no pump is required to circulate the water between the geyser and the panel).

After a few years of working hard to harness the sun’s energy to heat your geyser water, various factors may play a role in the continued efficiency of your solar geyser system:

The environment and man may have an impact on the need for a service over time.

  • The sun/birds/squirrels may be working away at the *lagging around the water pipes on the roof;  * lagging is insulation material which limits heat loss.
  • We sometimes find that squirrels and/or rats enter the roof space and damage the Geyserwise controller wires and or lagging within the roof;
  • Dust and other material may collect on the surface of the panel(s) and impact on the absorbtion of the sun’s heat energy;
  • Another factor may be that repairs to the municipal water network may result in debris moving into your solar water panels and impact its efficiency;
  • Just after the installation, the new owners are usually very excited to experment with the different options on the timer and over time they forget and then the settings don’t really suit their needs anymore due to changed circumstances in their household;
  • Maintenance work at the house may result in someone stepping on parts of the solar geyser pipework or other parts and damage occurs;
  • Smaller parts (element, timer, pressure control valve, etc.) may be or become faulty, although we stick to trusted parts from reliable suppliers.

We find that the service requirements differ from area to area due to the weather and environmental differences.  We therefore propose a basic service for our existing clients in order to keep the expenses as low as possible.  If we find that e.g. the lagging need to be replaced, we then first discuss it with the client and get his/her approval to replace it.  The basic service has a fixed cost (if we have to travel quite a distance, we will then discuss additional fuel cost with the client beforehand).

This is a solar geyser system we installed almost 5 years ago.

Continue reading →

Lithos Wine Farm showing the way with solar water heating!!

Location: Somerset West – Old Sir Lowry’s Pass Village Road – Wedderville Country Estate

We like to share our experiences when installing solar for other businesses and also to share information about the service provided by these businesses. The mutual interest is caring for the environment and taking the necessary steps towards a lighter carbon footprint. Today, we share information about Lithos Wine Farm. ‪#‎Solargeyserinstallation‬

You start being impressed with Lithos Wine Farm by first visiting their website (their story, their theme, their soil preparation, …) at www.lithos.co.za.  The second impressive part is driving towards this wine farm which offers you amazing views of the mountains, trees, fynbos vegetation and the sea. The third and most impressive part is their hospitality, award winning wines and amazing environment.  Be warned you won’t be able to resist acquiring some of their divine award winning wines after the cellar tour and wine tasting.

Lithos_Solar geyser Somerset West 1Lithos_Solar geyser Somerset West 3

I first visited Lithos Wine Farm during last year’s Helderberg wine festival and was so impressed with their hospitality, beautiful views and their award winning wines.  I simply had to purchase some of their wine and we keep it for special occasions – and life really offers so many special occasions!!

Lithos_Solar geyser Somerset West 2

You will notice the solar water heating panels on the roof which we installed for them during October 2014.  The solar geysers are hidden inside the roof and the benefit of solar geysers is that they are well insulated against temperature loss.  Both of these installed systems qualify for the Eskom rebate.

 These solar accessories on roofs are excellent indications of a home owner’s commitment towards using more environmentally friendly ways to heat their geyser water. Most of South Africa’s electricity is produced by burning coal, which has a major environmental and health impact.

Kindly contact Lithos Wine Farm at Tel: 021 858 1851 or info@lithos.co.za to book a wine tasting, so that they know to expect you.  Wine tasting can be arranged during the week from 9am to 4pm sildenafil 100mg price.

If you want more information about the solar geyser system installation, kindly contact Leon Needham at Cell: 0788933486, Email: Leon.Needham@SolarJuice.co.za or browse this website for more information.

Solar Juice services include the installation of:

As well as the following services:

  • Service of existing systems (solar geyser, ITS heat pumps, pool heating) ….…. more info
  • Adapt the settings on your geyserwise controller & also show you how to do to it yourself ….

To request a service or quote from us:

Kindly visit https://solarjuice.co.za/request-quote/ or email: Leon.Needham@solarjuice.co.za or call 083 384 3840

Solar Juice: Service area

Western Cape (Cape Town ,Somerset West, Strand, Gordons Bay, Kleinmond, Stellenbosch, Paarl, Franschhoek, Malmesbury,Piketberg, Montagu,  …)  Please ask if unsure

Eskom rebate : Major shift awaits in 2014/2015

Eskom rebate : Major shift awaits in 2014/2015

Solar panels heating the geyser water with the sun’s energy

We have seen various changes since the inception of the rebate (money paid to the consumer by ESKOM) since 2008 and the latest change is expected to have quite an impact on the solar water heating industry. Continue reading →

Solar water heating at Tre Donne Estate (near Somerset West / Sir Lowry’s Pass Village)

A second opportunity!!

A big THANK YOU to our dedicated clients of the past 6 years and new future clients. It is so great when your clients call on you to be of service for a second or third time.

Today’s repeat service: We are installing a solar geyser system near Somerset-West (Tre-donne Estate) for a client who made use of our services first in 2012.

Extract from our client’s previous email: “Dear Leon, You installed a solar geyser at our home in July 2012 and your service was great!! We are now ready to get a quote and discuss the details of a new system for my mum’s house that we are building on the same property”.

Water heating system design: What and how?

The system design depends on:

  • the requirements of the client (hot water consumption, whether the geyser must be outside on the roof or inside the roof, etc) and on
  • the structure of the building (whether the geyser can be located higher than the panels; if there is enough roof space, etc.).
  • Some clients prefer a heat pump while others prefer a solar water heater. 

In this instance, the geyser is located higher (inside the roof), than the panels (outside on the roof). This enables a natural water flow and does not require with a pump.

Solar water heating at Tre Donne Estate (near Somerset West / Sir Lowry's Pass Village)

Solar panel optimally capturing the sun’s energy to store in the geyser water

 

 

 

 

Solar Juice services include the installation of:

As well as the following services:

  • Service of existing systems (solar geyser, ITS heat pumps, pool heating) ….…. more info
  • Adapt the settings on your geyserwise controller & also show you how to do to it yourself ….

To request a service or quote from Solar Juice:

Kindly visit https://solarjuice.co.za/request-quote/ or email: Leon.Needham@solarjuice.co.za or call 083 384 3840

Solar Juice: Service area

Western Cape (Cape Town ,Somerset West, Strand, Gordons Bay, Kleinmond, Stellenbosch, Paarl, Franschhoek, Malmesbury,Piketberg, Montagu,  …)  Please ask if unsure

Which solar water heating system/heat pump to install?

Wellington_solar geyser 1

The solar geyser cheap nba jerseys and heat pump professional installer:

“should recommend temps a system to you, based on your home, family size, hot water usage patterns, location cheap nba jerseys and budget” wholesale nba jerseys (Eskom: 2013).

If your geyser’s size is too small/big for your household’s needs, Professores it will impact negatively on your potential Jesus monthly electricity savings.  We at Solar Juice visit your house/premises (Cape wholesale mlb jerseys Town and surrounds) for a near free on-site discussion and cheap nfl jerseys quotation as was the case with this Kuils installation outside Wellington.

During the installation, we had visitors!!  Small and cute and friendly.

Wellington_bokkies