Benefits of solar energy

Greatly reduced pollution

Why not pollution-free? Because it isn’t always. While having much better credentials
than fossil fuel for polluting emissions, the environmental costs of manufacturing and
constructing solar energy appliances must not be forgotten.

Also, consider the wider impacts of burning biomass and of large hydropower schemes.
So, advantages of solar energy are still shadowed by some disadvantages. That’s just the
necessary paradox of life.

Greatly reduced contribution to global warming

One of the greatest advantages of solar energy of course is that there are no carbon
dioxide, methane or other emissions that warm the atmosphere. Again, manufacturing
and installation of solar appliances are necessarily accompanied by some of those
emissions.

Infinite energy resource

Solar energy is not a finite resource as fossil fuels are. While the sun is up there it
constantly produces all the energy we can use.

Reduced maintenance costs

While not maintenance-free -- what technology really is? -- once solar panels, wind- or
water power facilities are in place, no fuel or lubricants need to be supplied.

Falling production costs

The financial costs of producing appliances such as solar cells and solar hot water panels
are falling as technology develops. Comparatively solar energy is competing with fossil
fuels as fossil fuel prices have risen steeply globally in the last few years. Solar energy
technology is becoming increasingly efficient.

Low running costs

With prices of traditional fuels soaring the cost advantages of solar energy are becoming
obvious. After installation of the appliance, solar energy is free.

Local application

Suitable for remote areas that are not connected to energy grids. In some countries solar
panels for domestic use in remote areas are becoming sources for local employment in
manufacture and installation.
Fossil-fuel poor countries can kick their dependency on this energy and spend their funds
on other things through application of solar energy.

Health and safety benefits

In some poorer countries where people have used kerosene and candles for domestic
heating and lighting, respiratory diseases and impaired eyesight have resulted. Many
people have been burned through accidents involving kerosene heating. Solar energy,
especially with excess energy stored for night-time use, overcomes these problems.

Reliability

Among the significant advantages of solar energy is that of reliability. Local application
and independence from a centrally controlled power grid and energy transport
infrastructure is insurance from upheaval through political and economic turmoil.

Advantages of LED Lights

The operational life of current white LED lamps is 100,000 hours. This is 11
years of continuous operation, or 22 years of 50% operation. The long
operational life of an led lamp is a stark contrast to the average life of an
incandescent bulb, which is approximately 5000 hours. If the lighting device
needs to be embedded into a very inaccessible place, using LEDs would virtually
eliminate the need for routine bulb replacement.

There is no comparison between the cost of LED lights vs. traditional

incandescent options. With incandescent bulbs, the true cost of the bulb is the
cost of replacement bulbs and the labor expense and time needed to replace
them. These are significant factors, especially where there are a large number of
installed bulbs. For office buildings and skyscrapers, maintenance costs to
replace bulbs can be enormous. These issues can all be virtually eliminated with
the LED option.

The key strength of LED lighting is reduced power consumption. When designed
properly, an LED circuit will approach 80% efficiency, which means 80% of the
electrical energy is converted to light energy. The remaining 20% is lost as heat
energy. Compare that with incandescent bulbs which operate at about 20%
efficiency (80% of the electrical energy is lost as heat). In real money terms, if a
100 Watt incandescent bulb is used for 1 year, with an electrical cost of 10
cents/kilowatt hour, $88 will be spent on electricity costs. Of the $88 expense,
$70 will have been used to heat the room, not light the room. If an 80% efficient
LED system had been used, the electricity cost would be $23 per year - there
would be a cost savings of $65 on electricity during the year. Realistically the
cost savings would be higher as most incandescent light bulbs blow out within a
year and require replacements whereas LED light bulbs can be used easily for a
decade without burning out.
Our white LED lights currently come in packages which
contain 36 or 48 LED lamps and can be adapted for use
with any power supply or casing. Our clusters allow for
conversion to operate from all common caving batteries,
e.g. FX5/Kirby pack down to two AA cells, in case portability
is needed. We have produced a seven-LED cluster light
source as an alternative to low wattage light bulbs and a
possible portable light source.
The main limitation to the adoption of white LED
lighting as a lighting standard is the current high cost
of led bulbs. Although the cost keeps going down,
LED light bulbs are still expensive. A single AC bulb
(17 LED), replacing a 25 watt incandescent, will cost
about $40. Although LED's are expensive, the cost is
recouped over time and in energy cost savings.
Factor in that it is significantly cheaper to maintain
led lights, the best value comes from commercial
use where maintenance and replacement costs are
expensive. Traffic lights and outdoor signs, for
example, are being switched over to LED's in many cities. Smaller arrays, such
as those in flashlights, headlamps and small task lights are great for specialty
and outdoor use. LED based automotive headlights are current being used in
high end luxury cars.

It will be interesting to see what developments are coming for more residential
applications of LED lights. LED lighting technology has been researched and
developed for the past two decades and we are beginning to see practical
applications from this work. There is already wide spread use of LED traffic signs
and LED headlights where a premium is placed on a reliable light source that is
cheaper and less labor intensive to maintain. We in the industry are certain that
tomorrows LED lights will last longer and consume even less power than todays
energy efficient led light bulbs. LED lighting will be used to replace virtually every
type of light, bulb, and lamp that is currently in use.
LED Street Light Benefits

Key advantages of quality LED street lights include:

• Improved night visibility due to higher color rendering, higher color temperature
and increased illuminance uniformity
• Significantly longer lifespan
• Lower energy consumption
• Reduced maintenance costs
• Instant-on with no run-up or re-strike delays
• No mercury, lead or other known disposable hazards
• Lower environmental footprint
• An opportunity to implement programmable controls (e.g. bi-level lighting)

The advantages of solar power are far-reaching. Although solar power is a relatively new
energy source, it may easily become the most important energy source of the future. This
is because of the many advantages of solar power:

•Solar power is a renewable resource. This means that we are not in danger of depleting
its reserves. Though it may disappear behind clouds momentarily and is unavailable at
night, it generally returns in full force.

•Solar power is non-polluting. Unlike oil, solar power usage does not emit any
greenhouse gases, nor does the acquisition of it harm ecosystems through spills or
dredging. This is probably one of the primary advantages of solar power.

•The energy and heat from the sun is free. Once solar panels or solar thermal collectors
are set up, there are no electrical expenses necessary to power them.

•Solar cells require very little maintenance, greatly because there are no moving parts that
must be maintained.

•Solar cells can last a lifetime.

•Solar power is incredibly versatile. A variety of inventions may be powered by it,

including cars, water heaters, fountains, buildings, and satellites.

•In remote locations, solar power may be a more realistic energy option than running
large lengths of electrical wires to connect to a grid.

Overall, it seems that solar power is simply a more harmonious energy resource. To
obtain other energy sources, there is a requirement of harvesting fossil fuels, animal
matter, or plant matter. Meanwhile, sunlight continually hits the earth in large amounts
regardless of whether it is being utilized as an energy resource or not. Focusing solely on
the application of solar power, instead of its application in addition to seeking out and
obtaining the raw resource, omits an unnecessary step.
Solar power is also an attractive investment due to the added value it gives a home. With
the housing market slowing down considerably a solar power system definitely helps add
to the desirability and resale value of a home. A home with a fixed electric bill from solar
is less expensive to live in, and thus is very appealing to potential buyers.

Along with the advantages of solar power, it is worth remarking upon the disadvantages.
These include sunlight not being a readily available resource in some areas of the world.
Also, solar cells are still not particularly cheap. Of course, technology for this is
improving, and it will continue to improve as the cost of other forms of power increase.

Solar Street Light

Applications:
• Major Roadways
• Residential Streets
• Pedestrian Walkways
• Parking Lots
• Docks and Piers
• Remote and Rural Locations

• High crime areas

Features:
Low-cost installation. No trenching, no heavy cable,
quick and easy installation anywhere.
Ultra-low maintenance and long product life. 25 years
warranty on solar panels and LED/Induction lighting
fixture is rated for 60,000 hours of maintenance free
operation, Sealed deep cycle maintenance free battery.
Green Light Source. 40-70% less power consumption
than other light sources. Our LED/Induction lights emit no
light pollution, provides bright white light which improves
color recognition and improves night visibility from 400%-
1000% over other light sources.
Flexible configuration. Our solar lights can be easily
configured to suite your requirements with solar module,
wind module and battery banks.
Advanced control unit. Our Solar light controller
provides easy configuration, automatic operations and
advanced work modes.
3-5 days backup power for rainy, windless and cloudy
days.
Grid-independent and No Bill to pay. Our Street light
still operates even when the power grid is down, and even
better, there will never be an electricity bill to pay.
Download Street Light Specification sheet

Specifications
Photovoltaic
monocrystalline/polycrystalline
(PV) Module
Energy Storage Sealed, Maintenance Free lead acid battery
Solid State LED Cobra Head Fixture or Electrodeless
Light Source
Induction Cobra Head Fixture
5/10/15A Automatic light controller, automatic
Controller
operation, multi work mode, over charge protection
Light Pole 15-30 Foot Light Pole
Battery Box Water tight lockable battery box

GlobalGreen Solar Street Light vs. Traditional Street Light

Traditional Street Light Solar Street Light
No trenching, no cabling.
One hole, one pole, and your
Average installation cost
light is installed. Lower
Installation range from $2,000 to
installation cost makes the
Cost $15,000 depending on the
solar street light's initial
distance to power source.
investment the same or
lower than traditional lights.
Higher initial investment due
Equipment Average $1,000 less to solar panel, wind turbine,
Cost initial investment energy efficient lighting
fixture and energy storage
Average electricity costs
Running Cost $80 t o $100 per street Free natural power
light annually
Higher maintenance cost. Virtually maintenance Free,
Maintenance Re-lamping 3,000 to Light fixture rated 60,000
5,000 hours hours
Average street light
consumes 550KWH of 100% green renewable
fossil fuel energy per energy from sun and wind.
Environmental annual, which translates to Reduced glare, light
235 kilogram of CO2 trespass, and sky glow. No
emission light glare, light pollution
trespass and pollution
Low color rending and Full spectrum light allows
Security
recognition for better color recognition
Portable light tower relies
Solar counterpart is quiet
Portability on generator noisy,
and maintenance free
requires attention

Solar Powered Lights

Did you know
There are always incentive
programs to help you pay for your
solar lighting projects... more
What's the Advantages of solar
Lighting

• quick, easy, low cost

installation
• energy independence
• no more electricity bills
• long product life
• green light source
• co2 reduction

What's the Applications of solar

Lighting

• street & area lighting

• pedestrian walkways
lighting
• billboard and signs
lighting
• architectural, landscape
lighting
• emergency, construction
site lighting

Other Benefits of Solar Home Systems

Although this report focuses principally on the role for SHSs in climate change
mitigation, other benefits of SHSs make them an attractive candidate for participation in
the CDM (see Part 3). Of course, they also are critical influences on consumer demand
as well as host-country and international support for SHS markets.
Non-GHG Environmental Benefits

In addition to CO2 displacement, decentralized photovoltaic systems offer many

environmental advantages relative to the energy sources they commonly replace in rural
homes (such as kerosene lamps, dry cell batteries, and car batteries charged from a grid
or generator).

Replacing kerosene lamps with solar-powered lights mitigates the risks and health
problems associated with storing and using kerosene. In surveys conducted by India's
Tata Energy Research Institute, people reported eye irritation, coughing, and nasal
problems associated with the use of kerosene lamps.40 In addition to emitting pollutants
with known respiratory impacts (such as carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide, and
hydrocarbons), kerosene lamps are a fire hazard. Furthermore, a substantial number of
children reportedly die of accidental kerosene poisoning every year.41

Solar electric systems often displace dry cell batteries that are used to power radios,
cassette players, and flashlights. Since rural areas generally lack programs for solid waste
management, the incineration or disposal of used dry cells in open dumps or as litter can
contaminate soil and water sources with toxins, including mercury.

Not only are PVs environmentally superior to kerosene and dry cells, they also have
advantages over other electricity supply options. PV modules generate electricity without
emitting local air pollution or acid rain precursor gases, water pollution, or noise. The
modules are typically roof-mounted or require very little ground space, so PV-based rural
electrification also avoids the disruptive land use impacts associated with power lines and
some methods of electricity generation (such as large-scale hydropower).

Since stand-alone PV systems provide electricity without power lines, their use in
protected forest areas and buffer zones can be particularly valuable for ecosystem
preservation. Power-line corridors can open access for the development of forested areas,
change the diversity of species within ecosystems, and cause ecosystem fragmentation.
Furthermore, power-line construction and maintenance activities themselves can be quite
disruptive.

In many developing countries, migration from rural to urban areas is creating tremendous
social and ecological problems. People move to the city for jobs and to gain access to
electricity and other modern amenities. But urban infrastructure often has not kept pace
with population growth. While it is unlikely that electricity alone will stem the tide of
rural to urban migration, it is possible that solar electrification in rural areas can help by
improving the quality of life there.

A negative environmental impact from SHS dissemination can result from the improper
disposal of lead-acid batteries. While careful recycling of lead-acid batteries is the best
way to prevent this, current recycling practices vary substantially by country. As SHSs
become widespread, it will be important to encourage well-managed battery recycling
programs.
In the near term, however, SHS dissemination may actually result in a net reduction in
the rate of battery disposal. Experience from several countries shows that rural
households that regularly charge car batteries are among the first to obtain PV systems.
When deeply discharged in between charges, car batteries may last only about 12 months.
SHS applications give car batteries a more advantageous charge-and-discharge profile
that can potentially extend their life by 50% or more. Furthermore, many SHS
installations use deep-cycle batteries that can last several times longer than car batteries.
Thus although SHS dissemination will likely increase the number of lead-acid batteries in
use, it may decrease the rate of battery disposal until market penetration reaches a level
beyond the estimated 10% of off-grid homes presently using car batteries as an electricity
source. Even then, SHSs may reduce contamination from lead-acid batteries if
dissemination methods such as fee-for-service incorporate aggressive recycling.

Economic and Social Benefits

By many accounts, SHS dissemination and use improves living conditions and can aid in
economic development. Vastly superior lighting from electric lamps by comparison with
kerosene and candles is often described as the most notable quality-of-life improvement-
one that has important educational benefits.42 In addition to lighting, solar electricity
provides the entertainment and education benefits of television access.

Socio-economic impact studies have found that a significant percentage of small PV

systems provide power and light for cottage industries, farm-related activities, and rural
stores. In the Dominican Republic, for example, about 30% of systems were found to
support business activities, often within homes.43 A study of SHSs in India found that
systems extended occupational or business activities into the nighttime in about 40% of
the homes surveyed.44 Examples of numerous "productive use" PV applications are
documented in Solar Photovoltaics for Development Applications.45

Once a workforce of trained technicians gains employment installing small solar electric
systems, the installation of more technically sophisticated PV systems for community and
business applications becomes possible, with added confidence in the availability and
adequacy of local maintenance. In the Dominican Republic, for example, numerous
community and agricultural water pumping systems have been installed by PV
technicians who got their start installing basic home systems.46

Solar Hybrid Inverters

What is solar Hybrid inverter?

A solar hybrid inverter is a type of electrical inverter that is made to change the DC from
photovoltaic array and battery into AC for use with electrical appliances.

If mains and solar power both are available the charging current is taken from both
sources (Solar and Mains) and priority is given to solar. If mains are not available and
solar is available the load will supply through solar as well as battery. If the load is such
that it can be supplied directly through solar panel and the battery will not be discharged.
Other Hybrid inverters are:

Wind hybrid inverters

Grid tie inverters

Why the Hybrid Version?

A purely solar power solution for general lighting load is very expensive as far as initial
investment is concerned. Also, due to frequent power failure, a regular battery backup
UPS / INVERTER barely gets time to charge the battery from mains.

The Hybrid Version combines solar energy and mains utility to give an excellent solution
by providing the best of both worlds. Our hybrid models are designed with extreme
flexibility so that you can add panels as and when required in the future to increase the
percentage sharing of solar power.

Advantages of solar hybrid inverters are:

Cost efficient
Reduced pollution
Low maintenance
Power management
Automatic system

There are many advantages of solar energy. Just consider the advantages of solar energy
over that of oil:

· Solar energy is a renewable resource. Although we cannot utilize the power of the sun at
night or on stormy, cloudy days, etc., we can count on the sun being there the next day,
ready to give us more energy and light. As long as we have the sun, we can have solar
energy (and on the day that we no longer have the sun, you can believe that we will no
longer have ourselves, either).
· Oil, on the other hand, is not renewable. Once it is gone, it is gone. Yes, we may find
another source to tap, but that source may run out, as well.

· Solar cells are totally silent. They can extract energy from the sun without making a
peep. Now imagine the noise that the giant machines used to drill for and pump oil make!

· Solar energy is non-polluting. Of all advantages of solar energy over that of oil, this is,
perhaps, the most important. The burning of oil releases carbon dioxide and other
greenhouse gases and carcinogens into the air.

· Solar cells require very little maintenance (they have no moving parts that will need to
be fixed), and they last a long time.

· Although solar panels or solar lights, etc., may be expensive to buy at the onset, you can
save money in the long run. After all, you do not have to pay for energy from the sun. On
the other hand, all of us are aware of the rising cost of oil.

· Solar powered lights and other solar powered products are also very easy to install. You
do not even need to worry about wires.

As you can see, there are many advantages of solar energy. The advantages of solar
energy range from benefiting your pocketbook to benefiting the environment. There are
actually only a few features of solar energy that can be considered disadvantages.

Here are the disadvantages of solar energy:

· Solar cells/panels, etc. can be very expensive.

· Solar power cannot be created at night.

As you can see the advantages of solar energy create a much longer list that the
disadvantages, and the disadvantages are things that can be improved as technology
improves.

Solar lights and other solar home products are, indeed, environmentally friendly. But you
do not need to consider yourself an environmentalist to realize the benefits of using solar
powered products.

What are some other benefits of solar powered home products? Well, when you use solar
home items, your electricity bills will go down. Why pay outrageous prices for electricity
when you can create your own electricity at home?

Another, less-thought-of benefit is the lack of wiring. If you buy solar lights to light up a
garden path or if you have solar powered water features, you do not have to worry about
installing any wiring. Also, solar garden lights usually have darkness sensors, so you
never even have to worry about turning them on or off. Pretty much, you can pull your
solar lights out of the box, place them where you want them, and then never worry about
them again.

Let us again go over the benefits of solar energy:

· It is environmentally friendly. Solar energy is clean and renewable. It does not pollute
(traditional forms of electrical generation do).

· Solar energy systems require very little maintenance. You do not have to worry about
recurring costs or adding extra fuel, etc.

· When you use solar energy in your home, you will save money in the long run. After all,
energy from the sun is free once you have purchased your solar panels or solar lights, etc.
There are even some financial incentives from the government that can reduce your cost.
And if you do not use as much energy as your solar system uses, you can sell that extra
energy to your utility company. When you use solar energy, you are no longer affected
by the supply and demand of regular fuel.

· Power outages will not affect you if you have a full solar system in your home. When
you use solar energy, you lessen your dependence on both centralized and foreign sources
of energy.

· Many solar systems (especially outdoor solar lights and outdoor solar water features,
etc.) are very easy to install and require no wiring.

Of course, there are some disadvantages to having a solar home. Namely, a solar energy
system can be expensive (but remember, after even a relatively short time of use, it can
pay for itself). Also, depending on where your home is located in relation to the sun and
how large of an area you have to install solar panels, solar power pay not work as well for
you and your home.

FAQ Water Heater

1. What happens during the monsoons or days with no sunlight?

ETC tubes absorb heat from the infra-red rays of solar radiation and not from the visible
light rays. Consequently, the system performs well even during cloudy, foggy and rainy
days. Moreover, to ensure that you never run out of hot water, all our solar water heaters
have optional back –up electric boosters which are activated only if the hot water drops
below your specified temperature. Our solar water heaters ensure you have hot water 24
hours a day, everyday.

2. Will I have hot water at 7 a.m. in the morning?

Due to high vacuum of our vacuum tubes and the thick PUF insulation of the water tank,
the water stays hot through the night, ensuring that you have hot water the first thing
when you wake up.

3. What if my area has hard water?

Due to the smoothness of the glass tube, the surface is not easily susceptible to scaling.
Also, the large diameter of the tubes ensures that minor scaling does not impede the
efficiency of the system.

4. What if I have high pressure bath fittings such as rain showers, Jacuzzis or body jets?

We have a range of pressurised systems available to cater to high pressure bath fittings.

5. How do I integrate the heater with my current plumbing system without any breakage?

Our system is very easy to install and integrate with all kinds of existing plumbing
systems without any breakage to existing plumbing. Our installation experts will visit
your site and provide you with a detailed plan on how the system can meet your
requirements.

6. How does use of solar water heater help the environment?

A 100 litre system, the average size of a household of 3 - 4 people, can prevent emissions
of 0.4 to 1.0 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year. The reduction in emissions of carbon
dioxide (one of the major green house gases) can positively help in slowing down the
pace of global warming.

Moreover, using a commercially and technically viable technology using sun to heat up
water can help ease burden on our overloaded electricity supply system, and also free
other limited energy sources like fossil fuels which can be used elsewhere.

7. What is the payback period?

A very sizable amount, which can be as high as 40% of an average household’s

electricity bill goes towards heating water, depending upon your usage pattern, fuel
replaced and electricity tariff in your area. So, payback will vary because of above
factors. But on an average, the payback period:

• About 3 years when electricity is replaced

• 4 years when furnace oil is replaced

• 6 years when coal is replaced

This calculation does not take into account rebates or subsidized loans. If you avail of an
incentive, the payback period will be significantly reduced.

After you recover your initial investment, the savings are yours to spend on yourself and
your family, year after year.

8. What rebates/incentives are available?

The central government has provided soft loans for solar water heater users. The details
of soft loan are as given on the following page:

a. Domestic: 2% p.a.

b. Institutions: 3% p.a.

c. Commercials: 5% p.a.

Additionally each state government has different incentives such as loans and rebates for
solar water heater users. Please contact us to learn of the benefits applicable to you.

9. What are the maintenance requirements?

ETC based solar water heaters do not need significant maintenance. The collector tubes
may need annual cleaning to remove accumulated scale and sediment deposits at the
bottom.

10. What is the expected life of a solar water heater?

ETC based solar water heaters can last for 20-25 years.

11. Can the glass tubes withstand hail stones?

The glass used to make these tubes is not ordinary glass but very strong boro-silicate
glass, which enables the tubes to resist hail stones as big as 25 mm (1 inch) diameter size.

12. Can these systems be installed on sloping roofs?

Yes, the systems can be installed on sloping roofs as well as the flat roofs, subject to the
direction of slope and un-obstructed sunshine.

13. The sizes offered by you are in multiples of 100 litres. What if I prefer some other
size like 150 litres?

Normally, we have ready stocks of the standard sizes in multiples of 100 litres. Special
sizes can be made on request and will take more delivery time.

14. What shall I do in case some tube breaks? Can I replace the broken tube myself?

The broken tube will have to be replaced by our team. In case of water leaking out of the
system from broken tube, please shut the inlet and outlet valves and inform us at the
earliest so that your system can be put in order without any delay.

15. Are additional geysers required after installation of Solar Water Heating System?

The Solar Water Heating System has inbuilt option of electrical back-up, and so no extra
geysers are required in the bathrooms.

16. How much area is required for the installation of Solar Water Heating System?

The ETC based Solar Water Heating System requires very less area for installation. For
example, for a 100 LPD system suitable for a small family of 2 to 3 persons, about ‘6 feet
x 6 feet’ area is required. Add 6 feet lengthwise for additional 100 LPD capacities,
generally speaking.

17. If different use points are scattered and the capacity required is large how can I
minimise the wastage of hot water in the pipelines?

In such a case, instead of a single large system, a number of smaller systems can be
installed which have same total capacity as desired. These systems can be placed at
locations closer to the use points, thus minimising the piping cost and the wastage of hot
water too.

18. Why ‘new’ ETC (Evacuated Tube Collector) Technology is better than the ‘old’ FPC
(Flat Plate Collector) Technology?

The ETC technology is almost a decade old and thus not so new! This technology, though
much superior and suitable than FPC technology, could not take-off being more
expensive than FPC technology. If you see the comparison chart below, it will be obvious
that the only advantage FPC ever had over ETC was lesser price. But NOWADAYS,
with recent worldwide advances in mass production techniques of evacuated tubes, ETC
based systems are more cost effective than their FPC counterparts. In other words, FPC
systems are as obsolete as typewriters in the computer age.
Electra Features
• High thermal output with extra heat retention
• Eco Friendly
• Hot water even in winter and partially cloudy days
• Electrical backup heater for additional capicity
• Low maintence & easy to clean
• High temerature sustainability with longer life
• MNRE approved
• Attractive finance available @ 2% per annum*.

Capacity in LPD
No. No. of Persons*
(Ltrs/day)
1 3 100
2 4 150
3 6 200
4 9 300
5 14 500

General questions

- What are the advantages of solar energy?

Solar energy is a natural auxiliary energy:

- silent and non-polluting (no impact on the environment)

- free and economical
- it can be used easily for lasting heat comfort in summer and winter, with extra heating
provided by another energy if necessary: electricity, gas, fuel oil or other energies.
It can also reduce CO² emissions and thus combat the greenhouse effect and global
warming.

- What energy savings can I expect from a solar installation?

This depends on many criteria (direction of the panels, climatic conditions, etc.). You can
obtain more detailed information from your local installer.

- Does the solar installation work if the weather is not sunny?

Yes, absolutely: even with cloud cover, energy from the sun is recovered by the solar
installation. This energy is not sufficient, but savings are still made. You must ensure that
the panels are facing due south without any shadow being cast by trees or buildings.

- Must the solar installation be switched off during a long

absence?

No. The station must remain powered up; only the electric heater can be switched off.
This means that the safety systems for preventing overheating can be activated. In
countries with high insolation, it is recommended that the panels be covered to prevent
this situation.

Questions about the solar water heater

- What does a solar water heater comprise?

A solar water heater features three elements: the collectors, the tank and the solar station.

- What is the average lifetime of a solar water heater?

It is the same as an electric water heater, namely 10 to 15 years.

- What is the temperature of the mixing valve and its function?

The temperature mixing valve at the output of the tank is preset to 50°C in the factory. It
can be reset from 45 to 65°C. It is a safety valve for the user, and prevents very hot water
above 65°C from being supplied.
- Is it necessary to overdesign a solar water heater with respect
to a conventional electric water heater?

This depends on the country, the insolation, habits of using hot water and the operation of
the electric heater or boiler.

Within the context of operating on night-time electricity in areas of moderate insolation,

solar water heaters must be overdesigned.

Important note: the surface of the collectors must be overdesigned to prevent any early
malfunction and/or ageing.

Questions about the collectors

- How do the collectors work?

The collectors absorb the energy of the sun's rays and supply it in the form of heat. This
heat raises the temperature of a heat transmitting fluid, which circulates from the sensors
to a water storage tank and passes through a solar station (closed circuit).

- What is the average lifetime of the collectors?

More than 15 years.

- What type of collectors does Atlantic use?

The solar collectors of the Atlantic range are high yield flat collectors featuring a high-
strength glass with a low level of iron and an absorber with a high absorption power for
improved recovery of energy.

- What are the installation conditions of the collectors so as to

increase energy savings?

The energy coverage rate of a solar water heater depends chiefly on:

1) The orientation of the house: the best orientation for solar collectors if directly south.

2) Solar mask: these are the shadows cast by a building, a tree or a wall that mask the
sensors from the sun.

3) The number of collectors installed (depending on the insulation rate). However, care
must be taken to avoid overheating: if the number of panels is overdesigned, the overall
installation will be damaged.
4) The inclination of the panel that depends on the location of the country with respect to
the equator (e.g. the ideal value for France is 45°), but performances are hardly affected
at all if the inclination is greater than 15°.

- How frequently do the collectors have to be cleaned?

They do not have to be cleaned, as the glass is self-cleaning. In extremely polluted

regions or areas of sandy or dusty wind, they can be cleaned with a just a cloth once a
year to remove any dust, but this is not mandatory.

- What do you recommend if snow covers the collectors?

We recommend that you do nothing: the collector can bear the snow, which will have a
tendency to slide on the glass. The snow will melt rapidly as soon as a black section is
exposed.

- What are the risks in extreme weather (storms and hail)?

The strength of the sensors complies with the technical notices of the organisation
(CSTB) that approves all roofing and attachment elements. ATLANTIC’s systems are
designed to resist extreme weather. The instructions of the manuals must be followed, in
particular concerning the ballasting of the panels on frames.

- Is there a risk of burning related to collectors on frames

(children playing nearby)?

There is a risk with regard to the connection, but they must be insulated. The energy
recovered heats the metal parts. We recommend placing the panels out of the reach of
children. For any operations carried out on the panels, it is essential to take the necessary
safety measure (gloves, checking the temperature of the panels, etc.).

- Can the Twin-Tubes (optional accessories) be buried for a frame installation, for
example?

Yes, but in a PVC type conduit.

Questions about the solar station

- How does the solar station work?

The solar station is the real nerve centre of the installation. It manages the installation and
controls the operation of the pump designed to transfer the heat absorbed by the
collectors to the tank.

If the collectors overheat, can the safety relief valve evacuate the vaporisation of glycol?

No. The safety relief valve only operates in the event of collector malfunction (faulty
expansion vessel, flow pressure too high). The normal pressure is 3 bars. In the event of
boiling, it is the expansion vessel that receives the coolant liquid.

- In which situations is glycol vaporised?

Glycol is vaporised in the event of strong insolation, with little or no water drawn. It can
also be vaporised if the installation is poorly designed (tank volume/collector surface
ratio).

Operation in the event of boiling of the collector:

o When the tank is at 65°C, the heat regulation stops the pump.
o The collector can rise to 120°C. In this case, the pump is started up and the tank is
allowed to rise to 80°C.
o When the tank is at the maximum of 80°C, the pump is stopped and in this case, the
collector can rise in T°.
o Toward 140°, it starts boiling and the glycol is vaporised. The entire content enters
the expansion vessel, which is designed for this purpose.
o To prevent the installation from emptying each time it reaches the boiling point, it is
prohibited to fit an automatic bleed that is not isolated by a valve at the outlet of the
sensor.
o Once vaporised, the collector can rise up to 200°C.
o At the end of the insolation, the collector condenses and the liquid returns.

- Does the heat transmitting fluid have to be replaced every 2

years?

No, it only has to be checked every 2 years to verify the quality of the antifreeze and its
anti-corrosion quality. If it has boiled many times owing to a poorly designed installation,
the fluid can become acidic and damage the installation.

If a problem with the station arises, does the station have to be entirely replaced?

Each component of the station can be removed easily and replaced.

Is there a fault indicator?

No, only the regulation display can be used to monitor any faults on the LCD screen.

Technical questions on the installation

- Are any special tools required to install the system (special
wrenches, etc.)?

The solar installation must be fitted by a professional. The system is assembled with a
standard set of tools. However, wrenches must be provided.

- Does the installation have to be rinsed before it is filled with

glycol?

Yes, it must be rinsed. The rinsing must be carried out exclusively with the coolant fluid
used for the filling.

- Are there any water heater/collector links included in the

Atlantic Packs?

No, the links are accessories (Twin Tubes).

Atlantic supplies a set of tubes up to the passage of the roof.

- The solar water heater pack contains all the material, including the coolant fluid and the
thermostatic mixing valve, depending on the models.

Apart from some references, the safety valve protecting against overpressure in the tank
is not generally provided. Please consult us to obtain more information.

- The collector pack comprises all the material mounted on the roof, including 1 m of
connection hose (to pass through the roof), the bleed, and the sensor with 1 m of cable.

Only the ventilation hole tiles are absent for the roof models.

Between these elements, a connection must be made using Twin Tubes (easy but
expensive solution) or conventionally by using copper insulated by the installer.

- Can the solar seals be used again after the first tightening?

It is advisable to change the seals if the installation has been in operation.

- Can the system be installed outside of the habitable volume?

Yes, for example in sheltered room such as a garage type or a thermal facility on a
terrace.
In Northern countries or ones with a temperate climate, we recommend that the piping be
insulated to enable the best possible recovery of energy.
- Can an automatic bleed be fitted instead of the manual bleed
supplied with the collectors?

An automatic bleed at the top of the installation can be a source of major problems in the
event of boiling. Some of the glycol could be evacuated from the system (risk of
additional overheating and damage to the installation). Using a specific solar automatic
bleed involves fitting a bleed isolation valve. The valve must be closed after filling and
setting the mode.