Solar hot water in Australia

rdf:langString Solar hot water in Australia

rdf:langString Solar hot water is water heated using only energy from the Sun. Solar energy heats up large panels called thermal collectors commonly known as solar panels. The energy is transferred through a fluid (often water) to a reservoir tank for storage and subsequent use. It is then used to heat water for commercial or domestic use and also as an energy input for heating and cooling devices and for industrial 'process heat' applications. In domestic solar hot water applications, the thermal collectors can either be coupled together with the hot water storage tank on a rooftop (known as a "close coupled" or "thermosiphon" configuration), or separated from the storage tank, in a "split system" configuration. Solar hot water systems are designed to reduce energy consumption, a significant source of greenhouse gas and carbon emissions. In the case of Victoria, for example, converting from electric to solar hot water could save 20% of the state's total greenhouse gas emissions. Despite an excellent solar resource, the penetration of solar water heaters in the Australian domestic market is only about 4% or 5%, with new dwellings accounting for most sales. During the 1950s, Australia’s Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) carried out world leading research into flat plate solar water heaters. A solar water heater manufacturing industry was subsequently established in Australia and a large proportion of the manufactured product was exported. Four of the original companies are still in business and the manufacturing base has now expanded to 24 companies. Heating of water is the largest single source of greenhouse gas emissions from the average Australian home, accounting for around 28% of home energy use (excluding the family car). The Australian government estimates that installing a climate-friendly solar-powered hot water system can help a family save $300 to $700 of electricity bills each year.