WHAT IS THE MOST COST-EFFECTIVE?
Solar Thermal is a Smaller system for a smaller price, but with the biggest impact on your bills!
Customer Satisfaction
For best result use hybrid inverter with batteries (add another $2000)
Grid tied (without batteries) is the most popular and cheapest option. Although this limites your power useage to sunlight hours while you are generally at work and not using any appliances. Sending power back to the grid you only get 8c Per KW so this is not an ideal investment option.
WHAT IS THE MOST COST-EFFECTIVE?
Solar Thermal
Install Cost $5500*
*(Based on standard installation)
Get real savings without the big cost!
Solar Thermal is a smaller sized system for a smaller price.
Don’t be fooled by its size, as it delivers, with the biggest impact on your power bills!
Solar hot water stores all the energy collected during the day and keeps it in your hot water cylinder. Then you can use it when you need to use it, just like a battery.
Most houses already have a hot water cylinder, this makes it easy for you to retrofit onto your existing cylinder. You are then able to save on the cost of a new hot water cylinder.
Customer Satisfaction on performance and savings is 97%
Solar Electric
Install Cost $9000*
*(Based on standard installation)
Grid-tied (without batteries) is the most common and cheapest option. Doing this does limit your power usage to sunlight hours while you are generally at work and not using any appliances. Sending power back to the grid you only receive an average of 8c per KW which is a very small amount.
To get the most out of this type of system you need to be using the energy that you are generating at the time it is being generated.
The other option is to have a hybrid inverter and connecting that to the grid and a battery supply so that the inverter sends the power to where it is needed automatically. For this, you can instantly add $3k+ to the cost of your system.
Customer Satisfaction on performance and savings is 74%
The Dream Team
When ‘Going Solar’ the ultimate system with the best results is a fusion of Solar Thermal and Solar PV.
This way you are making the most of both technologies and will be saving the most on your bills. Once solar thermal has taken care of the biggest area of your power consumption, you can then size a Solar PV system to take care of the rest. Depending on your budget, this will be set up with a hybrid inverter system sending excess power to batteries and the grid when needed. Alternatively, you can send excess power back to the grid.
Both
Technologies
Working Together
Compare Solar Thermal Systems
Evacuated Tubes Vs Flat Plate Collectors
Evacuated Tubes
Pros:
• Cost Effective
• Easy to Install
• Works for pool heating
• Perfect for NZ Conditions
• Works well in cold climates
• Can be fitted to your existing Hot Water Cylinder
• Can Heat up to 200°C – High Performance
• Looks good on the roof.
• 1 Person can install
10 Year Warranty
Cons:
• Can have too much hot water if sized wrongly
Flat Plate Collector
Pros:
• Small Panel
• Looks good on the roof when new
• Works for pool heating
Cons:
• Old Technology
• Expensive installation
• Unreliable Above 55°C
• Low Performance during cold months
• Prone to condensation & Corrosion over time
• Uses closed loop for frosty Regions
• takes 2 – 3 people to install
• Shorter life expectancy
• Often get frost damage
KEEPING NEW ZEALAND GREEN
