Potential of Photovoltaics for Water Heating in South Africa

Authors

  • Ognyan Dintchev Tshwane University of Technology, Pretoria, South Africa
  • G.S. Donev Tshwane University of Technology, Pretoria, South Africa
  • J.L. Munda Tshwane University of Technology, Pretoria, South Africa
  • O.M. Popoola Tshwane University of Technology, Pretoria, South Africa
  • M.M. Wesigye Tshwane University of Technology, Pretoria, South Africa
  • S. Worthmann Real Time Energy (Pty) Ltd

Abstract

Electric water heating (EWH) is the most common technology
used to heat water in residential and commercial buildings in the coun-
try of South Africa. Water heating typically accounts for roughly 40% of
the energy consumption of a typical South African home. The high capi-
tal costs of solar thermal water heating (SWH) systems in South Africa
have made implementation of this technology very expensive. Recent
reductions in the costs of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems have made
them economically competitive with conventional electrical systems.
The relatively steady annual electrical generation output of the PV sys-
tems when compared with the seasonal performance of the conventional
SWH has created opportunities for solar PV to capture a larger share of
the local water heating market. This article reviews and assesses the three
primary water heating technologies currently used in South Africa and
provides an energy and financial analysis of each technology.

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Author Biographies

Ognyan Dintchev, Tshwane University of Technology, Pretoria, South Africa

Ognyan Dintchev is an Association of Energy Engineers (AEE)
certified energy manager (CEM) and a certified measurement and
verification professional (CMVP). He is a member of the Institution of
Engineering and Technology (UK) and a registered engineer. He is associated with the Tshwane University of Technology (fUT), faculty of
engineering and the built environment, Centre for Energy and Electric
Power (CEEP). He and his measurement and verification (M&V) team
are contracted by Eskom, South Africa's primary electricity generation
utility. They were involved in measuring, quantifying and reporting the
energy savings of more than 400 Eskom, energy saving and manage-
ment projects in South Africa. E-mail: dintchev@icon.co.za or dintchev-
od@tut.ac.za.

G.S. Donev, Tshwane University of Technology, Pretoria, South Africa

G.S. Donev is an AEE certified energy manager (CEM). He is a
professional engineer with the engineering council of South Africa. He
is associated with the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT), where
he is a senior lecturer in the department of electrical engineering. He is
actively involved in the TUT M&V Team and other energy management
efficiency initiatives. Email: donevGS@tut.ac.za.

J.L. Munda, Tshwane University of Technology, Pretoria, South Africa

J.L. Munda is a professional engineer with the Engineering Coun-
cil of South Africa. He is associated with the Tshwane University of
Technology where he is an associate dean of postgraduate studies, re-
search and innovation. He is a professor in the department of electrical
engineering, faculty of engineering and the built environment. Email:
Munda]L@tut.ac.za.

O.M. Popoola, Tshwane University of Technology, Pretoria, South Africa

O.M. Popoola is a certified measurement and verification profes-
sional (CMVP). He is associated with the Tshwane University of Tech-
nology where he is a senior lecturer at the department of electrical en-
gineering, faculty of engineering and the built environment. He is also
director of the Centre for Energy and Electric Power. Email: popoolao@
tut.ac.za.

M.M. Wesigye, Tshwane University of Technology, Pretoria, South Africa

M.M. Wesigye is an AEE certified energy manager (CEM). He is
associated with the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT), where he
is an engineer at the Centre for Energy and Electric Power. He is actively
involved in the TUT M&V Team and other energy management and ef-
ficiency initiatives. Email: jmmmantis@yahoo.com.

S. Worthmann, Real Time Energy (Pty) Ltd

S. Worthmann is an AEE certified energy manager (CEM) and a
certified measurement and verification professional (CMVP). He is a
professional engineer with the Engineering Council of South Africa. He
is a director of Real Time Energy, Ltd., where he is involved in energy
management and efficiency projects in South Africa and elsewhere.
Email: shaun@rtenergy.co.za.

References

GIZ, South Africa (2015). Long term performance monitoring of a randomly se-

lected group of residential SWH systems under the one million SWH program in

South Africa. Version 1, revision 1. Study supported by DoE GIZ. https:/ /www.

giz.de/ en/ worldwide/ 312.html.

Department of Energy, Republic of South Africa (2015). http:/ /www.energy.gov.

za/ files/ swh_overview2.html.

Eskom (2007). Solar water heating rebate program (2007). www.eskom.co.za.

Kwikot (2015). About Kwikot. http:/ /www.kwikot.co.za/ About.php.

Polysun (2016). Polysun® simulation software. http:/ /www.velasolaris.com/ eng-

lish/ home.html.

Gerserwise (2015). Intelligent energy control. http:/ /www.geyserwise.com.

Galena Hill Systems.

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Published

2023-01-18

How to Cite

Dintchev, O. ., Donev, G. ., Munda, J. ., Popoola, O. ., Wesigye, M. ., & Worthmann, S. . (2023). Potential of Photovoltaics for Water Heating in South Africa. Strategic Planning for Energy and the Environment, 37(4), 22–38. Retrieved from https://journals.riverpublishers.com/index.php/SPEE/article/view/19529

Issue

2018: Vol 37 Iss 4 2017-2018

Section

Articles