Decision making in solar thermal investment for government partners

Submitted by Dr Karen Surridge
Published 6 years, 6 months ago

SANEDI has been engaging on sustainable, potential renewable energy and energy efficiency solutions for several government departments intensively since October 2017.  This has led to the signing of Memoranda of Agreements to collaborate on specifically identified projects for at least the next 5 years.

Dr Karen Surridge welcomes participants

Initial project prioritisation identified Solar Water Heating (SWH) as a target for implementation, and in October, SANEDI, under the banner of SOLTRAIN, hosted a half day of decision maker seminar training and understanding SWH operating at different scales, followed by a half a day site visit to a large scale solar water heating installation at Wits Junction in Johannesburg.

The first part of the morning session explored an overview of SWH technologies at differing scales and what they can deliver.  This was presented by Dr Karen Surridge (RECORD Centre Manager, SANEDI) and included an understanding of global solar thermal, SWH first principals, thermodynamics, thermosyphon versus pumped systems, different types of applications for solar thermal technologies (e.g. district heating, cooling, drying), and finally, examples of South African solar thermal installations.

This was followed by a presentation by Ms Karin Kritzinger (Senior Researcher CRSES, Stellenbosch University) that focussed on economic aspects and considerations for SWH in South Africa.  Topics covered in order to understand the implications of investing in a SWH system included efficiency curves, user profiles, simulation software as a decision assistance tool, expected capital expenditure on different systems, expected operational expenditure in relation to durability, repair and maintenance, tariffs, return on investment and finally, payback period prediction.

Discussions from the morning session of theory included understanding the relationship between expenditure and energy savings when considering investment in a SWH system.  The scale and what can be delivered by a system to different building types and demands was also of paramount importance in how a system could be engineered to deliver optimal performance in answer to the defined need.

SOLTRAIN+ Bursary – Call closed by end of July 2025

SOLTRAIN+ Bursary – Call closed by end of July 2025

We would like to announce that the rolling call for the next awarding of the SOLTRAIN+ bursary will be closed …

2 weeks ago

Monika Spörk-Dür

SADC Utilisation Training Workshop on Solar Systems and Components - Lilongwe, Malawi

SADC Utilisation Training Workshop on Solar Systems and Components - Lilongwe, Malawi

The first SOLTRAIN+ SADC Utilisation Training Workshop for Experts and Professionals was successfully held from 07–08 April 2025 in Lilongwe, …

2 weeks ago

Selma Festus

Accelerating Energy Security in Southern Africa: Key Highlights from the 2024 SADC Sustainable Energy Week

Accelerating Energy Security in Southern Africa: Key Highlights from the 2024 SADC Sustainable Energy Week

The SADC Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (SACREEE), in collaboration with Botswana’s Ministry of Minerals and Energy and …

2 weeks ago

Selma Festus

The 8th SOLTRAIN+ Conference in Botswana – A Resounding Success

The 8th SOLTRAIN+ Conference in Botswana – A Resounding Success

The 8th SOLTRAIN+ conference, hosted by the Clean Energy Research Centre University of Botswana, a memory gathering of enthusiastic energy …

2 weeks ago

Kevin Nwaigwe

Training on Solar Heat for Industrial Processes in Harare, Zimbabwe and CAFCA Technical Tour

Training on Solar Heat for Industrial Processes in Harare, Zimbabwe and CAFCA Technical Tour

A specialized training course for experts and professionals entitled Solar Heat for Industrial Processes (SHIP) for Industry & Commerce was …

2 weeks ago

Samson Mhlanga

Joint SOLTRAIN+ / IEA SHC Task 69 ‘Solar Heat for 2030’ Week from 23-26 September 2025

Joint SOLTRAIN+ / IEA SHC Task 69 ‘Solar Heat for 2030’ Week from 23-26 September 2025

In Windhoek SOLTRAIN+ and the IEA SHC Task 69 are joining forces for a full week of activities on the …

2 weeks ago

Monika Spörk-Dür

The Experimental Setup of a Side-by-Side Solar Water Heating System at The Namibia Energy Institute Reaches Commissioning Stage

The side-by-side comparison of three solar water heating technologies being installed at the premises of Namibia Energy Institute (NEI) at …

2 weeks ago

Joseph Shigwedha

NUL-ERC & SOLTRAIN+ lead Lesotho’s Solar Revolution

NUL-ERC & SOLTRAIN+ lead Lesotho’s Solar Revolution

As Lesotho is stepping into a brighter, greener future, the SOLTRAIN+ Project and the Energy Research Centre (ERC) at the …

2 weeks ago

Palesa Nkaile

Enhancing Municipal Energy Efficiency: CRSES and City of Cape Town Collaborate on Renewable Solutions for Indoor Heated Swimming Pool

Enhancing Municipal Energy Efficiency: CRSES and City of Cape Town Collaborate on Renewable Solutions for Indoor Heated Swimming Pool

The Centre for Renewable and Sustainable Energy Studies (CRSES) at Stellenbosch University is collaborating with the City of Cape Town’s …

2 weeks ago

Dr. Francois Rozon

Exciting Opportunity for Postgraduate Students: SOLTRAIN+ Rolling Bursary Calls

Exciting Opportunity for Postgraduate Students: SOLTRAIN+ Rolling Bursary Calls

SOLTRAIN+ is offering support for twenty master’s or PhD theses dedicated to the topic of renewable heating and cooling and …

7 months ago

Selma Festus