Solar Water Heating in the US

By Okan Okutgen ’11Summer of Learning

SymposiumOctober 1, 2010

Background

• Host Organization: AltaTerra ResearchA research consultancy that specializes in sustainable business and the commercial marketplace for clean technology solutions

• Location: Palo Alto, California

• Adviser: Dr. Jon GuiceManaging Director of Research

My Internship

• Goal: Prepare a draft report on market overview of solar water heating in North America

• Method:– Extensive research and data collection (past

AltaTerra reports and external publications)– Interviews conducted in InterSolar

NorthAmerica Conference– Regular meetings with my adviser and

constant editing

Solar Water Heating (SWH)• Water heating is the second

most energy intensive activity at homes (US Department of Energy, 2009)

• SWH can heat water up to 140°F to 180°F (60°C-80°C) (Patterson, 2010)

• Back up heater needed (electric or gas)

• Cost: $1.500-3.000 (US Department of Energy, 2008) (US Department of Energy, 2010)

Current State of Solar Water Heating in the US

Solar water heating is not widespread in US due to several reasons:

•Poor product quality in 1970s and 1980s Lack of certifications and standards•Low levels of public support Lack of private investment•Lack of awareness(Guice, 2010)•High up-front costs•Long pay-back times ( ~12 years)(US Department of Energy, 2009)

Source: REN21. 2010. Renewables Global Status Report: 2010 Update (Paris: REN21 Secretariat, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ) GmbH.

California Can be the Next Big Market• Key to the development of SWH market is extensive

government incentive programs.Examples: Austria and Germany

• California Solar Initiative Thermal Program:Displace 585 million therms over the 25 year life of gas backup systems and 275.7 million kWh per year with electric backup systems. (California Public Utilities Commission, 2010)

What I Learnt

• An introduction to renewable energy field and to the Silicon Valley

• Energy problem can be solved only with a holistic approach that includes science, economics and policy.

• Improved research, communication and analytical thinking skills

Bibliography• “California Solar Initiative Thermal Program Handbook.” California Public Utilities

Commission. May, 2010.http://www.cpuc.ca.gov/NR/rdonlyres/E05FAAD0-5867-42E7-8F83-74049585FF37/0/CSIThermal_SingleFamily_Handbook.pdf (Access: 9/16/10)

• Patterson, John. “Solar Hot Water Basics.” Homepower Magazine.http://homepower.com/basics/hotwater/ (Access: 9/16/10)

• “Solar FAQs — Solar Heating.” US Department of Energy. August 13, 2008.http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/solar/cfm/faqs/third_level.cfm/name=Solar%20Heating/cat=The%20Basics (Access: 9/16/10)

• “Solar Water Heater.” US Department of Energy. April 22, 2010. http://www.energysavers.gov/your_home/water_heating/index.cfm/mytopic=12850 (Access: 916/10)

• “Warming Up?: Large-Scale Solar Water Heating in North America.” Guice, Jon, Anneke Hohl & Eric Paul May, 2010http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2010/

05/warming-up-large-scale-solar-water-heating-in-north-america (Access: 9/16/10)

• “Water Heater Market Profile | 2009.” US Department of Energy, September 2009. http://www.drintl.com/HtmlEmail/Water_Heater_Market_Profile_Sept2009.pdf (Access: 9/16/10)