(Proceedings, First International Conference on Renewable Energy, 6–8 October 2004, New Delhi, pp. DE-112).
This paper presents the variation in the economics of solar water heating systems based on water usage pattern and location. The auxiliary heating requirement was obtained by computer simulation of the performance of solar water heating system. The simulation was performed using the software Transient System Simulation Program. Two hot water usage patterns and three locations (Pune, Mumbai and Chennai) were selected for the parametric analysis with two different sizes of solar water heaters. Economic analysis included calculation of percentage savings, payback period analysis and cost of unit electricity saved. The results of the exercise indicate that the savings in electricity by solar heating depends on the water usage pattern and the location. The results help in selection of proper size of solar water heating systems. Economical analysis showed 250 lpd was found to be most cost effective for Pune, with payback period about 2.5 years and cost of saved energy about Rs. 1.5/kWh. The cost of energy saved for 250 lpd systems was found to be less than Rs.2/kWh for the patterns and locations selected.
Economics, Water usage pattern, Auxiliary heating requirement, Economic analysis
