[Zimbabwe] Woman in solar - my project journey with CRANO Technology and SOLTRAIN

My project manager once remarked to me that, as a woman, it takes tenacity and bravery to accomplish everything that every male installer in our company does. This was when I was first employed by CRANO Technology after finishing a BEng in Electronics at NUST in 2020.

It was not long after joining that CRANO Technology won a tender to install solar water heating systems at Empandeni High School in Plumtree, Zimbabwe. As the team's only woman member, I was confident that I possessed the required theoretical knowledge, but my practical experience was lacking. In this regard, I welcomed the support of SOLTRAIN who assisted and guided me in the practical implementation of the project.

I had the opportunity to learn more about solar heating systems in practice during the project, calculating the hot water demand of the boarding school and determining that the school needed thirty-one 200 litre systems and thirteen 150 litre systems.

The process also included project management and the fabrication of stands where the systems were to be mounted. This was followed by erecting the stands' mounting structures before I actively participated in mounting the solar systems' frames, tanks, header tanks and evacuated tubes.

Having designed the route for the supply pipes of cold water from the source into the geyser tank, I installed the cold water supply line and the hot water outlet faucet.

The project took four weeks to complete and the SOLTRAIN assistance at CRANO Technology has been an amazing journey and good learning curve for me. My chance to experience practical, real-world situations came from the project's practical training and learning, and I was able to close the gap between the theory I already possessed and how to apply it in practice.

For this, I would like to extend my gratitude to CRANO Technology and SOLTRAIN.

[South Africa] Solar geysers beat the limescale blues in Limpopo

Families and members at Airforce Base Makhado, Limpopo, are reaping the benefits of yet another energy efficiency project - this time, solar geysers designed to reduce the damage of limescale build up and the amount of electricity used to heat water in domestic housing. Piloted as one of the projects implemented through a five-year partnership between the South African National Energy Development Institute (SANEDI) and the military, this installation is part of ongoing research to ensure sustainable energy as well as quantify energy, cost and emissions savings through energy efficient and renewable energy interventions.

Certain parts of South Africa are more prone than others to severe limescale build up on water heating systems, and many consumers are unaware that this raises the costs of heating (electricity) and significantly reduces energy efficiency as well as the lifetime of the hardware. Parts of Limpopo’s natural environment contributes to this issue where “hard water”, containing high mineral content, builds up in geyser and piping hardware that then require more electricity to heat the water. In addition to affecting a geyser’s efficiency for example, the build up eventually damages the geyser and heating element and thus reduces their lifespan.

“What you find is that a geyser that should last for five years, is now only lasting eighteen months or less. The SANDF are helping us build a business case for this technology in high limescale water areas,” says Dr Karen Surridge who is Acting General Manager Energy Efficiency at SANEDI.

The project has kicked off with the installation of 50 indirect high pressure solar water heating systems and seven artisan soldiers were trained to install and maintain these systems. Surridge says the high pressure indirect system specifically deals with limescale risks to household water heating systems. These indirect high pressure solar heating systems will be compared to other heating technologies viz. instantaneous water heating and heat pumps. All these technologies are considered energy efficient over the traditional electrical geyser.

“If you put in a “normal” direct solar water heating system it will simply calcify with limescale just like the electrical heating. Indirect systems work by heating a water-glycol mix (similar to anti-freeze in your car) which runs alongside the normal water and heats it for use. In hot climates like Limpopo, solar water heaters can reach much higher temperatures than what the thermostat of a conventional geyser will allow, meaning that less hot water is needed for use,” says Surridge.

SANEDI has previously quantified the energy cost savings from a similar project at a different military base in Limpopo, albeit at a larger scale, and the “real-life” data are indicating a return on investment in under 3 years acompanied by significant cost, electricity and emissions savings. Over the next five years this, and other technologies implemented in South Africa, will drive sector development and these vital pilot projects will inform business cases to encourage the public and businesses to take advantage of these benefits.

“It is the first time the technology is being tested, at domestic scale, in the area of Limpopo where hard water is so severe. We are looking forward to seeing the results. Proving sustainable and efficient energy technologies fit for purpose is vital in the energy constrained environment in which South Africa finds itself at present. Solar water heating will contribute positively towards reducing electricity demand on the grid, electricity costs to the consumer and emissions acting on climate change,” Surridge added.

Renewable energy technologies like solar water heating store heat for long periods. However, rainy seasons may present several days without sunshine and these systems have back up to ensure hot water is still available. Using less water more efficiently will prove valuable for people around the Limpopo River basin and other areas most at risk to climate change impacts like water insecurity. Promoting water and energy efficiency is an opportunity to adapt to this while enjoying the benefits for households, like cost savings. Most importantly adopting and energy efficient lifestyle can only have a positive outcome for our grid stability and the South African economy.

Adopting any new technologies requires lifestyle changes according to Surridge.

“People will have to adjust their lifestyles but the benefits outweigh any inconvenience. Using hot water sparingly in the evening for example, can ensure that households have hot water through the night until solar technology can again begin heating from the sun in the morning,” Surridge says.

“We are continually sensitising our partners the military, the public, commercial and industrial sectors in sustainable energy efficient behaviour and hardware, and renewable energy technologies that are workable, efficient and affordable for the benefit of all.”

A maintenance and operations plan will ensure that the system keeps running smoothly over the next five years. 

[Botswana] Bankable mass-rollout as part of the Botswana Solar Thermal Technology Roadmap

A bankable solution for the mass roll-out of solar water heaters in Botswana has been devised as part of the Botswana Solar Thermal Technology Roadmap (BSTTR). The scheme involves a 5-year loan with monthly payments of BWP 253 amounting to a total installed cost of around BWP 15 200, making it attractive to both the lenders and end-users alike.

It has been determined that an installation target of around 600 000 m² collector area of good quality products could be achieved through the scheme. This would result in the savings of an estimated 190 000 tonnes of CO₂ emissions using the Tsol analysis software and taking the resultant electricity savings of around  815 400 000 kWh of electricity into account according to the RenSMART calculator. At the Botswana Power Corporation tariff rate for domestic customers, the scheme would amount to a savings of around BWP 1 117 167 000 over the period of the rollout as per the BSTRR.

In terms of job creation, the implementation of the scheme would create between 350 and 500 jobs from 2023 to 2030, including those in manufacturing, design, construction, maintenance and servicing. 

Details of the bankable solution will be presented to stakeholders in the first quarter of 2023 and more details about the proposed scheme can be found at this link.

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