Assessing the technical and economic viability of low-cost domestic solar hot water systems (DSHWS) in low-income residential dwellings in Brazil

Helena F. Naspolini and Ricardo Rüther

Renewable Energy, 2012, vol. 48, issue C, 92-99

Abstract: Domestic solar hot water systems (DSHWS) have been used worldwide for many decades. Activities in this area are usually targeting middle- or upper-class residential dwellings, and solar collector design and sizing is carried out aiming at this market. In developing countries of the sunbelt, however, there is a huge potential for low-cost DSHWS in low-income residential dwellings. We have assessed the technical and economic viability of this technology, both from the electric utility's perspective, and from the standpoint of low-income residential consumers. We have analysed data of 12 months of continuous monitoring of a statistically representative sample of consumers at a low-income residential building in Florianopolis – Brazil (27°S, 1550 kWh/m2/year solar irradiation average). We have studied the power consumption of 60 residential units equipped with a commercially available, low-cost DSHWS, and a 30 units control group, where hot water was supplied with the electronic showerhead typical of Brazilian dwellings. Annual electricity savings averaged 38%, and peak-time electricity demand was reduced by 42%. For discount rates of up to 9.5%, this technology is attractive from a utility's perspective for large-scale deployment. The financial benefit from avoided CO2 emissions has limited economic attractiveness, and can only be justified under a large-scale deployment program.

Keywords: Solar water heating; Low-income residents; Benefits; Energy; Financial and emissions (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2012
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (12)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:renene:v:48:y:2012:i:c:p:92-99

DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2012.04.046

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