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Solar water heater technical defects
Solar water heaters are often promoted as a long-term investment that doesn't cost money. However, this is not entirely true. In reality, these systems still rely heavily on electricity or gas, especially in regions with frequent cloud cover, rain, or snow. Even in sunny areas, the efficiency of solar heating drops significantly during winter and cloudy days. For instance, in Shanghai, where 67% of the days are rainy, up to 70% of the energy used to heat water comes from electricity or gas. This means that the actual electricity consumption of a solar water heater can be higher than that of a heat pump water heater.
Additionally, many solar water heaters in northern regions use an electric antifreeze belt on outdoor pipes, which consumes a significant amount of power. These systems also suffer from structural limitations, such as long hot water pipelines that waste a lot of water each time they are used. A typical 15-meter pipeline can waste about 1.7 kg of water per use, leading to over 4,320 kg of water wasted annually. With more than half of China's cities facing water shortages, this kind of waste is not sustainable or environmentally friendly.
Another major issue is that solar water heaters require a full day of sunlight to heat water, making it difficult to provide consistent hot water throughout the day and night. Users often find themselves without enough hot water during peak hours. Moreover, the solar panels need to be installed on rooftops, which can be bulky, heavy, and damaging to the roof’s waterproof layer. This also affects the building's aesthetics, especially in high-end residential areas.
The so-called "opto-electric complementarity" technology—where an electric heater is added to supplement solar heating—doesn’t work as well as it sounds. Most solar water heaters on the market struggle to function efficiently in winter due to insufficient sunlight. As a result, manufacturers often have to add extra electric heating, increasing both cost and energy usage. The challenge of controlling when to switch to electric heating remains unsolved, leading to unnecessary power consumption and reduced user comfort.
Lastly, the majority of solar water heaters on the market are non-pressurized, meaning they operate by gravity, which makes them inconvenient to use. They only have one pipe for filling and draining, leading to a less comfortable experience compared to modern pressurized systems.
In conclusion, while solar water heaters offer some benefits, their practical limitations and hidden costs make them far from the ideal solution many people believe them to be.