Over 21% of Australian homes now have rooftop solar installed. However, many owners are not maximising the full potential of their solar power system, especially when it comes to cutting their energy bills
Installing a solar power system is a smart way to offset your household electricity costs. The problem is, a large percentage of the energy produced by your solar panels may be sent back to the grid if the energy is generated when it’s not needed, i.e. in the middle of the day. But now there’s a way to maximise the full potential of your solar power system by using this excess power and cutting your energy costs even further.
Designed and built in Australia, Solahart PowerStore is Australia’s first solar-smart electric water heater. Together with a power meter/Gateway, it captures the excess energy from your rooftop solar panels and uses it to heat your water gradually, for use at a later time. Like a battery, it stores energy (in the form of hot water), only it’s a lot more affordable.
Solar panels turn the sun’s rays into electricity. If the power generated is not used immediately, it is sent back to the grid. But Solahart PowerStore harvests this excess power to heat water.
Unlike conventional electric water heaters that use fixed-power heating elements, Solahart PowerStore uses triple-blade heating units designed to match the variable energy delivered from excess solar power.
There are two of these heating units in a Solahart PowerStore tank – one at the bottom, and one towards the top.
The top section of the tank is heated to 60 degrees regardless of the availability of excess solar power.
This process ensures there is hot water even on cloudy days.
When excess solar power is available, it is directed to the top heating unit and then to the bottom, based on the tank’s hot water content.
Heating then continues until the tank reaches its maximum temperature or there is no more excess solar power available.
The Gateway that comes with your Solahart PowerStore complements your PV system by monitoring the solar power you’ve generated and the energy you consume via the atHome portal on your computer or smartphone.
If you subscribe to the Energy Management service, the Gateway will use tariff modelling, knowledge of your home energy usage patterns, and weather forecast data to co-ordinate the use of solar and grid energy, and further reduce your energy bills.
The Energy Management service includes automatic alerts by email and SMS if your energy devices are under-performing. You can rest easy, that thanks to the Combined Energy Gateway, you’re getting the most from your solar system at all times.
Solahart Solar-Ready water heater is a smart choice because it provides an immediate solution to your hot water needs right now and also gives you the flexibility to upgrade and save on your energy costs in the future.
Whether you need a simple solution to get back into hot water quickly, a solar water heater from day one, or the option to upgrade to energy-saving solar in the future, you’re in control.
And no matter which option you choose, enjoy the extra peace of mind with a 10-year cylinder warranty.
1: Solahart Warranty Details: 10/3/2 warranty; 10 year cylinder and collector supply, 3 year cylinder and collector labour, 2 year parts supply including labour; applies to a single family domestic dwelling only. All other applications have a 3/1/1/1 warranty; 3 year cylinder and collector supply, 1 year parts supply, 1 year labour.
2: Energy savings of up to 65% shown is based on Australian Government approved TRNSYS simulation modelling of a Solahart 302L and using a medium load in Zone 3 and apply when replacing an electric water heater. Any savings will vary depending upon your location, type of Solahart system installed, orientation and inclination of the solar collectors, type of water heater being replaced, hot water consumption and fuel tariff. Maximum financial savings off your hot water bill are achievable when replacing an electric water heater on continuous tariff. Refer to solahart.com.au for further information.
3: For a Solahart Solar Hot Water system, each STC represents 1 megawatt-hour (MWh) of electricity displaced over a 10 year period. The number of STC’s which may be created for the installation of an eligible solar water heater varies with the size and model of the solar water heater and the region (or zone) in which the unit is installed. The value of an STC is not fixed and varies depending on market factors.
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At Solahart, we’re proud to be leading Australia’s solar charge. Helping smart Aussies make a real difference to the planet, reducing their reliance on the grid, cutting their energy bills, and connecting them to their smart energy future.
Since 1953, we’ve been the trusted name in Australian solar, installing over a million solar hot water systems in over 70 countries, and over 1 million solar power panels in Australia.
