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

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  • Naspolini, Helena F.
  • Rüther, Ricardo

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.

Suggested Citation

  • Naspolini, Helena F. & Rüther, Ricardo, 2012. "Assessing the technical and economic viability of low-cost domestic solar hot water systems (DSHWS) in low-income residential dwellings in Brazil," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 48(C), pages 92-99.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:48:y:2012:i:c:p:92-99
    DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2012.04.046
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    2. Naspolini, Helena F. & Rüther, Ricardo, 2019. "Impacts of the active power demand measurement-time resolution on the financial attractiveness of domestic solar hot water systems," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 139(C), pages 336-345.
    3. Yurtsev, Arif & Jenkins, Glenn P., 2016. "Cost-effectiveness analysis of alternative water heater systems operating with unreliable water supplies," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 54(C), pages 174-183.
    4. Mostafaeipour, Ali & Zarezade, Marjan & Goudarzi, Hossein & Rezaei-Shouroki, Mostafa & Qolipour, Mojtaba, 2017. "Investigating the factors on using the solar water heaters for dry arid regions: A case study," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 78(C), pages 157-166.
    5. Filippo Antoniolli, Andrigo & Naspolini, Helena Flávia & de Abreu, João Frederico & Rüther, Ricardo, 2022. "The role and benefits of residential rooftop photovoltaic prosumers in Brazil," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 187(C), pages 204-222.
    6. Naspolini, Helena F. & Rüther, Ricardo, 2016. "The effect of measurement time resolution on the peak time power demand reduction potential of domestic solar hot water systems," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 88(C), pages 325-332.
    7. Vieira, Nathália Duarte Braz & Nogueira, Luiz Augusto Horta & Haddad, Jamil, 2018. "An assessment of CO2 emissions avoided by energy-efficiency programs: A general methodology and a case study in Brazil," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 142(C), pages 702-715.
    8. Camargo Nogueira, Carlos Eduardo & Vidotto, Magno Luiz & Toniazzo, Fernando & Debastiani, Gilson, 2016. "Software for designing solar water heating systems," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 58(C), pages 361-375.
    9. Sowmy, Daniel Setrak & Schiavon Ara, Paulo José & Prado, Racine T.A., 2017. "Uncertainties associated with solar collector efficiency test using an artificial solar simulator," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 108(C), pages 644-651.
    10. López-Ochoa, Luis M. & Verichev, Konstantin & Las-Heras-Casas, Jesús & Carpio, Manuel, 2019. "Solar domestic hot water regulation in the Latin American residential sector with the implementation of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive: The case of Chile," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 188(C).

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