While this technology is not at all new to the market, there is some confusion about how solar air conditioners work. There are two variations of solar air conditioners; hybrid or off-grid units and solar thermal systems.
Hybrid solar air conditioners work on 48V DC that comes directly from the PV system’s solar panels or the DC side, and this runs the condenser and mid-wall unit. Solar thermal air conditioners use 220V electricity from the inverter or grid.
With so many people looking for energy-efficient air-conditioning, it’s important to understand how each type of solar air conditioner works to determine which is better for you. Let’s explore these two systems in greater detail.
How Do Hybrid Solar Air Conditioners Work
Hybrid or off-grid solar air conditioners, such as the one Solaeris supplies, work using DC electricity generated from the solar panels. The solar panels on the roof are wired directly to the air conditioning power unit and provide DC power as long as there is sunlight or UV.
These solar air conditioners require no electricity as they are specially designed to run from 48V DC, so these are ideal for people who either don’t have a connected grid supply or don’t want one and need the air conditioners running during the day.
These systems are hybrids because they can connect to AC and DC power when the sun goes down or there isn’t enough UV to drive the generation from the solar panels, and here is where the hybrid units come to the energy-saving party.
By running your solar-powered hybrid from solar panels during the day, you can drastically reduce your energy consumption in your home or office. Because this time of the day is peak time for heat and it generates the most energy from the panels, this combination is ideally suited for hybrid solar air conditioners.
When it comes to energy saving, these are the ultimate solution as they use no electricity at all provided there is sufficient sunlight!
Solaeris Solar Air conditioner are also wifi enabled and you can monitor and control them from your smart device.
How Do Solar Thermal Solar Air Conditioners Work
Solar thermal air conditioners run off a different principle than solar hybrid units. Firstly, they use AC power, not DC power, so they need to be connected to a 230V power supply from the inverter or the supplied grid.
While hybrids use PV or photovoltaic energy for their power supply, solar thermal systems use the sun’s heat to reduce the amount of energy they use. They do this by using the sun’s thermal energy or heat energy to drive the refrigerant through the system once it exits the compressor.
They do this using a specialized piece of technology called a Therm-X exchanger, which is mounted on the roof and looks a lot like the evacuated tubes on a solar geyser. The exchanger uses the sun’s heat to heat the refrigerant instead of using electrical energy.
With solar thermal, the condenser unit can run more than one mid-wall unit, and this is why these units are superb for large installations such as offices and large homes, where some multiple rooms or spaces require cooling during the day.
This would usually be done using electricity, and these units have shown they are about 70% more efficient than standard inverter air conditioners.
Hybrid Solar Air Conditioner Vs. Solar Thermal – Cost
Aside from the fact that the solar thermal units require grid power or 230V to operate, their cost is considerably different.
Solar thermal is very expensive to buy, and because you always need the condenser and Therm-X exchanger, you would be in for R40k before you take an indoor unit and installation. To supply and install just one air conditioner in a single room would cost around R60 000 or more as the installation requires a specialized installer.
While the returns on this technology are good and would be a medium to long-term recovery, these are not ideal where people want to reduce their energy consumption in one or two rooms in a home as the cost would be prohibitive.
With solar hybrid, a single 12000 BTU unit is R15900. While you would need to add solar panels – if you didn’t have an existing PV system or require more capacity, you could probably get the panels you need and have them installed for less than half the price of the solar thermal unit.
This is a standard air conditioner and solar panel installation, so no specialized technical knowledge is required for these systems – they are basically ‘plug-n-play’!
Which Solar Air Conditioner Should You Choose
Remember that pricing for these units will always be more expensive than an inverter air conditioner. Still, you have to have a medium to long-term mindset when looking at investing in this technology.
Hybrid solar air conditioners will have a shorter ROI term than solar thermal. These installed in your home will increase the property’s value significantly, especially if you have a solar geyser or other energy-saving products.
Hybrid units will be more efficient for small homes or people looking to cool smaller rooms and spaces, especially where you may be looking to convert to a PV system later. Also, the upfront cost is less for hybrids than for solar thermal.
For more on the cost and savings, check out this article on how much money you can save with a solar air conditioner
About Solaeris Solar Air Conditioners
We have been in the energy game since 2010 and work with a premier supplier of solar air conditioners in South Africa. As a result, we have stock of the 12 000 BTU, 18 000 BTU, and 24 000 BTU units in stock and available from our Centurion warehouse.
We offer delivery and the option to supply solar panels at competitive pricing if you want a one-stop shop.
Conclusion
Solar air conditioners are getting cheaper and becoming more freely available. Considering that air conditioning accounts for a large portion of all energy consumed in your home and worldwide, more people are actively looking to become more energy efficient by using off-grid and hybrid solar air conditioners.
While the upfront costs may be relatively high, the return on investment is excellent. Being able to stay cool in the summer heat, knowing nature is powering your solar air conditioner, is saving you money and the planet too!