Located in the picturesque Blue Mountains of Sydney, the owners have a stunning off-grid property offering B&Bs during the warmer months. Their challenge was to heat the pool efficiently while minimizing the impact on overall electricity consumption. The existing heat pump system was essential for 8 months of continuous pool heating, but used up most of the solar power during the day. This makes home use and battery storage limited in energy. In search of a sustainable solution, the client explored alternatives to enhance pool heating while maintaining the property's aesthetic appeal.
Challenge:
The main goal is to efficiently heat the pool without unnecessarily consuming the existing photovoltaic (PV) system. The current heat pump, while functioning properly, consumes too much electricity, disrupting the overall energy balance of the property. The client sought a solution that would not only ensure that the daily pool temperature was guaranteed, but also retain the remaining solar PV energy and allocate it to more important property needs.
Solution:
After careful analysis, the installation of Suntuf-Pro rigid panel solar pool heating system was determined to be the most suitable solution. The system has been carefully designed to cover twice the size of a swimming pool, guaranteeing powerful and efficient heating. Sturdy rigid panels with a sleek black finish that harmonizes seamlessly with the hotel's aesthetic. These panels not only meet the owner's design vision, but also meet the property's energy efficiency needs.
Outcome:
In August 2023, the Suntuf-Pro rigid panel solar pool heating system was seamlessly integrated into the property. The results were immediate. The customer has witnessed a significant increase in pool temperature without having to rely solely on heat pumps. In a short time after installation, the pool temperature reached a comfortable 30°C, mainly driven by a solar heating system. The integration of the Suntuf-Pro system not only facilitates energy-efficient pool heating, but also reduces the strain on the heat pump. The heat pump has a peak output of 28kW and a COP of 6.12. The Suntuf Pro system has a peak output of 63kW with an equivalent COP of 50. The reduced power, efficiency and load of heat pumps means that excess PV power can now be used for property use and battery storage.
Advantage:
- Net Zero – Restoring Off-Grid Sustainable Living: The Suntuf-Pro system harnesses the abundant solar energy on the property, significantly reducing the heat pump's electricity consumption and freeing up excess energy for battery storage.
- Solar heat storage: Heats the pool's solar energy to 2°C above the heat pump set temperature (30°C and 28°C in this case) so that the pool acts as a heat accumulator. This allows for heat loss at night and minimizes reliance on heat pumps.
- Reduced environmental footprint: Pool heating with renewable solar energy is in line with our customers' sustainability commitments and reduces reliance on non-renewable energy sources.
Conclusion:
The successful integration of the Suntuf-Pro rigid panel solar pool heating system on Blue Mountain properties is a prime example of enabling pool owners to achieve efficient pool heating, optimize photovoltaic power consumption and increase energy self-sufficiency. The combination of solar pool heating and an existing heat pump not only improves pool comfort, but also reduces the load on the heat pump and photovoltaic panels, providing this customer with a more environmentally conscious and self-sufficient method of pool heating.
