Usage of solar water heaters worldwide.
Solar water heaters since their introduction to the market in the ‘70s, have managed to establish themselves worldwide. In some countries of the world, the use of solar water heaters differs significantly from others as for its operation is necessary that in the country there is enough sunshine.
According to the Technical Chamber of Greece, the total installed surface of collectors for water heating in the EU is estimated with a capacity of up to 2.9GW. Internationally, Cyprus has the highest total thermal power per capita with 554,0 kW per 1000 inhabitants, followed by Israel with 390.9 kW , the islands of Barbados with 323.9 kW, Austria with 314,5kW, and fifth comes Greece with 265.8kW per 1000 inhabitants respectively.
Greece was one of the first countries in the European Union that manufactured solar water heaters as well as one of the biggest. It is estimated that in Greece without solar water heaters it would be necessary to build and operate another thermal power unit with a capacity of at least 600MWth. In our country, there is still a large margin for the adoption of solar water heaters. According to the Hellenic Association of Solar Energy Industries, in Cyprus, where similar environmental and weather conditions prevail, approximately 0.94m² solar collector surface corresponds per inhabitant while in Greece only 0.32m²/inhabitant. Most of these applications are for home use while only 2% are for hotels, industries, and hospitals. That’s how we came to the conclusion that there is a lot of room for more solar water heaters to be installed especially in the industrial sector.
In the US more than 1.5 million homes & businesses today use solar water heating, representing a capacity of over 1000MW of thermal energy production. Another 400MW is likely to be installed in the next 3-5 years according to the US Department of Energy. Assuming that 40% of existing homes in the United States have adequate access to sunlight, it is estimated that a further 29 million solar systems could be installed.
Many countries have made the installation of a solar water heater system mandatory for new residential buildings, while others, such as Greece, subsidize their purchase.
Taking into account these data from different parts of the world, it is obvious that there is still a great potential for development in the field of solar water heaters.
