Techno-Economical Analysis of Built-in-Storage Solar Water Heating System in Pakistan

Energy is an essential element for continued human development and economic growth. Providing adequate and affordable energy is essential for eradicating poverty, improving human welfare, and raising living standards worldwide. For sustainable development, it is crucial to ensure supply of adequate, consistent and secure supply of energy. Renewable energy is being rapidly promoted all over the world due to its distinctive advantages – renewable resources are abundant, inexhaustible and environmentally friendly. Solar water heating is one of the most prominent and fast growing renewable energy technologies. Solar water heating has huge applications within domestic and industrial sectors in Pakistan. This work provides a brief overview of the present energy equation of Pakistan and an analysis of hot water requirements in the country. As part of the presented work a built-in-storage solar water heater of 80 litres capacity has been developed and installed in Pakistan. Results of the installed system have been measured over a period of three months. The monetary and embodied energy payback periods for the installed heating system have respectively been found to be 1.4 years, and 191 days. The Carbon pay back period for the system has been calculated to be equivalent to 176 days. It has also been found that that over the life time of 20 years the solar water heater has a potential of delivering 21.5 MWh of energy thus having a life time saving potential o