Want affordable power? Solar is the way to go for you

The solar Photo Voltaic (PV) and water heater guidelines are already in force. The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) is currently in the process of sensitising the public on the use of solar power in their homes.

According to the energy regulator, the purpose of the solar PV and water regulations 2012 is to ensure, homeowners embrace the use of solar energy in some daily activities like water heating, thus saving on electric energy. and loading whatever is saved onto the main grid for distribution to those who still do not have power.

The solar water heater regulation requires individuals using 100 litres of water or more to install solar water heaters instead of using electricity power for this purpose. 

The regulator, in his calculation assumes every individual uses 30 litres of water daily. This therefore means a home with four people should ideally have a solar water heater in place.

But ERC regulations aside, solar solutions are becoming more convenient and easier to use.

Because of the growing popularity of this source of energy, there are today numerous solar products on the market at quite affordable prices depending on use, the manufacturer, capacity and model. 

But in general, there are solar lighting solutions, water heaters, power back-ups, chargers and generators that are making life much better especially for those in the rural areas who are not yet on the national electricity grid.

Most of the solar water heaters available locally are imported. The price ranges according to capacity.  For instance, a complete 80 litre unit goes for Sh80, 000 and 300 litres, the largest, goes for Sh140,000.

There are also solar generators which come in different models. They are very environmental friendly and don’t make noise unlike the diesel or petrol powered generators we are used to. The system has a capacity of between 500 and 1,000 watts.

The 1,000W SDS is a portable solar charger able to run items such as a TV, laptop, phone chargers, fridge, lights and fans – all at the same time. The generator can be charged by 240vt charger from the mains, 80W folded solar panel, or from a 12 vt cable through the car charger.

The unit has four sockets making it easy to connect a smartphone and listen to music at the same time. It also has safety features like an alarm to detect when the battery is low and requires charging.

There are fuses installed to protect the unit in case a high powered gadget is connected or protect it from blowing. The unit is priced at Sh100, 000.

“It’s a perfect and affordable solution for households.  When there is a power outage, one can continue working on the laptop or watch their favourite TV programme and still keep the lights on,” explains Richenda Eddy, Managing Director, M-Solar Africa.

Apart from generators, one can also install solar PVs and design a system that is used to power everything in the house. A unit that powers a fridge, TV or stereo and three lights cost Sh50,000.

One can add panels and batteries to increase capacity. This system can also be used to pump water from a bore hole. The design and capacity is what is altered to suit the different needs.

Solar chargers are another must-have gadget.  Most basic solar lights or flash lights come with phone charging ports and chargers.

However, there are suppliers with independent solar phone charging systems. In the market, they cost from Sh2, 550. Portable solar charging systems for tablets and laptops are also available.

Lighting

The most common and used of all solar products are basic lighting solutions, the cheapest of which go for Sh10,000 for a 3W unit. It comes complete with three LED lights, phone chargers, battery and solar panel.

There are also superior units with a capacity of 10W and priced competitively at Sh10,500. Vanoji Techology Inc, a Canadian based company supplies this unit in the country. The system has 4 bright LEDs, a maintenance-free battery, phone charging system and 10W solar panel.

Phillips and D-light are among the companies that sell portable solar lamps. Depending on the manufacturer , these sell from Sh1,500.  However, it can only light up one room.

To set up the water heaters, especially in a multiple housing unit, it’s best to centralise the system. The solar collectors (panels) are placed on rooftops while the tanks can either put in the basement or any other ideal space.

Energood EA Ltd and Solaris are among companies supplying the systems. Consumption history is used to determine the capacity of the system or the number of panels required.