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The Sun represents the energy that enables everything else to exist. It is the basic energy of Being…
The fossil fuels that near an end with a dramatic pace and ever multiplying populations that put pressure on these natural resources demand more and more from the SUN-
Ouraset utilizes technology to assist the sun in this difficult task of supplying larger populations with environmentally harmless, economically superior energy.
Ouraset cooperates with the sun, solar institutions and solar products suppliers all around the world to let the SUN BE the ENERGY of OUR FUTURE.
 SAVES THE ENVIRONMENT
When a homeowner decides to tap into solar energy, the use of a single solar thermal collector spares the nature the emission of one to two tons of carbon dioxide every year. Other pollutants, such as sulphur dioxides, carbon monoxide and nitrous oxides are also displaced.
GIVES UNLIMITED ENERGY FOR DECADES
Solar radiation provides us at zero cost with 10,000 times more energy than is actually used worldwide. The sun generates an enormous amount of energy - approximately 1.1 x 10 E20 kilowatt-hours every second. (A kilowatt-hour is the amount of energy needed to power a 100 watt light bulb for ten hours.)
Heating water with solar energy is both practical and economic.
PAYS OFF IN A FEW YEARS
Compact water heater systems, when properly designed pay off in as short as 2 years time. The life of a good-quality solar water heating system can be over 20 years
There are numerous factors that determine the economic viability of solar thermal systems in comparison to other alternatives. One factor is natural conditions. The amount of incident energy per unit area and day depends on a number of factors, e.g.: L atitude, local climate , season of the year.
For instance the average annual global radiation impinging on a horizontal surface amounts to approx. 1000 kWh/m2 in Central Europe, Central Asia, and Canada reach approx. 1700 kWh/m2 in the Mediterranian and to approx. 2200 kWh/m2 in most equatorial regions in African, Oriental, and Australian desert areas.
kWh/m2.day
|
Southern Europe |
Central Europe |
North Europe |
Caribbean |
January |
2,6 |
1,7 |
0,8 |
5,1 |
February |
3,9 |
3,2 |
1,5 |
5,6 |
March |
4,6 |
3,6 |
2,6 |
6,0 |
April |
5,9 |
4,7 |
3,4 |
6,2 |
May |
6,3 |
5,3 |
4,2 |
6,1 |
June |
6,9 |
5,9 |
5,0 |
5,9 |
July |
7,5 |
6,0 |
4,4 |
6,0 |
August |
6,6 |
5,3 |
4,0 |
6,1 |
September |
5,5 |
4,4 |
3,3 |
5,7 |
October |
4,5 |
3,3 |
2,1 |
5,3 |
November |
3,0 |
2,1 |
1,2 |
5,1 |
December |
2,7 |
1,7 |
0,8 |
4,8 |
YEAR |
5,0 |
3,9 |
2,8 |
5,7 |
Another factor that determines the economic viability of solar thermal systems is alternative energy prices.
Conventional Energy Prices (Italy) |
| Date: 2000 |
Residential VAT incl. |
Industry VAT incl. |
Solar energy |
Free |
| Electricity a – normal |
0,20 € /kWh |
0,06 € /kWh |
| Electricity – low rate |
0,15 € /kWh |
0,085 €/kWh |
| Fuel |
0,085 €/kWh |
0,06€/kWh |
| Bottled Gas |
0,075 €/kWh |
0,05 |
| Natural gas |
0,077 €/kWh |
0,051€/kWh |
| Oil |
0,06 € /kWh |
0,035 € /kWh |
| District Heating |
0,08 € /kWh
|
n/a
|
n/a = Not applicable as it is not diffused in industry.
The economic values considered are national averages for consumptions between 500 (low) and 2.500 (normal) kWh year for the domestic sector. For the industrial sector, an average value was considered.
Even in areas like Northern Europe where insolation is low, a solar heating system can provide 50-70% of the hot water demand. In Southern Europe a solar collector is able to cover 70-90% of the hot-water consumption. Heating water with the sun is very practical and cost effective. |
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