The system consists of a heat collecting panel and an insulated water storage tank. During the day, the sun shines on the solar panel heating the water. This water rises into the tank because of the principle of thermosiphoning which also causes a displacement effect in the tank. The cold water inside the tank flows into the heat collecting panel to get heated and this process gets repeated until all the water gets heated up. This water is stored in the hot water tank for use later. (This water is available hot the following morning)

Did you know;

• Solar water heating is one of the most practical and proven technologies of utilizing the sun’s energy
• Has zero running costs, offering better value for money
• Is unaffected by power cuts
• Require minimal maintenance
• It taps a safe, clean Inexhaustible energy source

Solar energy helps protect the environment from pollution and damage that other heating can cause, but did you know that unless your solar hot water system is efficient and durable you could be paying unnecessary electric/wood booster costs.

Solar World offers a wide range of solar heating solutions no matter your climatic conditions or area you are leaving in. We have solar systems designed to meet the water conditions and your family’s usage.

Talk to our experts about your family needs and we can workout the best way to help you save up to 95% on water heating costs. Solar World also utilizes the evacuated tube technology for solar water heating systems, this is a well proven water heating technology.

Economic justification of solar water heating
Employing solar energy makes a great deal of economic sense. Research indicates that 50 - 80% of all household electricity bills are consumed by water heating.

Assuming an average electricity bill for a small household consuming 60 gallon of hot water per day; economic projections are as follows (for water heating per month).

Consumption (units)
Cost per unit
Other charges
Total cost per month     300
6.58/-
2,400/-
4,374/-

This translates to an average monthly water-heating bill of KShs 4,374 or KShs 52,488 per year.

A solar heating system of 60 gallon will cost approximately Kshs145,000. If one chooses to install this, it means that there will be a payback period of only two years and a seven months after which the system will effectively be earning the owner at least KShs 50,000 every year!

Why pay more when you could have your solar heater running on absolutely free energy from the sun?

Life Expectancy
Our systems have an expected lifespan of 20 years with minimal maintenance. Our guarantee on the system is 5 years.

For commercial/institutional applications, the system is configured after a site survey.

A standard solar lighting kit consists of:

1. A solar panel/module (mono or polycrystalline) to transform light energy from the sun into electricity
2. A solar deep cycle battery bank to store the power generated by the solar panel
3. A charge controller to protect the battery from over-charge and over discharge
4. An appropriate number of DC lights (fluorescent tubes or U-type energy saving lights)
5. Connecting cables and electrical accessories such as switches, sockets etc
6. An inverter unit incase of a need for AC power from the system

Solar electricity refers electrical current generated by certain surfaces called photovoltaic surfaces when exposed to sunshine. Light energy from the sun consists of energy particles called photons. When photons strike the special photovoltaic surface, they knock of electrons from the material and these electrons can be tapped and used to power lights and other equipment requiring electrical energy. The beauty with solar electricity technology is that it does not comprise of any moving parts and thus can generate electricity continuously for very long time periods.

RENT-A-LIGHT (KODESHA MWANGAZA) PROJECT
OBJECTIVE: To address the need for an affordable modern lighting solution among low-income
communities by eliminating the biggest barrier to adoption of modern lighting solutions – cost, through
use of powerpacks.

RATIONALE: More than 80% of Kenyans, in particular the vulnerable groups living in slum areas lack
access to the national grid and depend primarily on fossil fuels for their lighting needs, leading to
respiratory diseases and environmental hazards associated with indoor air pollution. While there are
several off-grid solutions available to this market including solar energy, the initial cost of these
alternatives prohibits their uptake on a large scale. Addressing the energy needs of this bottom segment
requires innovative service delivery models that increase access to modern energy on a sustainable basis,
while at the same time remain affordable to the vast majority.

INNOVATION/ECPECTED RESULTS: By providing rental Powerpacks, this project makes
electricity affordable for the majority of urban poor, rural households and slum dwellers. The rental
system allows the consumer flexibility of renting a fully charged Powerpack from designated distributors
in the neighborhood without having to invest in an off-grid power source, such as a solar panel. The
project will set up 100 distribution agents and 10 service centers for the Powerpacks to reach
approximately 8,000 households within 18 months. In addition the Powerpack will be used for mobile
charging and powering radios, and it will create a new market concept for portable electrical energy
distribution among the poor in Kenya.

These products while serving consumers have the capacity to bolster local commerce, creat jobs, enhance incomes, clean the air, and improve health, safety, and quality of life. As we prepare to usher in the holiday season, it is our strong belief that someone will consider extending a helping hand to someone in need through provision of a solar lighting kit that will change lives in ways one cannot possibly imagine.

The system is advantageous in that:

* Its safe, clean, quiet and has automatic control
* It is less expensive as compared to a generator and does not emit smoke or noise during operation

Solar World provides power back up system for use during emergencies and when mains electricity fails. Our systems provide power for between two to twelve hours depending on usage (load) and the size of the battery bank. We stock Trace and Out Back Inverter/Chargers, two of the most trusted names when it comes to power back up options. Back up systems are not only meant for where there is a grid connection, they are also ideal for institutions and homes that run generators and that would like to enjoy some peace and quiet. The back up system can be used to halve the time the generator is on saving not only fuel but also noise and air pollution.

A 2400W back up system with 4no 200AH batteries can power up to ten lights and six computers for 6-8 hours.

Wind power has many environmental advantages. There are no air or water emissions; thus wind energy does not contribute to global warming, acid rain or air pollution. Wind turbines do create some noise from the gearbox and the rotating blades. The noise level decreases quickly as distance from the turbine increases. Careful placement of wind systems can mitigate noise concerns.

Globally, wind is the fastest growing of the renewable energy sectors. Over the past decade, global installed capacity increased from 2,500 MW in 1992 to just over 40,000 MW at the end of 2003, at an annual growth rate of near 30%. Most deployed turbines produce electricity about 25% of the time (load factor 25%), but under favourable wind regimes some reach 35% or higher. Wind power is renewable and contributes to greenhouse gas mitigation because it removes energy directly from the atmosphere without producing net emissions of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and methane.

Wind electric generators can be used to power household and institutional needs but often need supplementing with solar or other energy source because they do not produce electricity constantly (it depends on wind patterns).

Solar World also supplies surface DC pumps for pumping surface water and boosting water pressure.

What are its advantages?

1. No kerosene is needed to light a solar lamp, saving you a lot of money.
2. The lamp does not produce any smoke, only clean bright light. It?s very healthy to be near unlike the kerosene lamp.
3. With a solar lamp, you need not be afraid of starting accidental fires. Kerosene lamps can sometimes be very dangerous.
4. The solar lamp is totally quiet unlike some lamps (pressure/gas lamps)
5. The stylish design of our solar lamps blends well with any tastefully designed living space
6. The lantern is environment friendly.

Our ranges of solar lanterns are highly ideal for camping, field excursions, regular home use and as emergency lamps just in case the mains fail.

The torch is powered by 0.45W mono-crystalline solar panel which charges 3PCS of Ni-CD rechargeable batteries.The batteries power 10pcs of super bright Light Emitting Diodes LEDs (17 lumens). The lifespan of the LEDs is 100,000hrs.To power it, unlike with conventional torches, you just expose the solar panel to sunshine and you have all the power you need for free.With a charging time 4-6 hrs of sunshine it can be used for up to 8 hrs.

The advantage of this torch is that once you buy it, you never have to invest in batteries on a regular basis. It’s cheaper in the long run!

The torch is also brighter and more durable and stylish.