Solar pioneers
increases by three to five times and the consumption of hot water and electricity sharply increases there can sometimes be breaks in energy supply. That means that guests may find themselves without hot water and as a result they decide to leave the hotel. Using solar panels is seen as a way of helping to solve such problems and attract regular visitors.
Climactically Ukraine is within the middle
range of solar radiation intensity which means that there is a reasonable opportunity for households to use solar panels. The average annual level of solar radiation per sq m of flat surface varies from 1000 kW in the north of Ukraine to 1400kW in the south. The duration of direct solar radiation per year maintained at 1600 to 1700 h in the north-west, 1900 to 2000 h in the central and eastern regions and 2300 to 2400 h in the south of Ukraine. Consequently, it is Crimea that stands to benefit most from deployment of solar energy systems.
Ukraine solar systems are forecast to
operate with an efficiency of at least 50% and provide reduced water-heating costs from March to November in the southern part of Ukraine and from April to October in the northern part. In summer the panels can deliver 90% and in low season 50% of hot-water supply in private houses.
The payback period for the installation of solar panels is a contentious question. As
long as the equipment is expensive (near E600 to E700 per panel) and the local gas price far lower than in open markets, the payback period will be relatively long. The payback period is typically one calculated by solar panel installation companies - but in practice the real period before payback can be much longer than that advertised. For example, in some offices it is said that you can get a return on the investment in three to four years, but in fact it often takes 30 years. When selling the systems, a customer may be shown attractive figures made on the basis of the solar panel cost, which is often 40% of the total value of the entire system which can include additional transmission equipment, mounting and others elements that are not included. So consumers are advised to calculate carefully, including any hidden costs, before investing in such a project in their own house. But any move to open market pricing of gas, or incentivising renewable energy, would make the proposition far more attractive. UBi
30 solar panels cut hotel heating bills
Payback period for Crimean hotel solar panels: Room number – 200 Hotel occupancy – 75%
Without solar panels
Gas consumption in the high season (from May to October) – 3k cu m pcm Gas consumption in the low season – 2k cu m pcm Total – 302k cu m pa Gas rate – 2 hr per cu m Total – 60,000 hr pa
With solar panels using
Solar heat collection panels and associated equipment, mounting etc. Cost – 500,000 hr Gas consumption in the high season – 10 cu m pcm Gas consumption in the low season – 900 cu m pcm Total – 5.46k cu m pa Gas rate – 1 hr per cu m Total – 5.45k cu m pa Saving – 55k cu m pa Payback period – nine years.
There are plans for at least two more gas price increases by the authorities in order to meet the conditions of International Monetary Fund loans. If these go ahead, the payback period will be reduced to five years.
June 2010 UkraineBusiness insight 19
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