In conversation with Alberto Torner, Head of Ariston Group in the Middle East, Turkey and Caucasus and Ahmad Ali Srouji, Projects Sales Manager, Saudi Arabia
Why has solar energy gained popularity in recent years?
Climate change is a reality that must be recognised. It encompasses not only rising temperatures but also extreme weather events, shifting wildlife populations and habitats, rising seas, and a range of other impacts. As the mercury rises, the climate can change in unexpected ways. Weather can become more extreme. This means major storms, more rain followed by longer and drier droughts – a challenge for growing crops – changes in the ranges in which plants and animals can live, and loss of water supplies that have historically come from glaciers.
The growing concern for the future of the environment we are living in, and the desire to leave a green and healthy world to future generations is creating a shift in the demand from traditional technology towards high-efficiency and renewable products. Modern technologies like solar systems are a perfect solution. They use a clean and renewable source – the sun to heat the water thus giving you maximum comfort while reducing polluting emissions and protecting the environment.
The Ariston Group, a leading brand in thermal comfort, has been proposing alternative energy-efficient solutions worldwide since many years. With its wide range of solar systems (both natural and forced circulation), the Group is capable of offering the right solutions to homes and businesses. This technology minimises energy consumption, saves money and contributes to the fight against climate change.
Why has Saudi Arabia chosen to leverage solar energy?
The National Renewable Energy Program (NREP), a strategic initiative, launched at the direction of His Majesty the King as part of Vision 2030, is working to diversify the national energy mix used in electricity production, increasing the share of natural gas and renewable energy sources to approximately 50% by 2030 while reducing the use of liquid fuel. The Vision also encourages the private sector to increase investment in Saudi Arabia’s renewable energy initiatives. Leveraging solar energy contributes to the Saudi Vision 2030 goal to increase ‘the Kingdom’s share of renewable energy production, achieve a balance in the mix of local energy sources, and fulfil the Kingdom’s obligations towards reducing carbon dioxide emissions’
What projects have solar panels to supplement the energy requirement of water heating?
We started utilising solar energy for water heating requirements of large villas and palaces initially as the owners realised the favourable return on investment due to savings on their electricity bills. New government projects now favour solar energy as it is in line with the Vision of the kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
One such project was for the Ministry of Interior office of Saudi Arabia in Jeddah. The requirement was to satisfy the hot water demand of the main building consisting of many offices and bathrooms. In numbers, the requirement was to set up a solar system that is capable of supplying 3,257 l per day at 60°C, at solar contribution of minimum 60% and the total annual energy requirements of 59,354 kWh. Ariston Middle East installed a solar forced system on the ministry of interior HRH Building along with supporting equipment to generate required temperature for achieving hot water supply in the required areas. The solar system covers around 82.7% of the overall energy consumption significantly reducing CO2 emissions and gas consumption. After it’s successful installation, the Solar system’s annual energy contribution was 51,290 kWh. 13,344 kg CO2 Emissions are avoided and 6,310 m³ of Natural gas savings accrued in the process.
Projects under implementation are British schools phase 1&2, Naif Arab University for Security Sciences, and King Faisal university in Buqaiq.
How much energy do projects that harness solar power save?
The numbers are impressive – savings can be as high as 60 to 75% that could amount to thousands of riyals.
What advantage does the Ariston Group have in this initiative?
Ariston Group products are longer lasting and safer. The special highly transparent toughened glass of the Ariston collectors reflects the incident solar rays to a minimum, thus losing little energy. The solar energy absorbed is also withheld thanks to its prismatic surface, which creates a “greenhouse effect” inside the collector. The maximum efficiency is accompanied by the safety of toughened glass, tested against hail.
Ariston offers a five-year warranty that covers the collector and the cylinder, while the electronic control unit, the pump unit and the accessory kits are guaranteed for two years. Total safety is guaranteed by the solar circuit safety valve and thermostat*, by collector tempered glass and by installation kit robustness. Every single component and the complete solar water heater are carefully and strictly tested on quality, efficiency and performance.
The Sensys, the system interface included in the product, allows an easy navigation and a full control of all the working parameters, displaying the solar fraction, the storage of how water and the energy saving. The preassembled storage offers the best enjoyable design of its category, thanks to the accurate study of the lines, and of the external shape.
Ariston solar products offer several other benefits as well:
- The collector’s solar key mark certifies the compliance with the international standard
- The protech anode guarantees anti-corrosion protection of the internal tank
- The storage’s polyurethane insulation free of CFC & HCFC allows maximum protection against heat losses. The storage can disperse up to 1,5 kWh/24 h (150 lt): one of the lowest value of its category
- The arrangement for an additional expansion vessel makes the product suitable for big solar systems
- The accurate design of the heat exchange surface can provide a big amount of hot water
- In terms of technology, the motorized mixing valve offers the possibility to set the desired temperature
The product quality is enhanced since the air purge valve protects from air accumulation and the preassembled hydraulic safety group protects the storage from high pressure working conditions.
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