Commercial Solar Thermal Water and
Pool Heating Systems

Commercial Solar Thermal Heating (STH) Systems in Texas & Louisiana

Alternative Power Solutions LLC (APS) designs, installs and maintains solar thermal water and pool heating systems for both large and small commercial applications. These systems typically include both storage tanks and solar collectors. Solar heating systems are cost-effective for pool heating, facility space heating, and general facility tap water heating. Solar thermal water and pool heating systems have proven to save commercial facilities millions of dollars in operating cost over their operational lifespan through the use of proper maintenance procedures.

Solar thermal water heating system can offset up to 80% or your water heating cost in commercial applications and extend the life of your water heating boilers.  These systems can be used in some cases to generate process and utility steam.

Solar pool heating can extend your swimming season up to 10 months per year without the use of traditional pool heating systems and offset up to 70% of commercial pool heating cost.

The typical payback period for a commercial solar water heating system is 6 to 8 years, while a solar pool heating system has a typical payback period of 2 to 4 years.

Solar Thermal Water Heating Systems

Water is heated in these systems when sunlight strikes the heat absorber surface of solar collectors which is typically mounted on the roof of your facility. Then, either a heat transfer fluid or actual potable water flows through tubes attached to the absorbers and picks up the absorbed heat. The heated water is stored in a separate preheat tank or a conventional water heater tank until needed.  

Solar water heating systems require a backup system for cloudy days and times of increased demand. Backup is typically done by installing a storage tank with an electric or gas heating system.

Solar Thermal Pool Heating Systems

As already mentioned, a solar pool heating systems can pay for itself in 2 to 4 years. These systems are cost competitive with both gas and heat pump pool heaters, and they have very low annual operating costs. Actually, solar pool heating is the most cost-effective use of solar energy in many climates.
Solar water heating may help qualify a facility as an “Energy Star” facility, or for LEED certification.  The federal government and many state governments offer various tax credits and financial incentives towards the purchase of these systems.

Solar Thermal Collectors for Commercial Applications

APS offers three types of solar collectors for commercial applications:  

• Glazed flat-plate collectors are insulated, weatherproofed boxes that contain a dark absorber plate under one or more tempered glass or plastic (polymer) covers.
  
• Unglazed flat-plate collectors, used for solar pool heating, have a dark absorber plate. They are made of metal or polymer, and are installed without a cover or enclosure.
  
• Evacuated-tube solar collectors feature parallel rows of transparent glass tubes. Each tube contains a glass outer tube and metal absorber tube attached to a fin. The fin's coating absorbs solar energy but inhibits radiant heat loss.

Some Commercial Applications for Solar Heating Systems

Cost of a Commercial Solar Water Heating System

Commercial solar water and pool heating systems installed typically cost from $15,000 to $250,000. Cost depends on a number of variables, including:

For solar pool heating the primary variable is the overall square footage of the pools surface area.

APS offers long term maintenance service contracts on residential solar water and pool heating systems that we install or on existing systems to ensure continual performance beyond standard warranties.

If you are interested in a commercial solar thermal water or pool heating system for your building or facility, please call APS at
  713-981-3875 or complete our Contact Form.