What are the Prospects of Solar in Heating and Cooling Systems?

Utilities Tech Outlook | Tuesday, June 20, 2023

Solar-powered heating and cooling systems are becoming viable alternatives to conventional air-conditioning systems, giving new business opportunities to utility companies.

FREMONT, CA: Heating and cooling systems account for around a third of the total energy that households consume according to reports. The possibilities of reducing utility expenditure depend on the development of heating and cooling systems that operate using more alternate, more affordable sources of energy. The recent decline in the prices of solar presents favorable conditions for cost-effective heating and cooling systems in buildings. Solar energy can be power heating and cooling systems in three different ways. There are some basic differences in the way the three techniques work. However, all of them are expected to influence the market for solar energy products.

• Solar Energy Units to Power HVAC Systems

With solar panels and batteries becoming affordable, the market for rooftop solar is continuously growing. The solar energy harnessed through the rooftop installations can easily power the HVAC systems in homes. The demand for solar-powered HVAC will also grow further as customers are eager to join the clean energy revolution. Subsequently, utility companies with expertise in solar technology will benefit as more customers begin to invest in rooftop solar units.

• Solar Thermal Systems

In this case, the thermal energy from the sun is captured and used directly for the purpose of heating and cooling. Be it water heating or air heating and cooling systems, solar energy can easily address the needs. Utility companies have engineered several systems that can effectively leverage the heat accumulated in collectors.

• Passive Systems that Leverage Solar

Passive solar energy systems involve the incorporation of heat harnessing equipment into the building. It does not require the installation of solar panels on the rooftop. Instead, the heat from the sun is harnessed using heat collection systems in window glasses and insulation materials in the walls of buildings. Utility companies today have the opportunity to expand their portfolios to include passive systems for solar-powered heating and cooling.

Since there has been the emergence of commercially viable solar energy systems, a shift to solar-powered heating and cooling is pretty inevitable. Ultimately, the utility companies with the best technologies to harness solar will be benefited.

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