A Solar hot water system is a smart way to reduce the energy used to heat your household water. It stores energy from the sun for later use like a home battery, but in the form of hot water, helping you minimise your reliance on the grid.

Solar hot water is more affordable than a home battery and considering that water heating makes up about a quarter of an Australian household’s energy use on average¹, going solar is a great decision.. .

Our most popular system is a roof-mounted solar water heater.. However, we often get asked whether you can still have the benefits of solar without the tank on your roof. You definitely can, and in this article, we will explore three great alternative options.

Types of renewable hot water systems without the tank on the roof

1. Split system water heater

In a split system, the storage tank is discreetly placed at ground level and connected to the slim solar collectors installed on the roof. This is a good option if you’d like solar but prefer not to have the tank on the roof.

Why choose a split system?

• Flexibility of tank installation locations, including inside your home if feasible
• Perfect if you have limited roof space or shading issues 
• Less visible from street level

Check out Solahart’s split system range here

2. Solahart PowerStore

If you already have  solar power or are considering it, there is a way to make use of excess energy that your system may produce. Solahart PowerStore, Australia’s first solar-smart electric water heater, captures excess solar energy and turns it into hot water.

Why choose Solahart PowerStore?

• Minimise the amount of power you send back to the grid often for little return
• Get the benefits of a home energy storage system for a lower cost than a battery
• Reduce your energy bills and maximise your solar power investment

Learn more about Solahart PowerStore here

3. Heat pump water heater

If solar is not for you, it doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the benefits of renewable energy. Rather than using the sun’s energy, a heat pump, installed at ground level, draws energy from the surrounding air to heat your water.

Why choose a heat pump?

• Requires no roof space - can be installed in the same location as your previous storage water heater
• If you replace an electric water heater with Solahart Atmos-Frost, you could save up to 64% on your energy consumption²
• Eligible for government financial incentives

Find out more about Solahart Atmos-Frost here

Disclaimers:

1. https://www.energy.gov.au/households/energy-basics-householders as at 13/05/2020.
2. Energy savings of up to 64% shown is based on Australian Government approved TRNSYS simulation modelling of a Solahart Atmos 325HAV heat pump and using a medium load in Zone 3 and apply when replacing an electric water heater. Any savings will vary depending upon your location, type of Solahart system installed, orientation and inclination of the solar collectors, type of water heater being replaced, hot water consumption and fuel tariff. Maximum financial savings off your hot water bill are achievable when replacing an electric water heater on continuous tariff.