Going solar for electricity and for the swimming pool

[solateur]

Hello,
I am absolute amateur (solateur) when it comes to Solar power installs. I live in East bay, CA (Tri-valley area). I have a swimming pool which is currently not heated. In the long run I have plans to install solar panels on my roof top for electricity as well as for heating my swimming pool. I want to achieve this the most cost effective way. I am not sure if there are any pool heaters available in the market which would work with the solar panels I would install to generate electricity and if there are such heaters available are they really cost effective? or is it still cost effective to have two separate solar systems for generating electricity and heating up my swimming pool?
Thanks in advance for your response.

[Sunking]

It will take two separate systems. Photovoltaics for electricity, and Solar Thermal for heat. Problem you will have is meeting code requirements to maintain appropriate separation distances as water and electricity do not mix. It is going to take a very large home with south facing roof.

[solateur]

Hi Sunking,
Thanks for your response. In that case, is it possible to use electrical heater for the pool that could use electricity generated by photovoltaics or the cost to benefit ratio is not favorable?

[inetdog]

Hi Sunking,
Thanks for your response. In that case, is it possible to use electrical heater for the pool that could use electricity generated by photovoltaics or the cost to benefit ratio is not favorable?

We shall see what Sunking has to say, but I think that there is a good chance that the cost to benefit ratio will be far better if you do use the solar thermal panels for heat and use utility power to run the pumps.

Any time you use photovoltaic energy for resistive heating you are going down the wrong road.
Using PV to run a heat pump to heat the pool would be better than that, but likely still not as good as solar thermal.

[solateur]

So it sounds like I can have only one of the two, but not both . My house single story and 2000 sq. ft. and roof is west /\ east facing (rather somewhat west south & east north, but more on the west-east orientation).

[Sunking]

Hi Sunking,
Thanks for your response. In that case, is it possible to use electrical heater for the pool that could use electricity generated by photovoltaics or the cost to benefit ratio is not favorable?

Well in California yeah as your neighbors will pay for most of it. With a grid tied system the power goes where it needs to go to either your house, swimming pool., or to your neighbors house. It is called Grid Tied with Net Metering. Meaning if you install a large enough system you can Net ZERO usage and only have to pay connection and service fees on your electric bill.

However let me say electric heating is extremely expensive as it takes a huge amount of power to heat a swimming pool.

[slopoke]

So it sounds like I can have only one of the two, but not both . My house single story and 2000 sq. ft. and roof is west /\ east facing (rather somewhat west south & east north, but more on the west-east orientation).

My neighbors with a similar roof facing directions as you, that have pools, had their solar water heaters installed on the west side. The solar electricity panels went on the east side. We are in the "Tri Valley" too, Livermore.

[russ]

Solar thermal for heating is far more efficient than solar PV - uncle Sam pays the same.

[greenenergyscot]

It is something i am also looking for. Please advice if there is anyone expert.

[Naptown]

Solar thermal for heating is far more efficient than solar PV - uncle Sam pays the same.

Uncle Sam doesn't kick in a single penny for pool heating.
With an east west roof put the pool heater on the pool side and PV on the other side.

[SunEagle]

Uncle Sam doesn't kick in a single penny for pool heating.
With an east west roof put the pool heater on the pool side and PV on the other side.

But Sam does pay for solar water heating system for the house. I have not heard of a dual thermal system (pool & house water) but maybe someone has come up with a design that works.

I went over to solar thermal a couple of years ago and have really reduced my electrical bill using solar to heat my domestic water. Since I am in Florida I really never wanted to heat the pool. I just don't swim in it when it gets cold but there are many months in the year that it is just nice.

[Ezrio315]

Going solar for electricity and for the swimming pool

Hello,
I am absolute amateur (solateur) when it comes to Solar power installs. I live in East bay, CA (Tri-valley area). I have a swimming pool which is currently not heated. In the long run I have plans to install solar panels on my roof top for electricity as well as for heating my swimming pool. I want to achieve this the most cost effective way. I am not sure if there are any pool heaters available in the market which would work with the solar panels I would install to generate electricity and if there are such heaters available are they really cost effective? or is it still cost effective to have two separate solar systems for generating electricity and heating up my swimming pool?
Thanks in advance for your response.

Hello solateur,
Heat your swimming pool with solar pool heaters with efficiency which reduces bill. You can significantly reduce costs of heating and electricity bill by installing a solar pool heater. They cost less then both gas and heat pump pool heaters, and they have very low annual operating costs. Solar pool heating is the most cost-effective use of solar energy in all climates. Yes there are some Solar Pool heat pumps available in market like Oasis Pool Heat Pump and Astral Pool Heat Pump which installation is easy and cost effective too.
Thank you..

[theroman]

Solar energy could help you but i would recommend a water wheel. First of all, it will match pool landscaping design. Secondly, it is more attractable rather solar panels.

MOD NOTE. please do not attach advertisement links.