How to Estimate Heating Costs with Solar Pool Systems?

Calculating Solar Fraction

To estimate heating costs, you’ll need to know the solar fraction (SF) of your solar pool heater. This is calculated by dividing the annual solar energy collected by the total energy required to maintain the desired pool temperature. For example, an SF of 0.7 means 70% of the energy required to heat the pool is generated by the solar system. To calculate the SF, you’ll need to know the following:

• Average daily solar radiation (in kWh/m²)
• Pool size and depth
• Desired pool temperature
• Pool insulation and efficiency

Using a solar radiation chart or app, determine the average daily solar radiation for your location. Multiply this by the pool surface area to get the total daily solar energy collected. Then, calculate the total energy required to maintain the desired pool temperature using a pool heating calculator.

Determining Heating Costs

To determine heating costs, you’ll need to know the non-solar energy required to maintain the desired pool temperature. This can be calculated using a pool heating calculator, which takes into account the pool size, insulation, and desired temperature. Once you have this number, you can estimate the heating costs by multiplying it by the cost of non-solar energy (e.g., electricity or propane) and then subtracting the cost of any energy generated by the solar system.

Real-World Examples

For example, let’s say a pool requires 10,000 kWh of energy to maintain a temperature of 80°F (27°C) over the course of a year. If the solar system generates 7,000 kWh of energy, the SF would be 0.7. If the cost of non-solar energy is $0.15/kWh, the heating costs would be $1,500 per year. However, if the solar system generates 9,000 kWh of energy, the SF would be 0.9, and the heating costs would be $900 per year.