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Maximise Your Energy Savings with the Catch Power Solar Relay.

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If you have an existing electric hot water system, such as a 250L hot water tank with a 3.6kW heating element, the Catch Power Solar Relay can help you utilise your solar power more efficiently. This device channels excess solar energy to heat your water, reducing reliance on grid electricity. Although the Catch Power Solar Relay operates optimally when solar excess exceeds 3.6kW, making it around 80% efficient, it can still deliver substantial savings. Here’s a detailed analysis of the potential savings you could achieve.

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System Overview

• Existing Hot Water Tank Capacity: 250L
• Heating Element: 3.6kW
• Heating Rate: 62L/hour
• Off-Peak Tariff: $0.21 per kWh (used overnight)
• Feed-In Tariff: $0.05 per kWh (for excess solar energy)
• Continuous Tariff: $0.40 per kWh (used when solar is insufficient)
• Solar Heating Contribution Efficiency: Approximately 80%

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Energy Usage and Costs Without the Catch Power Solar Relay

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1. Standard Operation Using Off-Peak Electricity

• Energy Required to Heat the Tank:
  • To heat the full 250L from a typical starting temperature of 20°C to 60°C, the energy required is:
    • Energy Needed: Mass of Water (250L)×Specific Heat Capacity of Water×Temperature Rise\text{Mass of Water (250L)} \times \text{Specific Heat Capacity of Water} \times \text{Temperature Rise}Mass of Water (250L)×Specific Heat Capacity of Water×Temperature Rise
    • Energy Calculation:
      250 L×4.18 kJ/kg°C×(60°C−20°C)250 \, \text{L} \times 4.18 \, \text{kJ/kg°C} \times (60°C - 20°C)250L×4.18kJ/kg°C×(60°C−20°C)
    • Total Energy Required: 41,800 kJ (which converts to 11.6 kWh).
• Daily Cost of Heating (Off-Peak):
  • Cost: 11.6 kWh x $0.21/kWh = $2.44/day.
• Annual Cost Without Catch Power Solar Relay:
  • Total Annual Cost: $2.44/day x 365 = $890.60/year.

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Energy Usage and Costs with the Catch Power Solar Relay

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1. Using Excess Solar Energy for Heating

• Energy Provided by Solar (80% of the Time due to Efficiency):
  • Solar Contribution: 11.6 kWh x 80% = 9.28 kWh/day.
• Cost of Using Solar Energy:
  • Opportunity Cost: If the excess solar energy were exported to the grid, it would earn $0.05/kWh.
  • Daily Cost of Using Solar: 9.28 kWh x $0.05/kWh = $0.46/day.
• Annual Cost of Using Solar:
  • Total Annual Cost: $0.46/day x 365 = $167.90/year.

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2. Using Grid Electricity When Solar Is Insufficient (20% of the Time)

• Energy Provided by Continuous Tariff (20% of the Time):
  • Grid Contribution: 11.6 kWh x 20% = 2.32 kWh/day.
• Cost of Using Continuous Tariff:
  • Daily Cost of Grid Usage: 2.32 kWh x $0.40/kWh = $0.93/day.
• Annual Cost of Using Continuous Tariff:
  • Total Annual Cost: $0.93/day x 365 = $339.45/year.

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3. Total Annual Cost with the Catch Power Solar Relay

• Total Annual Cost (Solar + Grid):
  • Total: $167.90/year (solar) + $339.45/year (grid) = $507.35/year.

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Net Financial Gain

• Annual Cost Without the Relay (Off-Peak Only): $890.60/year.
• Annual Cost With the Relay (Solar + Grid): $507.35/year.
• Net Savings: $890.60/year - $507.35/year = $383.25/year.

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Why Install the Catch Power Solar Relay?

• Maximised Solar Utilisation: The Catch Power Solar Relay helps you divert excess solar energy to heat water, reducing reliance on off-peak and continuous tariffs.
• Substantial Financial Savings: By using solar energy to heat your water, you can save up to $383.25/year on electricity costs.
• Energy Efficiency: Even with an efficiency of 80%, this system ensures you make the most out of your solar energy.
• Environmental Impact: Lower your carbon footprint by using more renewable solar energy and reducing your dependence on fossil fuels.

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Get an Accurate Savings Estimate with Our AI Energy Analyser

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While this analysis provides a solid estimate of the savings you can achieve, the actual savings may vary based on your specific solar production and household energy usage. To get an accurate, personalised savings estimate, we recommend using our AI Home Energy Analyser.

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Ready to See Your Savings? Discover how much you can save by integrating the Catch Power Solar Relay with your existing solar system. Try our AI Home Energy Analyser to find the perfect solution tailored to your needs!

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