Solar payback: A review of preliminary energy audits and solar integration studies

Abstract

Solar thermal technologies have the potential to provide clean and low cost thermal energy to South African industries. Case studies of “real world” processes are critical to encourage the uptake of these solar thermal technologies and demonstrate the potential for cost savings and/or reduction of the carbon footprint. This paper presents a case study for the integration of a solar thermal system, to provide hot water for a recycling plant at Mpact Polymers in Gauteng. This plant was selected by the Solar Payback project to receive grant funding of 30% for a pilot scale solar thermal system. Simulations show that a solar thermal system can be deployed with a simple payback of between 4.14.5 years, with a solar fraction in the order of 35% for the plant wash module. Technical tendering for the development of a pilot plant at the Mpact Polymers plant is scheduled for October 2019.