Solar Hot Water - Industrial Scale

Most articles (here and elsewhere) about solar energy is about the production of electricity from solar cells, typically photovoltaic cells.

Another use way of using sunlight is heating water directly, a process generally referred to as “solar thermal”. Solar water heaters have been available in smaller sizes for residential water heating, but the use of industrial scale solar thermal plants is more unusual, at least not as well reported.

The News & Observer reported on a large solar thermal installation at Prestige Farms, a turkey processor in St. Pauls, NC (about 80 miles southwest of Raleigh). The installation, by FLS Energy of Ashville, NC, is the largest in the country, four times the size of the next largest plant. It will be used to heat water to use for cleaning the turkey processing plant and equipment. FLS will own the system, sell hot water as needed to the Prestige plant, and receive tax credits for part of the cost (over $15 Million) of building the system. FLS Energy also provides solar thermal systems for other users, including the Hyatt West Raleigh hotel.


There are many other cases of solar thermal being used. For example, the Proximity Hotel in Greensboro uses solar thermal panels to heat water. About two/thirds of its water heating energy comes from solar.

The use of solar energy directly for heat, rather than to generate electricity,  makes economic sense when heat is needed. Solar power could generate electricity that is used to power electrical heaters, but heating water directly reduces the capital cost associated with the electrical heaters and increases efficiency.


If heat is not needed, then solar electric production is appropriate.