Here Comes The Sun
Ensuring the optimum levels of swimming comfort in the face of all weather conditions, a heated pool is more than just a luxury for those unwilling to brave the cold; it’s a clever addition that allows you to make the most out of your pool. But with many conventional heating systems, year-round pool use comes with an extensive electricity bill. Enter solar pool heating, the perfect middle ground between swimming comfort and energy-efficiency. To explore this groundbreaking technology, Pool + Outdoor Design speaks with Paul and Mick Carroll from Aspire Pool Solar Heating about the company’s innovative solar solutions and the benefits of solar pool heating.
In essence, solar pool heating works by pumping water through what is called a solar collector. This water is then heated directly by the sun – just like a garden hose left out on a hot day – and then the warm water is pumped back into the pool with minimal electricity used. But our sunburnt country is renowned for its harsh rays and temperamental weather, which many international solar panels just aren’t prepared for. Thankfully, the experts at Aspire Pool Solar Heating have recognised the need for a rigid solar panel that is not only built to withstand our climate, that is manufactured entirely in Australia. Backed by a state-of- the-art facility in Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula and a dedicated team with more than 40 years’ experience, the professionals’ mission is to replace ill-suited imports with quality Aussie products: the Aspire Pool Solar Panel – hence the name ‘Aspire’, which stands for Australian Solar Panel Import Replacement Enterprise.
What factors were taken into consideration when designing the Aspire Pool Solar Panel?
“Not only did we design our panel to be one of the most efficient on the market, but we also knew that it had to look appealing to the eye and be able to blend in with today’s modern architectural designs. Australia has some of the harshest weather conditions in the world, and we recognised that our panels, and all components, would need to be made from a very high UV material to be able to withstand the sun’s ultraviolet rays over time. We also had to consider potential damage from wildlife such as cockatoos – which damage a soft strip collector by piercing the tube with their beaks, thereby causing leaks. The tubes on the Aspire Pool Solar Panel are made from a high impact polypropylene resin, which is tough enough to resist cockatoo attacks and hail damage.”
What is the difference between a soft strip collector and Aspire’s Rigid Panel collector?
“A soft strip collector is generally a flat roll, with six to ten tubes made of a flexible soft PVC material that are individually connected to a manifold and attached to a roof with silicone adhesive. The Rigid Panel Collector is a one-piece, over-moulded construction with 50 tubes and each panel is attached to a roof or vertically on a north facing wall by a patented adjustable clamp that allows the panel to expand and contract with changes in temperature.”
Does the one-piece construction limit the size of the Rigid Panel Collector?
“No, we are not limited in panel sizes. We realised that due to an increased demand in photo-voltaic (PV) panels roof space has become a very valuable. To obtain necessary square meterage and gain maximum benefit to heat your pool, we can manufacture and customise panels from 60cm to 5.4m in length in increments of 30cm that run from the ridge of the roof down to the gutter line. In most cases this will leave enough room for PV panels to go alongside the pool solar system. There is also another big advantage to this; by obtaining the square meterage in the length of panels and not the number of panels wide, you reduce the components required, making it more cost-effective installation.”
How has the industry taken to your product?
“Since the official launch in 2018, there have been more than 40,000 panels installed across Australia, New Zealand, and the USA. The feedback from installers and distributors is that this product is very easy and quick to install. The weakest point of any panel system is where the panels join together, an issue that we addressed from day one. First, we have the male to female connection on the manifold, giving it strength and an even alignment. Then we have the triple seals creating a watertight join. Finally, the patented glass-filled nylon Camlock Nut with the secure locking clip ensures a leak-free and even more secure join.”
What makes it so easy to install?
“Aspire’s clamping system allows you to screw down the clamps to a metal roof and in some cases by using the existing roof screws – as opposed to a soft strip collector that requires you to silicone the strip to the roof and wait for the silicone to cure before commissioning it with water. For a tiled roof, Aspire has developed a unique adjustable batten hook that locks into the panel clamps. This means there is no need to drill and plug the tile to anchor the clamp. The other advantage to this system is zero penetration, tile breakage and no potential to leak.
In addition, to reduce the time-consuming process of securing the pipework to the roof, we have developed a patented manifold to pipe clip, which secures the pipework to the panels with no need for drilling, screws or saddles.”
With the introduction of heat pumps, how does the Aspire solar collector compare?
“There is a place for both systems in the pool heating industry, however, you must be mindful in choosing the system that suits you best and provides value for money. For instance, if you are offsetting the costof your heat pump using PV panels, it still requires sunlight as does the Aspire solar collector.Z
For the heat pump system, the PV panels on the roof capture the energy from the sun and send it to the inverter, which changes DC current to AC current that is then used to run the inverter, heat exchanger and pump to heat the pool. Depending on the size of the heat pump, this can use up to approximately 4kW of power. The average home would have a 6kW PV system on its roof. If you were to switch a kettle on at the same time, which requires 2.4kW, this means you would require 400W from your energy provider. The advantage of a heat pump is that you can heat your pool in the coldest months of the year, but it will require costly power from your energy provider.
The Aspire Pool Solar Panel uses a single water pump to circulate water from the pool into the panels, where it’s heated by the free rays from the sun. To make it more cost-effective we install a solar controller that monitors the temperature and turns the circulating pump on or off when required while using approximately 1kW.”
What would be the most efficient system to have?
“Preferably both! Pool solar panels should be the primary source of heating for your pool, with a PV offset heat pump acting as a booster when required. Most of us will use the pool over the summer months, and pool solar panels should maintain the pool temperature over this period at very little cost. The energy generated by the PV panels would be better utilised for running household items such as air conditioning, with the excess solar energy being stored for night-time power usage. We should all strive to maximise the efficiency of the solar energy generated by our homes. Just because it is free to generate doesn’t mean we can be wasteful in its usage. While there is a strong energy shift mindset, it’s been proven that electricity usage for solar system owners is not descending on the same slope as non-solar homes. However, we’ve found that customers are becoming increasingly proactive with controlling their consumption habits to ensure that they are best utilising their solar energy and saving the most money possible. The cost of running a circulating pump with Aspire Pool Solar Panels can be as little as $150 a year. In comparison, a heat pump can cost anywhere from $1,500 to $3,300 a year to run.”
Where do you see pool solar panels in the future?
“Pool solar panels will remain an integral part of the heating of swimming pools both now and in the
future. With the current world energy crisis, energy regulators are looking at the consumption of electricity and gas very closely. Clean, green systems are rapidly becoming more efficient and cheaper to run, offering economic benefits. Whether you choose Aspire’s Pool Solar Panels or soft strip collector, it remains the most cost-effective way to heat a pool.”
How does Aspire’s manufacturing plant, and its chain of supply operate?
“Aspire Pool Solar Heating, in conjunction with Carroll’s Injection Moulding Pty Ltd who moulds the components required to make the panel, is situated next door to each other in Hastings on the Mornington Peninsula. Being neighbouring factories helps facilitate close liaison and aids in lowering manufacturing and transportation costs.
Both companies are very conscious of their carbon footprint and the impact they have on the planet. Being manufacturers of plastic products, Aspire and
Carroll’s have invested in 180kW of PV panels between the two companies. This allows us to generate 80 percent of our plants’ electricity requirements from the sun. Essentially, we are using solar electricity to manufacture the pool solar panels! Every component on the Aspire solar panel is 100 percent recyclable, which is a very important product trait, and at the end of its working life each component can all be granulated and reused. We have recently become a member of SPASA Australia. In doing this, we are encouraged to become a Climate Care Certified product. This is a new benchmark in environmental sustainability for swimming pools and spas.”
Where can you purchase this product?
“We have a number of outlets throughout Australia and New Zealand. Sunbather Australia is currently our largest supplier and product details are advertised on their webpage under ‘ST2 Rigid Solar Panels’. You can also contact Aspire Pool Solar Heating directly to enquire about our solar panel system. We also encourage pool supplier outlets to become part of our distribution network.”
Where will Aspire go from here?
“Aspire has a very exciting future ahead of them. In the past year, Fluidra Group Australia has acquired a 50 percent shareholding in Aspire. Together we will continue to innovate and improve the pool heating industry.”
Images Courtesy of Aspire Pool Solar Heating