Dubai’s new ‘green’ building regulations are expected to mandate that solar water heating systems must also be installed to provide 75% of domestic hot water requirements. This will herald major opportunities for innovative companies like Ecoval Trading, according to MD Jim Sebastian. The potential of the solar water heating market in the UAE is indicated by the fact that Ecoval is now the number one global distributor for Solahart of Australia. Italy is number two and South Africa number three.
The company was established in Dubai in 2002. The latest trend towards building efficiency has placed the spotlight firmly on solar water heating as a cost-effective option to realise immediate savings. Solahart products are particularly suited to the region’s harsh climatic conditions, when some similar European products are known to have overheating issues.
“Solahart has a presence in 90 countries, and has been manufacturing solar water heaters exclusively since 1953. Its technology is characterised by the drainback principle, whereas most other manufacturers utilise fully-flooded systems. “What happens normally is that most people place everything on the roof, which means the circulating fluid is always in the loop, the temperature goes too high, and then the pumps and pipes fail. Our system is very simple, as it switches and drains back off before it can overheat,” explains Sebastian.
In addition, the collectors comprising the system are extra strong and durable. Solahart has six different collectors, depending on the specific requirement. “We install and commission the systems on a one-stop shop basis from design to installation. We even assist in calculating the total hot water requirements, the number of collectors and what back-up is needed, as consultants are normally so busy.”
The average lifespan of a Solahart system is anywhere from 12 to 25 years, depending on routine mechanical equipment maintenance.
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