Solar Bermuda Ltd. was contracted by OWC Contracting to supply and install 9 residential grid tied PV systems and 9 solar hot water systems. 

Each 3 bedroom unit comes equipped with an 80 gallon Heliodyne solar hot water system and a 2.3 kW grid tied PV system. These new home owners also have the added benifit of a solar powered electrical supply and will never be without power even during a utility power outage.

Each PV system consists of high end SolarWorld 255 watt modules and a Schneider  XW Inverter with battery backup capability.

Heliodyne, established in 1976  is a world leader in the solar thermal industry and we are proud to be Bermuda’s authorized supplier for their products.

Two new Heliodyne solar hot water systems installed!

120 Gallon Solar Hot Water System – Devonshire

Two, 4ft x 8ft Heliodyne Solar Collectors
120 gallon Solar Storage tank
HelioFlo Controller/Pump Unit

Installed: Feb. 2012

These two 80 gallon solar hot water systems were installed and commissioned in January 2012.

The first system in located in Smith’s Parish and was installed as the home was undergoing renovations.

The second system is located in Somerset and was installed on a newly built home. The home owners also installed a 3.0 kW PV system and a solar pool pump!

This 3.0 kW PV system was installed on a newly constructed home in Somerset.  A BELCO net meter was installed in January 2012 which allows the home owners to sell back power to the grid. The PV system, in combination with a solar hot water system, will provide 50% -60% of the homes electricity requirements. In addition to being grid tied, the home owners also opted for a battery back-up option which will provide them with power in the event of a BELCO power failure. In fact, the PV system had been up an running, providing power to  the home for 4 months prior to the installation of the BELCO net meter.

SolarWorld PV Modules / Schneider Inverter

Royal Gazette news article – January 11, 2012

Solar power is being adopted on the Island at an increasing rate, with the number of applications for solar developments doubling year-on-year.
According to a Government spokesperson, 51 applications were made for solar developments in 2011, more than four-times more than were submitted in 2009.
“There is certainly more interest in renewable energy technologies, but there are also more people in a position to actually install what has been approved,” the spokeswoman said.
“Often times a Planning Approval may be granted with no building permit for that approved development. This is not the case with recent solar developments, with slightly more solar thermal (in other words, solar hot water) than solar photovoltaic panels.”
According to Government statistics, there were a total of 12 planning approvals for solar developments in 2009, but that number more than doubled in 2010 with 26 applications approved.
In 2011, a total of 51 applications were made for solar developments, with 39 having already been approved and others still going through the planning process.
The spokeswoman said that Government hopes to see the exponential increase continue this year in order to meet the goals set in the Energy White Paper.
“With the proper incentives, we believe that we will see even more applications in the coming year, despite these trying economic times,” she said. “Despite the initial outlay of cash it is a wise long-term economic investment for families.
“The combined efforts of the Department of Planning and the Department of Energy in enforcing the goals of the Energy White Paper demonstrates yet another example of the interdependency between Government Departments within our Ministry as well as reaffirming the Ministry’s commitment to lead Bermuda toward sustainability by protecting our natural and built environment.”
In recent years Government has put forward numerous incentives to encourage the adoption of small-scale renewable energy systems, including a solar panel rebate scheme and zero-rate import duty on items for use in harvesting power from renewable sources.
Included in the customs tariff are solar thermal water tanks, ocean-powered generating sets and grid tie photovoltaic inverts.
Another notable step was Belco’s Interconnection Policy, which allows members of the public to put excess energy back into the electrical grid, and be paid for it.
A Belco spokeswoman said that there are currently 43 customers taking part in the scheme, an increase of 23 in the last year.
Along with numerous homes, businesses have jumped on the solar bandwagon, with the Lindo’s Group, Gorhams and even Belco applying to install solar devices at their facilities.
Stuart Hayward, chairman of the Bermuda Environmental Sustainablility Taskforce (BEST), said the statistics were encouraging.
“We think it’s great that more people are diversifying their energy sources and there is still much to be done in moving toward reduced consumption of energy, especially waste,” he said.
In order to continue the rate of adoption, Mr Hayward said that Government needs to ensure that the planning process is as streamlined as possible, without sacrificing regulatory oversight.

He also suggested a “beefed-up” staff level to handle the applications so that tasks are not short changed or short circuited, creating a more consistent assertive attitude towards enforcement and maintaining adequate levels of enforcement equipment and personnel.

Find the original article here. <More Islanders are turning to the sun for energy>

To date, Solar Bermuda Ltd has installed over 50 Solar Thermal Systems and 20 photovoltaic systems. All our photovoltaic systems are “grid tied” systems which enables them to sell back excess power to BELCO. 

This 1,440 watt PV system was installed in December 2011. The generated electricity will be used to help offset the electrical requirements of the home. Every kilowatt generated will directly offset a kilowatt needed to be purchased from the utility. The system is also “net metered” allowing any excess electricity to be sold back.

The final week leading up to the Christmas Holiday was a busy one for Solar Bermuda Ltd.  Two more solar hot water systems were installed resulting in two more happy and satisfied customers.

• The first 120 gallon system was purchased to replace an existing, 20+ year old system. We were able to utilize the existing rail mounts from the old system making for a quick and smooth install.

• The second, 80 gallon system, was also replacing a 20+ year old existing system. We removed the old system and installed the new Heliodyne collector. New insulated pipe work was routed to the heater.

The Helio-Flo unit is the brains of the hot water system. It contains the controller, circulating pump, check valves, temperature gauges, shut off valves and all connections. All this in a very neat package that can be mounted on or near the storage tank.