Lebanon´s success in driving down prices
The Lebanese solar thermal market has made great strides in bringing down the cost of solar water heating. Between 2010 and 2016, average system prices decreased by 43 %, from USD 1,880 to USD 1,313. This is one of the key findings presented by Tony Gebrayel, Energy Engineer at LCEC, the Lebanese Center for Energy Conservation, during the Beirut Energy Forum in September 2017 (see the attached document). The reduction was achieved by stable sales of between 50,000 and 60,000 m² of collector area per year.
Source: LCEC
Solar water heaters based on vacuum tubes are significantly more cost-effective than systems equipped with flat plate collectors. However, as the following table shows, an increase in the size of the solar thermal system will narrow the price gap.
| Average price in USD/litre | ||
System capacity (in litres) | SWH with vacuum tube collectors | SWH with flat plate collectors | Gap |
100 – 200 | 4.7 | 8.3 | 77 % |
400 – 500 | 4.2 | 9.2 | 122 % |
600 – 700 | 6.0 | 8.6 | 42 % |
800 – 900 | 5.4 | 6.8 | 25 % |
1,000 – 2,000 | 5.9 | 7.4 | 24 % |
3,000 – 4,000 | 5.2 | 7.2 | 39 % |
5,000 – 10,000 | 4.9 | 5.9 | 20 % |
Average price in relation to system size of solar water heater (SWH)
Source: LCEC
Vacuum tube systems grow in numbers each year. They made up 57 % of the newly installed collector area in 2015 and 2016 (see table below). Figures for 2017 will be available this April.
Newly installed flat plate collector area [m²] | Newly installed vacuum tube collector area [m²] | Total [m²] | Share of vacuum tubes | |
2015 | 22,593 | 29,850 | 52,443 | 57 % |
2016 | 23,900 | 31,170 | 55,070 | 57 % |
Latest market figures
Source: LCEC
LCEC publishes a list of accredited solar water heater companies every three months. Version 18 of this list consists of 58 registered companies and more than 300 components.
You find all presentation from the Beirut Energy Forum online.
Organisations and events mentioned in this article: