TECHNO-ECONOMIC EVALUATION OF SOLAR WATER HEATING APPLICATIONS AT HOSPITALS IN SAUDI ARABIA

To contribute in reducing the electricity consumption rate and the harmful impacts of fossil fuels, a Solar Water Heating (SWH) technology is recommended to cover around 50% of hot water demand in hospitals in Saudi Arabia. The paper studies the techno-economic viability of two types of SWH collectors in five different cities of Saudi Arabia. Findings indicate that Najran and Tabuk are the most attractive places because they have the highest annual life cycle saving, the highest benefit to cost ratio, and the lowest payback period, while, in contrast, Jeddah is the lowest attractive city to use SWH. Moreover, the economic analysis shows the advantage of using glazed flat plate collector over evacuated tubes because it has shorter payback periods and higher annual life cycle savings.