Hot water from PV electricity instead of gas for soccer club

Since October 2022, the football club ATSV Vorwärts Neuzeug has been utilizing an innovative solution for heating water in its clubhouse: surplus photovoltaic electricity from the club's own roof is efficiently used for hot water generation. This measure not only reduces energy costs but also makes an important contribution to sustainability by replacing fossil gas with renewable energy.

Switching from gas to photovoltaic electricity

At the end of 2021, the soccer club decided to replace its old gas water heating system, which consumed approximately 750 kg of liquefied gas annually, with a more modern system. Due to rising gas prices and environmental concerns, the decision was made to equip the clubhouse with a photovoltaic (PV) system. In addition to meeting the club’s own electricity needs, the photovoltaic power would also be used for hot water generation – rather than solely feeding into the public grid.

By integrating two 9 kW heating rods into a new 2,000-liter buffer tank, the clubhouse has been able to generate hot water with its own PV electricity since October 2022. The necessary linear control, provided by two Photovoltaic Power Managers (AC•THOR 9s) from local PV heat expert my-PV, ensures maximum use of solar electricity. Only the excess electricity – which would otherwise be fed into the grid – is used for hot water production. This solution allows the hot water storage tank to be precisely charged and the desired temperature to be reached quickly.

With the new PV system, operating costs have been significantly reduced. The monetary savings mean that the investment in the my-PV components will pay off in less than three years. At the same time, the club is making an important contribution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Conclusion: efficient heating from photovoltaic electricity

The switch to photovoltaic heating has not only made ATSV Vorwärts Neuzeug less dependent on fossil fuels but also ensures permanently lower operating costs. Thanks to my-PV's innovative technology, surplus solar electricity is optimally utilized, and the club sustainably saves on energy costs. The simple control via the my-PV Cloud allows club officials to monitor the system at any time and from anywhere.

Wolfgang Wührleitner, treasurer of ATSV Vorwärts Neuzeug, draws a positive conclusion: “The performance data speaks for itself. We are convinced by the reduced operating costs! Sure, a photovoltaic system is an investment, but the extra effort for heat from photovoltaic electricity is manageable. And then you let the sun do the work, instead of having to arrange gas purchases every time.”

Further detailed information on the reference project, including annual yields and charts, can be found in the reference description.