Company Overview

Solcan Ltd, a leader in the Canadian solar industry, is based in London, Ontario. It manufactures specialized solar equipment such as solar collectors and heat exchangers and since 1975 has supplied solar hot water systems for installations across Canada and in various sites overseas. The company was orginally a research oriented company but the focus soon shifted from research and development to marketing and sales;

Solcan Ltd. has subsequently specialized in turnkey solar heating projects for various commercial, industrial, institutional and residential applications. Solcan has also developed domestic solar water heater packages and solar swimming pool heating systems for residential customers. As sales grew at a rapid pace in Canada, Solcan entered the export market. Solcan's particular niche in the solar market has been design-build solar water heating systems for commercial and institutional applications, varying from 25 to 250 square metres, including nursing homes, car washes, fitness centres, apartment buildings and other applications where there is a particular need for hot water. The market for solar products disappeared in Canada in 1987 but is becoming active again, and Solcan is preparing for it with new packaged solar water heaters. Although it involves a different technology Solcan is also active in response to the market demand for solar photovoltaic equipment.

The basic solar product which Solcan manufactures is a flat plate solar collector. The unique features of the Solcan solar collector are the light weight, and the use of silicone to fasten the glass to the frame. The Solcan flat plate solar collector is incorporated into various packaged solar water heaters as well as design-build solar water heating systems.

The Renewable Energy Deployment Incentive, a new federal government program, has been available since 1 April 1998 and has provided incentives for commercial applications such as: nursing homes, hotels, motels, apartment buildings and buildings that use a lot of hot water.

Solcan is Canada's oldest solar company with a reputation for quality and reliable products, which has been earned over the years, in the solar energy and energy conservation fields. -Manufacture of solar collectors for use in liquid heating systems.

• Fabrication of solar hot water packages for residential

installation including passive systems for seasonal applications and closed systems using propylene glycol.

• Design, installation and maintenance of commercial and industrial solar water heating systems.
• Installation and service of plastic solar panels for solar swimming pool heating.
• Solcan has extensive experience in designing, installing, repairing, commissioning, servicing and maintaining solar hot water systems.

Company Information

Additional Details

Legal Name: Solcan Ltd.

Number of Employees: 3

Contacts

Services

• Servicing Solar Heating Systems

  Design, installation and maintenance of solar water heating systems for commercial and industrial hot water applications such as nursing homes, apartments, agriculture and laundries.

• Solar Swimming Pool Heating

  Installation and service of plastic solar panels for solar swimming pool heating.

• Solar Water Heating For Residential Customers

  Fabrication of solar hot water packages for residential installation. They include passive systems for seasonal applications and closed systems using propylene glycol.

• Turnkey Solar Heating Projects

  Design, installation and maintenance of solar water heating systems for commercial and industrial hot water applications such as nursing homes, apartments, agriculture and laundries.

Products

• Environmental Products And Services
• Solar Collectors
• Solar System Equipment/Parts

  Solcan Ltd has extensive experience in designing, installing, repairing, commissioning, servicing and maintaining solar hot water systems. Solcan can provide equipment and parts for repair of solar systems.

• Solcan Solar Water Heaters.

  Solcan's most popular packaged solar water heater is the thermosiphon system, because of its simplicity. It uses the potable water directly in the the solar collector and tank. However, there are applications where the thermosiphon system may not be appropriate.

  Solcan Ltd. has several other packaged solar water heater designs. For example, there is the closed loop system (CL) filled with antifreeze, the drainback system (DB), and the draindown system (DD). The closed loop system is available with circulators: that use 110VAC, or 12 VDC combined with a 12 VDC PV panel. The tanks vary in size from 150 to 450 litres. The packaged solar water heaters are combinations of different collector areas and different tank volumes. The designation of a package indicates the system type, the collector area and the tank volume. The two common systems are TS 26-40 which is the thermosiphon system with a 2.2 m(2) panel and 150 litre stainless steel tank, and the SC 52-60 which is the closed loop system with two 2.2 m(2) panels and 225 litres stainless steel or glass-lined storage tank.

  Solcan solar collectors are available either as model 2100W (nominal 46' x 96') of 3.0 m(2) area, or 2100T (nominal 46' x78') of 2.2 m(2). The 2100T is generally used in the Solcan thermosiphon system as well as in other residential solar packages. The model 2100W is used in larger packages as well as in commercial and industrial solar systems.

• Solcan Solar Water Heating System.

  We have several packaged solar water heater designs including: the thermosiphon system (TS), the closed loop system (CL) filled with water or antifreeze, the drainback system (DB), and the draindown system (DD). The closed loop system is available in different sizes packaged for commercial or industrial applications. The designation of a package indicates the system type, the collector area and the tank volume.

  The Solcan solar collector is available either as model 2100W (nominal 46' x 96') of 3.0 m(2) area, or 2100T (nominal 46' x78') of 2.2 m(2). The 2100T is generally used in residential solar packages and the model 2100W is used in larger packages as well as in larger commercial and industrial solar systems.

  A typical commercial/industrial solar hot water system in Toronto, Ontario, (at a latitude of 43) can provide over 800 kWh of energy per year per square metre. A solar array of 45 m(2) matched to 2, 000 litres of hot water storage can save 37, 530 kWh of electricity per year. Depending on the complexity of the installation, the installed cost of this system is approximately CAN$26, 000. At 8/kWh the annual savings are $3, 000, with a payback less than nine years; and at 25/kWh which is common in many areas of the world the payback is less than three years. In addition to these savings, there is greater interest in utilizing solar energy with its benign effect on the environment.

• Specialized Solar Heating Equipment

  Manufacture of solar collectors for use in liquid heating systems, incorporating black fins contained in an insulated box and glazed with low-iron tempered glass. Available as standard 2.2 sq m or 3.0 sq m and can be custom built for installation. Fabrication of solar hot water packages for residential installation including passive systems and closed systems using propylene glycol. Design and installation of solar water heating systems for commercial and industrial hot water applications.

• Thermosiphon Solar Water Heater

  In Canada heating hot water accounts for about 40% of the average household energy bills over the year. For a remote location such as a cottage, a solar water heater is a sensible means to provide all the hot water. The Solcan thermosiphon solar water heater can deliver 150-200 litres of hot water at a temperature of 60C on an average day. The Solcan thermosiphon system is available with either a 150 L stainless steel storage tank combined with a 2.2 m(2) collector, or a 225 L tank with a 3.0 m(2) collector. The Solcan thermosiphon system is an efficient and low cost solar water heater. The thermosiphon system does not require a pump or a controller so operates without any external power. It is an innovative product which requires only water pressure to move the water in and out of the tank. Cold feedwater enters the stainless steel tank at the bottom and warm water is drawn from the top of the tank whenever there is a demand. Meanwhile, the sun heats the water in the solar collector, the warm water rises by natural convection into the tank, and cool water from the tank replaces the water in the solar collector. The Solcan thermosiphon system is particularly suitable for warm climates or seasonal applications such as summer cottages in Canada. Solcan has exported this product to the Cayman Islands with good success. Targets for the thermosiphon system as a year round application include the Caribbean area and south-east Asia. Electricity used for heating hot water costs as much as 25/kWh in many areas of the world so the payback can be less than three years. In addition to saving electricity and money, there is increasing interest in utilizing solar energy with its benign effect on the environment.

• Thermosiphon Solar Water Heater.

  In Canada heating hot water accounts for about 40% of the average household energy bills over the year. For a remote location such as a cottage, a solar water heater is a sensible means to provide all the hot water. The Solcan thermosiphon solar water heater can deliver 150-200 litres of hot water at a temperature of 60C on an average day. The Solcan thermosiphon system is available with either a 150 L stainless steel storage tank combined with a 2.2 m(2) collector, or a 225 L tank with a 3.0 m(2) collector.

  The Solcan thermosiphon system is an efficient and low cost solar water heater. The thermosiphon system does not require a pump or a controller so operates without any external power. It is an innovative product which requires only water pressure to move the water in and out of the tank. Cold feedwater enters the stainless steel tank at the bottom and warm water is drawn from the top of the tank whenever there is a demand. Meanwhile, the sun heats the water in the solar collector, the warm water rises by natural convection into the tank, and cool water from the tank replaces the water in the solar collector.

  The Solcan thermosiphon system is particularly suitable for warm climates or seasonal applications such as summer cottages in Canada. Solcan has exported this product to the Cayman Islands with good success. Targets for the thermosiphon system as a year round application include the Caribbean area and south-east Asia.

  Electricity used for heating hot water costs as much as 25/kWh in many areas of the world so the payback can be less than three years. In addition to saving electricity and money, there is increasing interest in utilizing solar energy with its benign effect on the environment.

NAICS Categories

• 333416 Heating Equipment and Commercial Refrigeration Equipment Manufacturing

Additional Information