Apricus Eco-Energy

What Apricus Eco-Energy does

Apricus Eco-Energy (legally Apricus Solar Co., Ltd.) designs, manufactures, and supplies solar hot water and hydronic heating products from its headquarters in Nanjing, China. Founded in 2003 by Australian Mick Humphreys, the company has specialized for more than 18 years in evacuated tube and flat plate solar thermal collectors, integrated thermosiphon solar water heaters, heat pump water heaters, and solar PV system components (panels, inverters, batteries, mounting hardware). Core technology centers on heat pipe–based evacuated tube collectors designed to operate across climates, complemented by patented hot water tank design (Australian invention patent, with US filing pending) and patent-pending Diffusion-Gap Distillation (DGD) technology for solar-powered water desalination. The product portfolio spans residential units (100–500L tanks) through commercial installations (up to 20,000L tanks) and certified federal-grade collectors (AP-30C, Buy American Act / ARRA compliant).

Apricus monetizes primarily through hardware sales — collectors, packaged solar systems, heat pumps, storage tanks, and PV components — with pricing set on a quote basis via a global network of wholly-owned regional subsidiaries (China, Australia, USA, India) and channel partners covering 30+ countries. The customer base is intentionally horizontal, serving residential homeowners, commercial facilities (hotels, dormitories, hospitals, car washes, restaurants), and government/educational/military projects, with named reference customers including UCLA, Massachusetts Maritime Academy, and the IMSP Orhei Hospital in Moldova. GTM relies on a combination of enterprise field sales through local representatives, event-driven lead generation at AHR Expo and Solar Decathlon, and a content-rich website that routes inquiries to local reps.

The company is privately held, founder-controlled, and bootstrapped, with no disclosed venture capital, private equity, or public funding rounds. Operations are anchored by an ISO9001:2008-certified manufacturing facility and a portfolio of certifications (SRCC, CSA, SolarKeymark, CE, Watermark) that gate access to incentive-driven markets; Apricus has been listed as a "Leader in the Market" in the 2015–2027 Global Solar Thermal Collector Industry Market Research Report. The strategic posture over the past five years has been incremental product diversification (heat pumps, distillation) and geographic partner expansion rather than transformational M&A or capital raises.

Name

Apricus Eco-Energy

Legal name

Apricus Solar Co., Ltd.

Website

https://apricus.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Apricus Eco-Energy designs and manufactures solar hot water collectors, heat pump water heaters, and solar PV components, serving residential, commercial, and government customers in 30+ countries from its Nanjing, China headquarters.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Solar Thermal Water Heating Equipment

NAICS

Air-Conditioning and Warm Air Heating Equipment and Commercial and Industrial Refrigeration Equipment Manufacturing (333415)

SIC

Air-Cond & Warm Air Heatg Equip & Comm & Indl Refrig Equip (3585), Heating Equipment, Except Electric & Warm Air Furnaces (3433)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYIMAHAKAC

Heat Exchangers & Thermal Transfer Equipment

Industrials, Manufacturing & Construction/Industrial Machinery & Heavy Equipment/Refrigeration, HVAC & Thermal Equipment

Keywords

• Solar water heaters
• Evacuated tube collectors
• Solar thermal systems
• Heat pump water heaters
• Solar PV components

Headquarters

HQ city

Nanjing

HQ country

China

HQ region

Asia

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Solar Thermal Products: Sale of solar thermal collectors including evacuated tube and flat plate collectors as core products. These are sold as components for solar water heating systems to residential and commercial customers.
2. Complete Solar Water Heating Systems: Sale of packaged solar systems including collectors, storage tanks, controllers, piping and fittings as complete solutions for hot water supply
3. Heat Pump Products: Sale of heat pump water heaters including split water heater and air-to-domestic hot water models
4. Solar PV Systems and Components: Sale of PV panels, inverters, batteries and mounting hardware for solar electric systems
5. Hot Water Storage Tanks: Sale of solar storage tanks for residential and commercial applications with various capacities from 100L to 500L for residential and up to 20000L for commercial
6. Professional Services: Technical training for sales representatives, system designers and installers; project support services tailored to project needs and experience level of installation teams

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Apricus Eco-Energy designs, manufactures, and supplies solar thermal collectors, solar water heaters, heat pump water heaters, solar PV components, and storage tanks. Its product portfolio centers on evacuated tube and flat plate solar collectors as core collection technologies, complemented by integrated solar water heater systems, packaged solar hot water solutions, and air-to-water heat pumps for residential, commercial, and government applications. Apricus operates a global distribution network with offices in China, Australia, and the USA, and representation in over 30 countries.

Product overview

Apricus Eco-Energy offers a comprehensive portfolio of solar thermal and solar PV products for residential and commercial hot water applications. The product lineup centers on evacuated tube solar collectors (ETC-10, ETC-20, ETC-30) and flat plate solar collectors (FPC-E20, FPC-A26, FPC-A32) as core collection technologies, complemented by integrated solar water heater systems including thermosiphon models (pressurized and non-pressurized ET types, flat plate type). The company also offers packaged solar systems (PV-ETC20-200), heat pump products (Split Water Heater Heat Pump, WBHP series), and solar PV system components (panels, inverters, batteries, mounting hardware). Supporting products include solar storage tanks (100L-500L residential, 1000L-20000L commercial), system accessories, controllers, and solar lighting products. The portfolio enables complete solar hot water solutions from individual components to full packaged systems.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• WOMBAT: Low cost thermosiphon solar water heater brand offering pressurized and non-pressurized systems with capacities from 150L to 300L.

Products and services

• ETC-10 Solar Collector Compact evacuated tube solar collector with heat pipe technology, designed for residential hot water applications in various climates.
• ETC-20 Solar Collector Evacuated tube solar collector with heat pipe technology providing efficient and reliable solar thermal production, ideal for 2-3 person households, providing 60-80% of domestic hot water demand.
• ETC-30 Solar Collector High-performance evacuated tube solar collector designed for commercial and residential applications with reliable hot water supply.
• AP-30C Evacuated Tube Collector Buy American Act and ARRA compliant evacuated tube collector for federal, state, military, educational and commercial projects. Features stainless steel frame, drainback compatible, NSF-61 compliant, hail resistant.
• FPC-E20 Flat Plate Collector Lightweight flat plate solar collector with ultra-light melamine foam insulation. Peak output 1170W, aperture area 1.824 m2. Suitable for residential households of 3-4 people.
• FPC-A26 Flat Plate Collector Residential/commercial flat plate collector with light weight and low profile. Peak output 1706W, aperture area 2.26 m2. Ideal for 2-3 person households.
• FPC-A32 Flat Plate Collector High-capacity flat plate collector with ultra-light melamine foam insulation. Peak output 2098W, aperture area 2.8 m2. Ideal for 5-6 person households.
• Pressurized ET Thermosiphon Solar Water Heater Evacuated tube thermosiphon system with pressurized operation. Integrated collector and storage tank design using natural convection for circulation.
• Non-Pressurized ET Thermosiphon Solar Water Heater Economical evacuated tube thermosiphon system with food grade 304 stainless steel inner tank. Available in 150L, 200L, 240L, 300L capacities. 10-year warranty on evacuated tubes.
• Flat Plate Thermosiphon Solar Water Heater High efficiency heat pipe type flat plate collector with thermosiphon storage tank. Anti-freeze design with well insulated solar storage tank. Available in 150L and 300L capacities.
• PV-ETC20-200 PV Powered Split Pump Forced Solar Heating System Complete 200L solar hot water heating package with evacuated tube collector, enamel lined storage tank, 40W PV panel for power, and corrosion resistant mounting frame. 5-year warranty on tank, 10-15 year warranty on parts.
• Split Water Heater Heat Pump Split design heat pump water heater with Wombat brand. Features Mitsubishi or Panasonic compressors, polyurethane insulated tank, COP up to 4.5. Available in 150L-500L tank volumes.
• WBHP-2 Air to Domestic Hot Water Heat Pump Air source heat pump for domestic hot water. Rated heating capacity 7kW, COP 4.4, rated hot water capacity 150L/h. R410A refrigerant.
• WBHP-3 Air to Domestic Hot Water Heat Pump Air source heat pump with rated heating capacity 11kW, COP 4.09, rated hot water capacity 240L/h. Rotary compressor type.
• WBHP-5 Air to Domestic Hot Water Heat Pump Large capacity air source heat pump with rated heating capacity 16kW, COP 4.40, rated hot water capacity 345L/h. Flexible scroll compressor, R410A refrigerant.
• PV Panels (Solar PV Systems) Photovoltaic panels including monocrystalline, polycrystalline, and thin film technologies. PV modules convert sunlight to direct current electricity for solar electric systems.
• Inverters Power inverters that convert DC electricity from PV modules to AC for homes and businesses. Available in grid-connect, stand-alone/off-grid, and hybrid types.
• Battery Deep cycle batteries for storing electricity from PV power systems. Different from car batteries, designed for secondary or deep cycle use.
• Mounting Hardware PV mounting frames and structures for roof-mounted, ground-mounted, or building-integrated solar arrays.
• PV Package Complete off-grid solar system packages including PV panels, inverter, battery, and mounting hardware.
• Solar Storage Tanks High quality solar storage tanks for residential use. Capacities from 100L to 500L with pressurized insulation, blue enamel coating, and stronger anode rod. Temperature setting range 49-82°C.
• Commercial Hot Water Storage Tank Commercial solar storage tanks with SUS304 or 316L stainless steel inner tanks. Capacities from 1000L to 20000L. Working pressure 1-2 MPa. Available in vertical and horizontal mounting.
• PVDF Ultrafiltration Membrane PVDF ultrafiltration membrane products for water treatment applications.
• Solar Thermal Water Distillation System Solar-powered water distillation system using Diffusion-Gap Distillation (DGD) technology (US patent 2014/0305789 A1) achieving Gained Output Ratios (GOR) of over 12, producing over 40 Litres/m2 per day in sunny climates.
• Solar Garden Lights Solar-powered garden lighting products.
• Solar LED Batten Lights Solar-powered LED batten lighting products.
• Solar Street Lights Solar-powered street lighting products.
• Professional Training and Project Support Services Technical training for sales representatives, system designers and installers, plus tailored project support services based on project needs and the experience level of installation teams.

Quantifiable outcome

• 60-80% of domestic hot water demand met by single solar collector depending on location
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Tiny Homes FoundationminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 19 February 2018Donation of ETC-22 solar collectors for each house in Gosford, NSW Australia project to help solve homelessness. Project provides socially, environmentally and economically sustainable affordable housing.
• Australian Apprentice Association (AAA)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 February 2018Partnership with Australian Apprentice Association providing hands-on learning opportunities for young people pursuing building careers during construction of Tiny Homes.
• AIL ResearchcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2016Partnership to develop water distillation technology powered by solar thermal energy. Diffusion-Gap Distillation (DGD) patent-pending technology achieving GOR over 12. Field trials started late 2016 with commercial product expected late 2017.
• US Department of Energy Solar DecathlonminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 19 October 2015Sponsorship and product donation to Solar Decathlon teams Buffalo and Alfred. Support since 2005. University at Buffalo team finished 2nd overall with maximum Energy Balance score.
• Moldova Social Investment FundminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 March 2013EU-funded project for promoting sustainable development strategies in renewable energy. Partnership established 39 solar hot water systems in Moldova public facilities.
• US Green Building Council (USGBC)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 28 February 2012Apricus Inc. membership with USGBC, a member-driven organization promoting Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification. Products can contribute towards building LEED certification.
• AGS Grup (Solaraterm)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2012Moldova partner since 2006 providing design, consultation, installation and maintenance of solar water heaters and renewable energy solutions. Installed 39 autonomous solar systems in kindergartens, community centers and medical institutions in 2012.
• Engineering Specialties Inc. (ESI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Connecticut ISO/TS-16949 certified company specializing in mechanical assemblies for local manufacturing of AP-30C evacuated tube collector. ESI manufactures all steel components and completes final assembly of AP-30C in USA using more than 50% US-made materials to meet Buy American Act requirements.
• Renewable Energy Systems (RES)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLong-term partnership with RES for Massachusetts market. RES designed and installed Apricus solar hot water system at Mass Maritime Academy athletic facility with 24 collectors saving over 2,500 therms per year.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• SunEarth: US-based manufacturer of flat plate and evacuated tube solar thermal collectors for residential and commercial hot water. Direct niche competitor in the North American market, particularly on commercial/institutional projects where Buy American preferences matter.
• Himin Solar Energy: One of China's largest solar water heater manufacturers and historically the dominant domestic player in evacuated tube systems. Competes directly with Apricus on cost and scale in Asian and emerging markets.
• Solahart: Australian-origin solar hot water specialist (now owned by Rheem) selling evacuated tube and flat plate solar water heaters plus heat pumps across Australia, Asia, and the Americas. Direct head-to-head competitor to Apricus in residential and commercial solar hot water, particularly across Oceania and the US.
• Sunrain: Largest Chinese evacuated tube solar collector manufacturer and one of the most globalized solar thermal companies, with full system offerings across residential, commercial, and heat pump categories. Closest like-for-like competitor to Apricus on product mix and international distribution.
• Heliodyl: California-based solar thermal collector and system manufacturer serving residential and commercial hot water markets. Closely comparable US-Pacific competitor with similar product positioning around evacuated tube and flat plate collectors.

Broad incumbents

• Vaillant: European heating technology incumbent offering solar thermal, heat pumps, and complete hot water solutions across residential and commercial markets. Competes with Apricus for the same European commercial and institutional customers.
• Viessmann: German heating, industrial and refrigeration systems incumbent offering solar thermal collectors, heat pumps, and complete hydronic heating solutions globally. Overlaps with Apricus in commercial solar hot water but competes from a much broader portfolio and resources.
• Bosch Thermotechnology: Division of Bosch selling heating, hot water, and solar thermal solutions worldwide. A broad incumbent across the same customer base as Apricus but with significantly larger R&D and marketing budgets.
• Stiebel Eltron: German-headquartered manufacturer of heat pump water heaters, solar thermal systems, and heating technology. Overlaps with Apricus especially in heat pump + solar integration propositions, but operates as a broad incumbent rather than a solar-thermal specialist.

Others

• Caleffi: Italian manufacturer of hydronic components, solar thermal controls, and plumbing fittings serving HVAC and solar water heating OEMs and installers. Adjacent comparator on hydronic/solar thermal integration components rather than a direct collector competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/teamapricus
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/apricussolar
• Facebookfacebook.com/pages/Apricus-Inc/162563033758713
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/1204707

Compliance11 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Apricus Eco-Energy