Renewable energy hot water heater with heat pump

A water heating system, comprising:

• a water tank including:
• an interior area;
• an inlet to the interior area connectable to a water supply;
• and
• an outlet from the interior area;
• a heat pump having a compressor, an evaporator, an expansion device and a condenser coil, wherein the condenser coil is at least partially disposed within the interior area of the water tank and wherein the compressor, the evaporator, the expansion device and the condenser coil form a closed loop coolant system containing a refrigerant;
• a first electrical resistive heating element disposed within the interior area of the water tank;
• a second heating element disposed within the interior area of the water tank, the second heating element connected to a utility power source;
• a controller operatively connectable to a photovoltaic (PV) array for selectively supplying electrical power from said PV array to the first electrical resistive heating element and the heat pump, wherein the controller is configured to:
• connect the first electrical resistive heating element to said electrical power from said PV array when an ambient temperature outside the water tank is below a predetermined threshold, wherein the heat pump is disconnected from said electrical power from said PV array;
• connect the heat pump to said electrical power from said PV array when the ambient temperature is above the predetermined threshold;
• and
• wherein the controller is operative to activate and deactivate the second heating element based on a level of said electrical power from said PV array.