Solar Thermal
Solar thermal systems are based on a simple principle known for centuries: the sun heats up water contained in a dark vessel. Solar thermal technologies on the market now are efficient and highly reliable, providing solar energy for a wide range of applications like domestic hot water and space heating in residential and commercial buildings, support to district heating, solar assisted cooling, industrial process heat, desalination, swimming pools.
Solar Domestic Hot Water and Space Heating
Is it not absurd to burn precious oil or gas to reach low temperatures, that can be easily supplied from the sun? Even the simplest solar thermal systems can provide a large part of the domestic hot water needs. With some more initial investment, 100% of the hot water demand and a substantial share of the space heating needs can be covered with solar energy. Natural flow systems work without any need for pumps or control stations. They are widely used in Southern Europe. Forced circulation systems are more complex, and can cover also space heating. They are more and more common in Central and Northern Europe.
Solar Cooling
A growing number of demonstration projects shows the huge potential for solar assisted cooling. Solar chillers use thermal energy to produce cold and/or dehumidification. When backed up by biomass boilers, 100% renewable cooling systems are possible. Solar cooling is at the edge of wide market introduction and substantial cost reductions can be expected in the next few years. The switch of peak electricity demand from winter to summer, caused by the exploding demand for cooling, is jeopardising the stability of power supply. Peak cooling demand is associated to high solar radiation. Solar cooling will be a key answer to this challenge in the coming years.
Process Heat and Other Applications
Solar thermal can also provide the heat needed in many industrial processes, like food production and drying, desalination of drinking water, industrial laundries etc. While ordinary solar collectors typically provide temperatures of 60-100°C, concentrating collectors can reach temperatures of 300°C and beyond. In the lower temperature range unglazed solar collectors are an effective way to reduce energy demand for swimming pool heating.
Key Advantages: Solar Thermal
• reduces the dependency on imported fuels
• improves the diversity of energy supply
• saves scarce natural resources
• saves CO2 emissions at very low costs
• curbs urban air pollution
• is proven and reliable
• is immediately available – all over Europe
• owners of systems substantially save on their heating bills
• creates local jobs and stimulates the local economy
• inexhaustible
A Growing Market
Solar thermal in Europe is growing at an impressive pace. The capacity in operation was 5 GWth in 1997, 10 GWth in 2004 and is expected to reach 15 GWth in 2008. Over one million families in Europe are already benefiting from solar thermal energy. In 2006, the market will surpass for the first time 2 millions m2 newly installed collectors (1.4 GWth).
However, this development is driven by a few leading countries, whereas most countries still have to start a serious market development. Almost three quarters of the EU market is still concentrated in just three countries: Germany, Greece and Austria. The capacity in operation per capita (kWth / 1000 inhabitants) ranges from 431 in Cyprus to 179 in Austria and Greece, to less than 10 in high-potential countries like Italy, France and Spain.
If the whole EU had the same level per head as Austria today, the annual market would be over 10 millions m2 with a capacity in operation of 82 GWth. This would provide more than 70 TW hours of solar thermal energy, replacing substantial amounts of oil, gas and electricity. And even Austria has by far not exploited its technical potential for solar thermal.
Reaching the critical mass for economies of scale
Today solar thermal is one of the most cost effective sources of renewable energy. People in the leading solar thermal countries benefit from higher solar value for money because reaching a critical mass of the market allows for high quality at better prices.
The potential for further economies of scale is substantial. At local and national level in the areas of marketing, distribution, design and installation of the systems. At European and global level in the production of hardware, where automation for large volumes is still in its beginnings.
Download the Solar Thermal brochure
For more information contact:
ESTIF
European Solar Thermal Industry Federation
www.estif.org