Which EU goals can be achieved by using solar thermal?

• Replacement of conventional energies: 6% of EU final energy consumption (EU-15) could be replaced by solar thermal
• Security and diversity of energy supply, e.g. 30% of EU oil imports from Middle East (1999) can be replaced
• Reduction of greenhouse gas emissions
• Reduction of emissions causing urban pollution
• Reduction of other external costs caused by fossil fuels and nuclear power
• Creation of local jobs and SMEs development
• Export of know-how and equipment

 

Which are the main barriers for growth?

• Higher upfront costs than conventional heating and cooling technologies
• Pay-back times often too long for commercial investment decisions
• Not yet perceived as a standard option for heating – therefore the decision-maker must be specially motivated
• Higher transaction costs (information, procurement, installation works) compared with the conventional heating (default option)
• Solar thermal not yet fully integrated into mainstream heating and construction sectors
• Low awareness of energy savings and environment
• Low awareness of solar thermal, especially among the relevant decision makers
• Lack of availability of motivated and specifically skilled installers
• Harmonised standards, certification and quality labels not yet widely recognised in the market and by public authorities – this barrier being solved through EN standards and Solar Keymark
• Applications with high potential not yet available in standard solutions (combisystems) or still in demonstration phase (solar cooling, process heat)
• Heating and cooling products do not have a high-tech image amongst most consumers and policy makers

 

What conditions are required for successful solar thermal markets?

• Cohesive market structures
• Internalisation of external costs of conventional energies
• Regulations making the use of solar thermal mandatory
• Stable and well designed financial incentive schemes
• Public campaigns promoting solar thermal
• General awareness of energy savings and environment
• High awareness of solar thermal, especially among the relevant decision makers
• Highly visible demonstration projects - often with public authorities serving as model
• Availability of motivated and specifically skilled installers
• High trust through quality products and recognised quality label
• Availability of standard products and applications – showing the success of solar thermal
• Inclusion of solar thermal in R&D programmes

 

Which strategies can help to overcome the barriers to growth?

• Set postive examples through the use of solar thermal in public buildings
• Raise awareness through the use of modern communication techniques
• Set national targets and initiate national/local support schemes
• Level the playing field through adequate financial incentives
• Help make solar thermal a mainstream technology through binding regulation
• Widen the cost-effective use of solar thermal through R&D programmes

 

Download: This page as a nicely layouted PDF (36 kB) or as part of the complete ECP (570 kB).

 

Copyright notice: The content of the European Communications Pack (ECP) - including the graphics - may be used freely without charge under the condition that the source is appropriately mentioned (in most cases ESTIF, except where explicitly specified).