Country Programs’ Results

This section shows relevant results obtained during the implementation of the GSWH project’s second component, the Country Programs, which consists of a bundle of specific programs for the 5 project countries: Albania, Chile, India, Lebanon and Mexico. This Country Programs component has been implemented under UNDP's National Execution Modality (NEX). 

Main Target

The main target by the end of the Country Programs is the additional installation of 3 million m2 of solar thermal collector area , which results in an estimated direct GHG reduction of 14.9 million tons of CO2 equivalent over 15 years.

Results obtained from each of the countries participating in the GSWH project Country Programs are presented in the following map and summary table.

The following map shows the installed Solar Water Heating Collector Area in the five countries participating in the GSWH Project

 

 Results of each GSWH project Country Program in terms of:

 a)The amount of installed SWH systems( in m2) as an impact to the project and

 b) The annual market growth rate (in %) in the participating countries

Project Country

Achieved Results

Albania

At the end of June 2015, the cumulative SWH systems area is 164,870 m2, with 20,305 m2 new installed area within the reporting period, with expected continuing growth to reach the set target of 520,000 m2 of installed SWH capacity by 2020.

Chile

At least 72.984m2 of new installed collector area during the national project implementation, and an annual sale of 13.619 m2 (30%) reached till June 2014 with expected continuing growth to reach the set target of 1.011.533 m2 of installed SWH capacity by 2020.

India

At least 2,400,000 m2 of new installed collector area during the national project implementation, and an annual sale of 1,050,000 m2 (27%) reached till March 2013 with expected continuing growth to reach the set target of 20,000,000 m2 of installed SWH capacity by 2022.

Lebanon

At least 318,550m2 of new installed collector area during the national project implementation, and an annual sale of 88,550 m2 (15%) reached till June 2015 with expected continuing growth to reach the set target of 1,000,000 m2 of installed SWH capacity by 2020.

Mexico

At least 2.8 million m2 of installed collector area during the national project implementation, and an annual sale of 272 000 m2 (10% in average) reached till June 2015 with expected continuing growth to reach the target of 5.3 million m2 of installed SWH capacity by 2020.

 

The international experiences, sector and barrier analysis as well as the in-country consultations conducted in the candidate countries as a part of the project preparation phase, have indicated that the typical support needs at the country level, to implement a national solar water heating (SWH)  program, can be clustered under four main  and specific sub-components (mentioned below), which were further tailored and fine-tuned to the specific needs of each participating country: 

  1. Facilitate the development of an institutional, legal, and regulatory framework to create a sustainable SWH market. This sub-component under a national SWH program should work to raise awareness among key national policy-makers of the benefits of SWH technology and facilitate a policy dialogue at the national level on possible policy measures to accelerate SWH market growth. Among these measures are the development and adoption of building regulations favourable to SWH, as well as different direct and in-direct financial and fiscal incentives. Activities also should support the development and adoption of voluntary or mandatory quality control, certification and labelling schemes and build the local capacity to implement and enforce them effectively. 
  1. Enhance the awarenes and capacity of end users and building-sector professionals  to integrate SWH systems into the built environment. The SWH industry in most countries consists of relatively small, SME types of enterprises, which have difficulties in launching systematic and effective promotion campaigns themselves. As a market-neutral actor, a national SWH program can cost-share the marketing efforts of the private sector by promoting impartial trustworthy information to the targeted end users, including the financial and environmental benefits of the technology, lists of suppliers and installers etc. The campaign can be broadcast through TV, radio and print media, events leaflets and booklets. The ability to sell the advantages of SWH systems, especially in competition with alternative consumer goods, to prospective beneficiaries, and mobilizing banks to finance these systems are among the most important components of market acceleration. 
  1. Contribute to the development of financing mechanisms that increase the demand for SWH systems This sub-component under a national SWH program should work to raise awareness among local financing institutions and other key stakeholders, such as local vendors, power utilities etc., of the financing opportunities for SWH and builds their capacity to design financial products or other delivery models, such as specific solar energy service companies or utility-driven models, which are expected to be attractive to the targeted end users, thus promoting demand. Some project financing is used to support, via risk-sharing, the proposed financial mechanisms as a means to attract private-sector players into the SWH financing market. 
  1. Assist in improving national-level SWH certification and quality-control schemes. This sub-component under a national SWH program should strengthen the capacity of manufacturers to improve their product quality and design, as well as improving the business skills of the distribution chain to offer better quality and more attractive services, including after-sales services. The lack of qualified labour to install and maintain solar thermal systems can become a key barrier to market growth. This is particularly relevant for the main market segment of single family houses, as installers often influence purchasing decisions. If installers are familiar with SWH systems, they may motivate potential users to buy them. However, if they are not specifically trained, they may discourage consumers or provide a poor installation, with a negative impact on the functionality of the system and the image of the technology. 

Baerbel Epp

Bärbel Epp is Founder and Director of the German communication and market research agency solrico and editor-in-chief of solarthermalworld.org