UNEP

• Europe: Three Basic Guidelines Help Regional and Global Market Development-

  

  The European Solar Thermal Industry Federation (ESTIF) has just launched three comprehensive guidelines regarding the Solar Water Heating Market Transformation and Strengthening Initiative (GSWH). On behalf of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the ESTIF team drew up three practical handbooks entitled “Guide for Policy and Framework Conditions”, “Guide for Awareness Raising Campaigns” and “Guide for Standardisation and Quality Assurance for Solar Thermal” (see the attached documents). These guidelines are thought to help stimulate sustainable solar water heater market development in different countries worldwide.
  
  
• Solar Water Heating Calculator -

• Global Solar Water Heating Market Transformation and Strengthening Initiative (GSWH)-

• Solar Heat for Industrial Processes. State of the Art in the Mediterranean Region (2011)-

  The report is a deliverable of the “Global Solar Water Heating Market Transformation and Strengthening Initiative”, jointly funded by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the International Copper Association (ICA).

• Albania: 75,000 m2 of Newly Installed Collector Area-

  Alongside the government, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Global Environment Facility (GEF) officially launched a solar water heater project in Albania, with its first workshop in Tirana on the 4^th of December. The project titled “Country Program of Albania under the Global Solar Water Heating Market Transformation and Strengthening Initiative” aims at installing 75,000 m² of new collector area in the country and supporting sustainable market growth targeting at annual sale figures of 20,000 m² by the end of the project in 2015.

• Solar Water Heating Applications: Evaluation of Product Standards (2011)-

  This report presents the efforts of South and South-East Asian countries in adopting and developing solar water heater product standards, accredited test laboratories and certification bodies and accredited planners/installers.

• Chile: Solar Energy Workshop for Latin America and the Caribbean-

  Amr M. Abdel Hai, Programme Officer for the Energy Branch of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) (left), and Eduardo Noboa, Renewable Energy and Environment Coordinator from the Latin American Energy Organisation (OLADE), organised a two-day workshop with the aim to strengthen the solar water heating markets in Latin America and the Caribbean. A total of 46 solar thermal experts from several countries (Argentina, Barbados, Brazil, Ecuador, Chile, Colombia, Nicaragua, Mexico, Peru, Uruguay) exchanged information, knowledge, lessons learned and successful experiences.
  Photo: OLADE

• The Use of Copper in Solar Water Heating Systems (2010)- This document produced in the framework of the Global Solar Water Heating Market Transformation and Strengthening Initiative, reports the usage of solar water heating technologies in the soccer club Los Plumas de la UNAM in Mexico. The installations were made in 1996 and have proved to be very efficient and successful. This document includes the technical characteristics of the equipments installed, the advantages, the savings, the maintenance requirements, among other details.
• Current Status and Perspectives of Solar Thermal in Ecuador (2011)-

  This presentation was delivered during the UNEP (United National Environment Programme) Regional Workshop jointly held with OLADE (the Latin American Energy Organization) in Chile (June 2011) in the framework of the Solar Water Heating Transformation and Strengthening Initiative. Its author is Mr. Luis Manzano from the Ecuadorian government.

• History of Solar Thermal in Peru (2011)-

  This is a presentation made during the UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme) Regional Workshop of Solar Thermal Water Heating in Chile in June 2011, organised by the UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme) and UNDP (United Nations Development Programme).

• Initial Market Assessment Report North Africa & Middle East (2011)-

  This report is one of the deliverables of the “Global Solar Water Heating Market Transformation and Strengthening Initiative” project, initiated by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the International Copper Association.

• Solar Water Heating Market Assessment. Regional Report (2012)-

  This report is a deliverable of the “Global Solar Water Heating Market Transformation and Strengthening Initiative”, jointly funded by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)and the International Copper Association. In Latin America the commitment for SWH deployment has been supported by the Latin American Energy Organization (OLADE).

• Users’ Handbook on Solar Water Heaters (2010)-

  This handbook was prepared in the framework of the project ‘Solar Water Heating Market Transformation and Strengthening Initiative’ funded by the UNDP, UNEP, GEF and ICA (International Copper Association). It was done in collaboration with the Indian Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE). The objective of this publication is to provide adequate information and guidance to customers of solar water heater with a view of helping them in selecting the right technology and product for their applications.

• Initiative for Transforming and Strengthening the Solar Thermal Water Heating Market in Latin America and Caribbean (2011)-

  This is a presentation made during the UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme) Regional Workshop of Solar Thermal Water Heating in Chile in June 2011. This presentation of Eduardo Noboa from OLADE, the Latin American Energy Organisation, passes in review the solar thermal market of different countries in South America: Brazil, Argentina, Barbados, Colombia, Nicaragua and Peru.

• Initiative for Transforming and Strengthening the Solar Thermal Water Heating Market - the Mexican Case (2011)-

  This is a presentation done by Mr. Edgar Marin from OLADE during the UNEP (United National Environment Programme) Regional Workshop held in Chile, in June 2011, about the UN-funded project Solar Water Heating Transformation and Strengthening Initiative.

• Tunisia: PROSOL Subsidises 4,000 m² of Commercial Installations -

  The “Collective Prosol Programme” in Tunisia is gaining momentum. The National Agency for Energy Conservation (ANME) started the subsidy programme for solar thermal installations in the tertiary sector back in 2008. The application rate was low at first, but 2010 became a good year for the commercial solar thermal market. At the end of that year, ANME counted a total installed and subsidised collector area of 4,000 m², including four hotel installations with together 480 m² and around 130 smaller installations under 30 m². According to ANME, grants for another 1,770 m² are still in the pipeline. And, a solar programme targeting 18 public swimming pools is also under development. The photo shows the solar installation on the Iberostar Phenicia hotel in Hammamet, at the northeast coast of Tunisia.
  Photo: Alcor

• Networking and Outreach Activities in Jordan-Lebanon-Syria for Energy Access II (2005)-

  This report was compiled by the Energy Research Group of the American University of Beirut. It summarizes the discussions that took place during the Regional Action Plan Stakeholders meeting on Energy Access and Renewable Energy Technologies in Syria Jordan and Lebanon. The Regional Action Plan for Regional Sustainable Energy Development started in 2004 between Syria Jordan and Lebanon. The objective of this partnership is to enhance collaboration among universities and other stakeholders to promote energy efficiency and appropriate renewable energy technologies.

• UNEP Report on Green Jobs (2008)-

  The Worldwatch Institute has put together this report, funded by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) on the emergence of a “green economy” and its impact on the world workforce in the 21st Century. It gathers information for current green jobs in key economic sectors (renewable energy, buildings and construction, transportation, basic industry, agriculture, and forestry) and presents estimates for future green employment.

• Creating a Credit Market for Solar Thermal: the PROSOL Project in Tunisia- The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has been working with the finance sector since the late 1990s to develop innovative mechanisms for the promotion of sustainable energy technologies in developing countries. Through its Renewable Energy and Finance Unit, UNEP has implemented a variety of “financial catalysts” with the aim to lower risks, buy down transaction costs, build capacity and address soft market barriers that constrain sustainable energy technologies growth.
• Environmental Due Diligence (EDD) of Renewable Energy Projects- Environmental Due Diligence (EDD) is the collection and assessment of data relative to environmental conditions or impacts prior to a transaction to identify and quantify environment-related financial, legal, and reputational risks. Banks have put in place a number of instruments to manage risk. One of these instruments is commonly termed a Due Diligence review. Recently, it has become a way for financial institutions to incorporate environmental and social considerations in their investment review process.
• SEF Directory: Database of Lenders and Investors Worldwide- The Sustainable Energy Finance Directory (SEF) is a free-of-charge online database of lenders and investors who actively provide finance to the renewable energy and energy efficiency sector worldwide. "We support project developers, firms from the renewable energy sector, and communities that are looking for capital and suitable financing solutions," explains Kai Sametinger, who works at Germany’s Forseo GmbH. The Basel Agency for Sustainable Energy (BASE) of Switzerland founded the service in 2002 in cooperation with United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
• Bank of Maharashtra’s Financing of 17,472 Systems-

  The Honourable President of India, Pratibha Devi Singh Patil (second from left) handing the awards to the winners: The Bank of Maharashtra received the Best Bank Award for the five-year Solar Water Heating Systems Loan Programme (2002-2007). Photo: Bank of Maharashtra