Brazil

• Solar Water Heating and Rainwater Towers in Florianópolis, Brazil (2009)-

  This report was written by the Laboratory for Energy-efficiency in Buildings (LabEEE), Department of Civil Engineering, University of Santa Catarina, Brazil. It focuses on solar water thermal heating and rainwater towers that were installed in affordable housing for low-income citizens of Brazil.

• Solar Water Heating & The CDM (2009)-

  This document was created by Green Markets International, and focuses on solar thermal water heating in the context of climate protection and economic development. Examples from Brazil demonstrate how solar water heating could be successful in emerging economies, but is falling victim to “business as usual”.

• Brazil: Solar Water Heater Case Studies in Multi-family Housing-

  In cooperation with engineering office SE-Studio Equinócio, the International Copper Association (ICA) Latin America has released a publication which highlights the use of solar heating in large residential buildings. Three installations that have been monitored for several years show the economic, environmental and operational results of solar hot water use. The main conclusion: Solar heating reduces gas consumption by between 30% and 50% and pays back in less than four years (see the attached PDF in Portuguese).
  Photo: ICA

• Solar Energy (2005)-

  This is a document published by the Brazilian national agency for electricity. The document provides an overview of solar energy starting from the most basic concepts like solar radiation, down to the different technologies used for heating, electricity, difference between thermal and PV, among other technical details. The document also includes examples of installations in Brazil. Document only available in Portuguese

  Author: Brazilian Electricity Agency

• Portugal: Full Architectural Integration of Solar Thermal Technology-

  The architectural integration of solar thermal collectors has long been a concern to the industry. Portuguese company Sunaitec has now patented a new solution for the residential sector. According to General Manager Amílcar Lopes, 25 systems with the so-called ‘Multifunction Solar Structures’ have already been installed in Portugal. A first installation is also planned in Brazil. Sunaitec has been showcasing the multi-purpose solar thermal systems on several international events, including the Expo 2010 Shanghai and the GreenSolutions 2011 in Mexico.
  Photo: Sunaitec

• 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

• 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).

• 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.

• Belo Horizonte's Steps Towards a New Solar Energy Legislation (2010)-

  This case study was written by ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability. It focuses on the city of Belo Horizonte, which is the capital of the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais, and recaps their experience in passing a solar thermal hot water heating system mandate for their city.

• Argentina: Mendoza Solar Conference Promotes Solar Cities-

  An organisation to support solar energy in Argentina is the Solar City Network (Red de Ciudades Solares), which places the emphasis on solar water heating. Part of their work consists of non-commercial conferences and exhibitions, which take place in various cities across the country. The latest event supported by the Solar City Network took place in Mendoza in November 2011 and attracted more than 600 visitors. Local media even spoke about 1,000 people visiting the Mendoza Solar.
  Photo: National University of Cuyo

• Brazil: New Requirements for Solar Installations on Social Housing-

  The Brazilian social housing programme 'My Home My Life' has now entered its second phase (2011/2014). Despite new rules, installing a solar water heater remains mandatory for all single-family houses whose owners have a wage lower than Brazilian Real (BRL) 1,600. The sector had to wait until 27 September for the government-owned bank CAIXA to release the technical requirements for solar thermal systems. Now, the new projects are ready to begin. Each solar water system, including installation, is subsidised with up to 2,000 BRL/residential unit. For newly built multi-family houses, the low-income solar system is optional.
  Source: EPA

• Swiss Bank Sarasin: World Market Reaches 45 GWth in 2011 -

  This week, the Swiss Bank Sarasin published the 12^th edition of their solar industry report, covering all three solar technologies: solar heating and cooling (ST), photovoltaics (PV), and concentrating solar power (CSP). The chapter on solar thermal identifies great differences in the market development of national markets and regions. While the Chinese market continues to shine, many European countries are suffering from decreasing or stagnating markets. Nevertheless, Sarasin predicts a great future, with a global average growth of 12% per year until 2020.

• CB-Sol 2011, Campinas- The Brasilian Congress of Solar Heating CB-Sol will take place from 9 to 10 November in Campinas, Sao Paulo. The congress will be accompanied by the Solar Exhibition Exposolar 2011.
• Feicon Batimat, Sao Paulo- The construction world will be gathered at the Anhembi Exhibitors Pavilion, Sao Paulo, where the 20th edition of Feicon Batimat will take place from 27 to 31 March 2012. Feicon Batimat is a trend toolbox for architects, interior designers, retailers, and manufacturers. Visitors can check out all the releases, trends and effective solutions to serve the demanding construction market and its growing demand.
• 3rd ISES Latin American Regional Conference and 2nd Brazilian Solar Energy Congress, Florianopolis- The main objective of the second Brazilian Solar Energy Congress and the third ISES Latin-American Regional Conference is to gather the community involved with the more diverse forms of utilization of solar energy in Brazil and Latin America. Besides thermal and photovoltaic conversion processes, the covered subjects include wind energy, biomass, micro hydro and hydrogen as an energy storage medium. The main focus is scientific and technological but impact analysis, energetic policy and social discussions are not out of range.
• IEA Study "Solar Heat Worldwide": Global Market Growth of 22 % in 2006-

  2006 was an extremely satisfying year for the global solar thermal industry. According to the new study “Solar Heat Worldwide. Markets and contribution to the Energy Supply 2006” on behalf of IEA Solar Heating & Cooling Programme the new installations grew 22 % in 2006. The authors from the Austrian research institute AEE Intec surveyed 48 countries and added up the newly installed collector area to 18.3 GWth (26.1 million m2).

• Feasibility of Solar Energy for Domestic Hot Water and Heating (2006) -

  This is a poster prepared by Carlos Henrique Porfirio and Dalva de Araujo Vieira from the Architecture and Urbanism College of University of São Paulo, in Brazil. It analyses different options for domestic hot water and heating. The poster includes an introduction about solar energy, both PV and thermal, the international market and the Brazilian market as well. The document analyses the Brazilian market in terms of available legislation, main barriers and potential. It also refers examples of legislation in Germany, Israel and Spain.

• Refrigeration Project Using Solar Energy (2006)-

  This is a scientific paper done by Luis Eduardo about using solar energy for refrigeration. Refrigeration becomes very important especially for rural areas where electricity is not reliable. Using renewable energy in rural areas would decrease the use of electrical energy in the country, providing thus more reliable energy to the populations of these remote areas.

• Business Prospects for Solar Water Heating in Brazil (2006)-

  This study from 2006 published by Vitae Civilis analyses technical and financial alternatives to traditional water heating systems with a view to boost the development of new business models using solar thermal energy in residential, commercial and services sectors in South American countries.

• Solar Cooling Market to experience big Changes-

  According to Dr Uli Jakob, Vice President of the “Green Chiller - Association for Sorption Cooling”, the solar cooling sector may soon experience a shift from small series production of a niche market to considerable manufacturing quantities. Jakob points out two signs supporting such a development: First, the approval of the IEA-SHC task 48, “Quality Assurance and Support Measures for Solar Cooling“; second, the recent market entry of big players, such as Stiebel Eltron (Germany) and Hitachi (Japan).
  Photo: Bärbel Epp

• Brazil: Solar Cooling System from Germany for Eco-Hotel Pousada do Parque-

  Since the beginning of 2011, solar cooling technology from Thuringia/Germany ensures a pleasant indoor climate in the rooms of the eco-hotel Pousada do Parque in Cuiabá, Brazil. On 15 January, the pilot plant came into operation, and since then, it has not only provided cold water, but also important input for a current campaign to accelerate the use of solar cooling technology in the Brazilian hotel sector.
  Photo: Pousada do Parque

• Solar Chiller: Zero-net energy for building air conditioning in hot climates (2007)-

  This fact sheet was created by Escola Politécnica da Universidade de São Paulo. It provides information on solar thermal air conditioning strategies and potential programs in Brazil.

• Solar Water Heating as a Climate Protection Strategy: The Role for Carbon Finance- In January 2005 (revised in November 2005), a US non profit Green Market International released this study on the possible role of solar water heatering in international efforts to reduce GHG emissions for developing nations. The Kyoto protocol's Clean Developing Mechnisms (CDM) provides the opportunity for carbon trading to support environmental protection and economic development? Markets of Solar water heating is described in 6 developing countries, namely Barbados Brazil China India Mexico and South Africa.
• ISH 2011: Solar Trends in the Heating Industry -

  The ISH is becoming increasingly international. At the beginning of this March, the world´s largest trade fair for bathroom, building, energy and climate technology in Frankfurt, Germany, has counted significantly more international visitors than ever before. 35 % of the 204,000 trade visitors came from abroad (2009: 29 %), whereas the total number of visitors almost stagnated (+1.5 %). The ISH is the trade fair of the European heating industry. The five largest corporations - Bosch Thermotechnik, Vaillant, Viessmann from Germany, BDR Thermea, Netherlands, and Ariston from Italy - dominated Hall 8 with huge stands. Solarthermalworld.org presents some of the trends it discovered in the solar thermal product portfolio of Europe's heating business.
  Photo: ISH 2011
  
  

• Challenge of the world market: “Europe is stuck with high installation costs” -

  “Competition on price” was one of the key questions of the panel discussion at the international conference SMEthermal 2011 in Berlin on 10 February. Representatives from the major solar thermal markets worldwide discussed the challenges of the world market among them (left to right): Hakan Alas, General Manager, Ezinç Metal (Turkey), Michael Hsu, CEO, Sunshore Solar Energy – Business Development Central Europe (Austria/China) and Lucio Mesquita, Managing Director, Thermosol Consulting (Canada/Brazil). SMEthermal is an annual one-day conference dedicated exclusively to manufacturing of collectors and tanks, new materials and process optimisation. There were 160 participants from 22 different at the event.
  Photo: Solarpraxis AG / Therese Aufschlager

• Eletropaulo donates 5,000 Solar Water Heaters to Brazilian Families -

  The Company of Housing and Urban Development of the State of São Paulo (CDHU-SP) and the electricity utility AES Eletropaulo joined efforts to both reduce energy consumption and benefit low-income families. AES Eletropaulo announced in a press release at the end of May that it will donate and install 5,000 solar water heaters for more than 20,000 residents of buildings located in Tiradentes, east of Sao Paulo. The estimated investment by the company amounts to around USD 25 million. The programme fulfills the requirement of the national Electricity Regulatory Agency (ANEEL), which obliges all energy utilities in Brazil to spend at least 0.5 % of their net operation income on activities aimed at reducing electricity consumption.
  Photo: AES Eletropaulo

• Brazil: My Home My Life Programme requires Qualisol certified Installers-

  

  
  The Brazilian installer label Qualisol has recently gained greater visibility in the market. Not only does CAIXA, the national mortgage bank for the housing sector, now require installers to provide a Qualisol label to take part in the social housing programme My Home My Life (Minha Casa Minha Vida), but also some of the energy utilities' efficiency programmes accept only installers which are Qualisol certified.

• Intersolar Speakers present latest figures of key Solar Thermal Markets-

  Several well-known speakers shared their market figures from key solar thermal markets worldwide with the audience of the Global Solar Thermal Markets session at the Intersolar Conference at the beginning of June. Whereas India and Brazil maintain high growth rates, the European solar heating and cooling sector has to again cope with a decline of now 13 % in 2010 compared to the previous year. The chart shows the developments of markets with a volume of 200,000 and 500,000 m². It is part of the 16-page brochure “Solar Thermal Markets in Europe”, which the European Solar Thermal Industry Federation (ESTIF) presented at the Intersolar.
  Figure: ESTIF

• Launch of ISOL Navigator: Asia moves up, while Europe lags behind -

  The ISOL Navigator has been launched at the Intersolar Europe in Munich at the 8th of June. The international study presents the current and future market development in 16 key solar heating and cooling countries. The ISOL Navigator is based on the “ISOL Index”, an international business climate index developed by German agency solrico at the beginning of 2010. This ISOL index is a point-based indicator (ranging from 0 to 100 points) showing the satisfaction of solar thermal manufacturers and system suppliers with current and expected market development. Company values are averaged to obtain country and regional indices.
  Figure: solrico

• Brazil: low Income Multi-family House with individual Solar Water Heaters and Gas Back-up -

  The cooperation project between the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) and the federal housing bank CAIXA bears first fruits. A multi-family house in the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro with 496 units was equipped with one thermosiphon system each. This installation serves as a showcase for this kind of technology, as it is the first in Rio de Janeiro which uses gas instead of electricity as an auxiliary heating source.
  Photo: GIZ

• Peru and Chile: Transsen's Expansion Strategy-

  The newly formed Directive Board of Transsen Peru (left to right): Edson Pereira (President of Transsen Brazil), Abel Gutiérrez, Victor Bazualdo and Newton U. Koeke (International Business Manager of Transsen Brazil) Photo: Transsen
  

• Brazil: Social Housing Programme mandates Solar Water Heaters-

  All new houses built within the framework of “My Home My Life” (Minha Casa Minha Vida), a Brazilian housing programme for families with an income of a maximum of three times the minimum wage in the South, Southeast and Midwest region, will have to be equipped with solar water heaters. The regulation was announced by Inês Magalhães, the National Secretary of Housing, on 5 November in a news article on the Ecodebate website. The mandate will come into force at the beginning of 2011, during the second phase of the housing programme.

• Brazil: “Solar Water Heaters will become a culture”-

  Carlos F. C. Faria is the founder of Brazilian consultancy Studio Equinócio - SE and former director of the Brazilian solar industry association ABRAVA. Studio Equinócio is dedicated to the development of solar energy in Brazil. The company works in partnership with industries, associations, banks, local governments and energy utilities to establish a solar energy network in Latin America. At the Eurosun 2010, solarthermalworld.org spoke with Carlos Faria about what drives the market in Brazil.
  Photo: Eurosun
  
  

• "São Paulo Feels the First Effects of its Solar Building Code"-

• Brazil: Pros and Cons of Collector and Tank Labelling Programme-

  The history of solar heating in Brazil began in the early 1970ies with the emergence of the first factories for solar collectors. However, the development of the Brazilian market was only possible after INMETRO's creation of the Brazilian Labeling Program PBE in 1998.
  Source: www.inmetro.gov.br

• Brazil: Difficulties with implementing Solar Systems in Multi-family Buildings-

  The picture above shows one of the seven solar thermal systems installed in multi-family houses in Bahia State and subsidised by Coelba, the state's electric utility. Originally, Coelba intended to support a total of 20 systems, but only 7 were realised due to a lack of interest among construction companies.
  Photo: Presentation by Mariana Barreto Alfonso, Energy Efficiency Analyst at Coelba

• Brazil: South-East dominates Solar Thermal Market-

   Steeply uphill points the chart about the development of the solar thermal sector in Brazil. Even in the economically difficult year of 2009, the area of installed collectors increased by 19 % to 798,000 m². Two-thirds of the installations were set up in the four states of São Paulo, Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro and Espirito Santo, all located in the south-east of the country. Source: Dasol

• Solar thermal energy: A large market in Brazil-

  This document looks at the significant potential of Brazil on solar thermal energies and how a widespread use of this source of energy, replacing electric showers, for instance, could soften the burden of fossil energies, besides bringing considerable savings.

• FEICON BATIMAT 2011, Sao Paulo-

  The construction world will be gathered at the Anhembi Exhibitors Pavilion, Sao Paulo, where the 19^th edition of FEICON BATIMAT will take place from 15 to 19 March 2011. Feicon Batimat is a trend toolbox for architects, interior designers, retailers, and manufacturers. Visitors can check out all the releases, trends and effective solutions to serve the demanding construction market and its growing demand.
  

• Which are the major solar thermal markets worldwide?-

  By far the largest solar thermal market in the world according to newly installed solar thermal capacity per year is China. In 2008, around 21 GW_th (30 million m²) were sold in China, which was around 80 % of the world global solar thermal market.

• Eurosun 2008: Decision for Solar Thermal-

  Eurosun 2008 took place in Lisbon from 7^th to 10^th of October. Photo: Joachim Berner

• Brazil: September's Solar Energy Congress in the far North-

  The third Brazilian Solar Energy Congress (III CBENS) is going to take place in the city of Belem in the northern state of Pará from 21 to 24 September 2010.

• 3. Brazilian Solar Energy Congress (III CBENS), Belem-

• Brazil: Sizing tool for Solar Water Heaters in Multi-Family Housings of São Paulo -

  Since July 2008, it has been mandatory for all newly built residential and non-residential buildings in the Brazilian city of São Paulo to install a solar water heating system on their premises (see http://www.solarthermalworld.org/node/631). São Paulo is one of the leading cities in Brazil with a population of 11 million.

• Brazil: Solar Car Wash saves Water and Chemicals-

  Solar plug'n'play solution in Brazil: The unit developed by Brazilian company E2 Solar consists of a solar roof with 16 collectors and a storage tank with a capacity of 2,500 litres.
  Photo: Petrobras

• Brazil: Housing Projects Including More than 15,000 Solar Water Heaters in 2010-

  Minas Gerais is the leading state for solar thermal technology in Brazil: The state housing company COHAB plays a major role and started solar housing projects already in the late nineties. The photo shows a housing area in the city of Betim. Photo: COHAB

• International Comparison of Warranty Periods granted by Collector Manufacturers-

  “How long is the warranty period of your flat plate or your vacuum tube collector?” This question was posed as part of a global solar thermal industry survey to 300 collector manufacturers from 40 different countries. Figure: solrico

• Monier present in the Solar Thermal Markets of 12 Countries-

  Monier is expanding its worldwide solar business: As Director Business Line Solar, Christian Pohl has been responsible for the worldwide activities of the Monier Group in the field of solar since the first of January. Photo: Monier

• Solar Cities Initiative: São Paulo's Solar Obligation in New Buildings (2006)-

  This solar obligation from 2006 requires the installation of solar heating in homes and in single rooms with 4 or more bathrooms.

  Single residences or apartments with up to 3 bathrooms need to be prepared by entrepreneurs for the future installation of solar heaters. The new residential buildings are also required to have solar heaters installed in new buildings constructed in the city.

• Growth Above Average in Brazil - Since 2006, the solar thermal market in Brazil has shown growth rates above average. And according to some experts, these growth rates will continue during the coming years, despite the global economic crisis.
  
  Brazil has used solar thermal technologies to heat water in domestic households for about 20 years now. The increase in newly installed solar collectors per year has been slow, but stable (see chart below) - with the sole exception of the Brazilian electricity crisis in 2001 that caused the rate of installed collectors to increase to 50 %.
  
• Brazil: Lessons learned in Social Housing Projects with Solar Systems (2005)-

  It was a highlight for the press in those days: In the year 2000, 100 out of the 800 families participating in the social housing project in Contagem, Brazil, received a solar water heater for their home. The tank of the thermosiphon systems was installed below the roof top.

• Solar Water Heating as a Climate Protection Strategy: The Role for Carbon Finance (2005)-

  This analysis (from 2005 by Green Markets International) of carbon finance covers its impact on domestic solar water heating, and the market implications six countries (Barbados, Brazil, China, India, Mexico, and South Africa).

  More specifically it examines the contribution that SWH can make to carbon abatement in several developing countries that are eligible to participate in major carbon trading programs. It also explores how participation in carbon trading can boost SWH markets.

• Brazil: How the “My Home my Life” Programme Can Help the Solar Water Heater Sector-

  Minha Casa Minha Vida: This spring, the Brazilian Government launched the “My Home My Life” programme, which plans to set up 1 million homes for low-income families over the next two years and may also benefit the solar sector.
  Photo: www.minhacasaminhavida.gov.br

• Brazil Evaluates Its Solar Thermal Installations-

  Evaluation project in Brazil: The Grupo de Estudos em Energia (GREEN) at Pontificia Universidade Católica de Minas Gerais, also called the Brazilian Center for the Development of Thermo-Solar Energy, checks the quality of components and installed systems. Foto: GREEN

• Solar obligation by the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil-

  The state of Rio de Janeiro is the front runner in terms of solar building codes on a state level. In January 2008, its state government approved a law that makes the installation of solar water heating systems mandatory for public buildings.

   

• Solar Obligation by the Municipality in São Paulo-

  The huge city of São Paulo, with its approx. 19 million inhabitants, approved the first solar obligation on a municipality level in July 2007. Solar water heaters have since become mandatory in a wide range of new residential and non-residential buildings.

• Benefits of Solar Mandates (Ordinances) and Template for City Regulations-

  Mandating the installation of solar heating in buildings is not a new idea. Since 1980, the use of this technology for solar heaters has been mandatory in Israel, (the world's first country to adopt such a policy for the use of solar energy). Many other countries and many cities are also adopting this policy, including Brazil.

  In Europe much effort has been made for a broad introduction of policies that make a mandatory minimum supply of solar thermal energy in buildings.

  There are several benefits attributed to solar energy obligations:

• R-energy, Sao Paolo- R-energy is a global initiative to create a comprehensive expo and congress network for the renewable energy industry. During the events visitors will find exhibition areas dedicated to wind energy, solar, geothermal, hydroelectric, hydrogen, biofuels, biogas, etc. The first two editions of R-energy will be held in Buenos Aires and one week later in Sao Paolo. Both editions of R-energy will offer a conference programme with lectures on the latest trends and developments in business and academic sectors of renewable energy in Argentina and Brazil.
• SWERA Programme- GEF (Global Environmental Facility) funded UNEP project: The SWERA Programme’s mission is to provide easy access to high quality renewable energy resource data and other products to users all around the world (Bangladesh - Brazil - China - Cuba - El Salvador - Ethiopia - Ghana - Guatemala - Honduras - Kenya - Nepal - Nicaragua - Sri Lanka). These products are available through the SWERA web site and include Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and time series data, along with energy optimization tools needed to apply these data and facilitate renewable energy policy and investment.