Mexico

• 36. National Week of Solar Energy, Morelos- The 36^th National Week of Solar Energy (XXXVI Semana Nacional de Energía Solar) will take place from 1 to 5 October in Morelos, Mexico. The event is organized by the National Solar Energy Association (ANES). Researchers, scholars, students, businessmen, government officers, non-government organizations and other people interested in renewable energy resources are encouraged to attend this main event. The activities of the National Week of Solar Energy cover conferences, workshops and hands-on courses.
• Mexico: No More Loans for Low-Pressure Solar Thermal Systems-

  Low-Pressure solar thermal systems - such as water-filled, double-glass vacuum tube collectors - are no longer eligible to receive loans from the Hipoteca Verde programme in Mexico. This is the result of changes made by the National Commission for the Efficient Use of Energy (CONUEE) to its technical specifications for solar water heaters. These recent changes, however, do not affect solar thermal systems which work at pressures of 3 bar or more.

• Opening of the Kioto Collector Factory in Mexico-

  Thumbs up! Klaus Meier, general manager of Kioto S.A., Marlon Rechberger, sales director of Kioto S.A. and Robert Kanduth, chairman of the board of Kioto Clear Energy AG(from left to right), are satisfied with their new production unit in the Mexican city of El Salto (Guadalajara). Photo: Kioto

• Mexico: 25,000 Solar Home Project starts with Delay-

  Final agreement: André Eckermann (left), Programme Director of the German Agency for Technical Cooperation (GTZ), and Victor Manuel Borrás Setién, head of Infonavit, shook hands during the official launch of the 25,000 solar roof programme in Mexico in the middle of June. The programme is financed by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU).
  Photo: GTZ

• 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

• Solar Heating Entry Level Learning Objectives (2011)-

  This following is a document from the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) that lays out potential “Learning Objectives” for an entry level solar thermal installer certification course. The document identifies 6 main areas of learning, and gives an outline on how to possible grade an exam based on these criteria.

• 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.
• 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.

• Spain: Export Helps Solar Thermal Industry Survive-

  One of the biggest Spanish collector manufacturers, Termicol, can still celebrate its 10^th anniversary this year. The company has managed to counter the decline in the Spanish market by expanding its business abroad. Today, the export of collectors generates 20 % of the company´s turnover. With its own brand, Termicol claims a market share of around 10 % in its home country.
  Photo: Termicol

• EULARINET Latin American-European Workshop on Renewable Energies (2011)-

  This activity report is one of the deliverable of the EURALINET project (European Union - Latin American Research and Innovation Networks Initiative), funded under the FP7 EU funding programme. The document reports the activities done with regards to solar thermal and it was presented during a meeting in Mexico City, Mexico.

• Concentrating Solar Thermal Systems for Generating Electricity (2010)-

  This is a presentation from the Mexican Non-Conventional Energy Management Electric Power Research Institute aimed at describing the perspectives of using concentrating solar power (CSP) technologies, and the implications stemming from this choice. It was made during the Latin American Energy Organization (OLADE) Electricity Workshop held in Paraguay in May 2010.

• ISES Solar World Congress 2013, Cancún- The ISES Solar World Congress 2013 (SWC 2013) is the world's largest scientific congress in the field of solar energy and buildings. It will take place from 17-22 March 2013 in Cancún, México. The SWC 2013 brings together leading scientists as well as representatives, universities and companies from the most important solar research institutes and universities world-wide. It offers the solar community an unique interesting and exciting exchange platform on the latest developments in the fields of solar energy.
• National Week of Solar Energy, Mérida- The National Week of Solar Energy will be organized by La Asociación Nacional de Energía Solar (ANES), la Universidad Tecnológica de la Zona Metropolitana de Guadalajara and el Consejo de Ciencia y Tecnología de Jalisco
• National week of Solar Energy, Mérida- The National Association of Solar Energy in Mexiko (ANES) organises the national week of solar energy with conferences and trainings for professionals of the solar thermal sector.
• 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).

• Finland / Germany: T-Drill presented at Intersolar Europe-

  Munich's Intersolar in June was the first-ever German event at which Finnish company T-Drill O presented its machinery. With a focus on pipe processing for solar thermal absorbers, the company offers T-Drill machines, as well as pipe cutting, pipe end closing and end forming machines. The photo shows Timo Lehtonen, Sales Director at T-Drill, presenting the main component of a T-Drill machine: the tool that can drill and collar during a single production step.
  Photo: Bärbel Epp

• Mexico: UNDP starts Best Practices Recognition Award 2011-

  Public institutions and private enterprises which run high-yield solar water heater projects are now able to submit their application to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) office in Mexico. “The most outstanding projects on solar water heating development in Mexico will be recognised with an Award,” UNDP Mexico stated at the beginning of July. Interested private and public actors are invited to send their documentation to csamexico@undp.org until 10 August 2011.

• Mexico: Two Collector Manufacturers upgrade their Collector Production-

  Products turn out big at Kioto Clear Energy: Sales and Marketing Director Marlon Rechberger (left) and General Manager Klaus Maier present a laser-welded absorber produced by the newly purchased laser-welding machine. 
  Photo: Kioto Clear Energy

• Pool Heating Process -

• 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.
• Mexico: Great goals partially met-

  Mexico is known for its great numbers and plans which are not always fully met. Although some “great goals were only partially met”, the solar thermal market has grown substantially in recent years, mainly because of the booming building sector. The photo shows one of the newly constructed housing areas in the city of Zumpango near Mexico City, with 150 litre thermosiphon systems on each roof and a total of 1,100 systems.
  Photo: GIZ / Marco Lemus

• 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

• Cyprus: 4th International Solar Air-Conditioning Conference in Lanarca-

  Following Bad Staffelstein (Germany, 2005), Terragona (Spain, 2007), and Palermo (Italy, 2009), the 4th International Solar Air Conditioning Conference will now take place in Lanarca, Cyprus, from 12 to 14 October 2011. Over the years, the conference has grown into an important event, at which scientists and industrial researchers, product manufacturers, building designers and planners, contractors, and installers have met to exchange knowledge and experiences. The complete conference schedule is now available for download - and also attached to this news piece.
  Photo: Zenith Consulting Engineers

• Solar Thermal Energy in Mexico (2010)-

  This report has been arranged by the TECH4DCM project which is financed by the European Union (EU) FP6 (Sixth Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development). This EU Project focuses on promoting solar thermal energy and is being carried out in five countries; Argentina, Chile, Ecuador, Mexico and Peru. The project’s primary goal is the promotion of renewable and efficient energy technologies, paying special attention to overcoming technological barriers.

• Mexico: New Industry Association Protects Local Industry Against Cheap Imports -

  Since 1976 in the solar thermal business: Salvador Steffani is the founder and General Director of the collector manufacturer Captasol. His company is initiator of the newly founded Renewable Energy Industry Association FAMERAC and member of the National Association of Solar Energy (ANES).
  Photo: Captasol

• Mexico: Vacuum tubes in 48 % of residential Solar Water Heaters -

  The marketing campaign for solar hot water systems in the residential sector in Mexico, Procalsol (2007 to 2012), bore fruit: According to the annual market statistics of the National Association of Solar Energy (ANES), the newly installed collector area in households almost tripled from 53,183 m² in 2008 to 132,934 m² last year.

• 25,000 “Solar Roofs” for Mexico-

  Small thermosiphon systems are in the focus point of the new 25,000 Solar Roofs Programme of the German Agency for Technical Cooperation (GTZ) in Mexico. From the beginning of 2010 on, residential home owners, who want to buy a solar water heating installation, can apply for a subsidy of around EUR 100 per system – independent from the size of it. “Households with a small income, which normally could not buy a solar water heater, should benefit from the programme,” states the official project description.

• Combined Solar Power and Desalination Plants: Update on the MED-CSD Project (2009)-

  This presentation from 2009 provides an update of the MED-CSD project. The main aim of this project is the assessment of the technico-economic potential of CSP for electricity and desalination in the Mediterranean region. The presentation first gives a global overview by linking the regions suffering from water scarcity with the global potential for concentrating solar power.

• Thematic Review of GEF-Financed Solar Thermal Projects (2001)-

  This paper reports the developments of four projects financed by the UN Global Environment Facility (GEF) in India, Morocco, Mexico and Egypt. The GEF chose those countries to develop solar thermal power technology as it has shown to be one of the most cost efficient options for renewable bulk power production, besides being the most cost-effective way of producing electricity from solar radiation.

• USA: Strategic Partnership between Tank and Collector Manufacturer-

  Start of a new cooperation: Bill Vallett, Jr., President of Lochinvar (left) and Robin Welling, Managing Director of Tisun, presented their new brand Lochinvar/Tisun at the AHR Expo in Orlando, Florida, in spring this year.
  Photo: Tisun

• National Week of Solar Energy, Guanajuato - The 34^th National Week of Solar Energy will take place from 4 to 9 October in Guanajuato, Mexico. The event is organized by the National Solar Energy Association (ANES) and the University of Guanajuato.
  
  Researchers, scholars, students, businessmen, government officers, non-government organizations and other people interested in renewable energy resources are encouraged to attend this main event. The activities of the National Week of Solar Energy cover conferences, workshops and hands-on courses as well as a Solar Industrial Trade Expo (6 to 8 October).
• USA: A.O. Smith, Rheem and Bradford White discover Solar Technology-

  The three major US-American water heater manufacturers - A.O. Smith, Rheem and Bradford White – are pushing into the solar thermal sector. All of them specialize in solar water heaters in the size of 60 / 80 and 120 gallons. Rheem and A.O. Smith additionally offer entire kits by purchasing collectors from OEM manufacturers. Photo: Rheem

• Mexico Solar Panels for Climate Protection (22.02.2010)-

  This short report prepared by DW TV shows how Mexico is trying to reduce CO2 emissions, by launching incentive programmes for the purchase of solar water heater systems in the country, while struggling against the low environmental awareness of the population The TV show interviewed a young couple, living 2 hours away from Mexico City. The couple highlights the advantages of solar water heating systems compared to conventional systems. The solar panels are much easier and faster to use and also allow a considerable reduction on the monthly bills.

• 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

• Policy Measures to Support Solar Water Heating: Information, Incentives and Regulations (2007)-

  This report was submitted by the World Energy Council in 2007. It describes the different instruments used to promote the diffusion of solar panels for heating water. The measures include economic incentives, regulations and strategies to improve the quality of equipment and installations through the use of technical standards and quality labels. The report includes case studies to show as a cross-section of programmes set up in industrialized and developing countries. The case studies include the following countries: Austria, China, India, Mexico, Spain, and Tunisia.

• Solar Thermal Portfolio: a Status Report (2004)-

  This document was prepared by the World Bank and summarises the progress of projects in four countries — Egypt, Morocco, India and Mexico — and to establish a timetable for costs and completion.

  It also mentions milestones and expected target dates for projects (average time elapsed for the solar thermal projects range from six to eight years).

  You can see the complete document below or download it.

• Green credits in Mexico: Push for the Market- Social housing in Mexico with solar water heaters: Tecamac is a typical suburb of Mexico City, where inhabitants can purchase apartments at a reasonable price. Photo: GTZ Mexico
  

• Mexico: Every Third Solar System is Used Commercially-

  Commercial use of solar water heaters is gaining momentum in Mexico. Hotels, public swimming pools and industries used about 30 % of the 165,632 m² (116 MW_th) of collector area installed in 2008 to cover their demand in hot water or heating (see the following figure), concluded a market study by the national solar industry association ANES (Asociación Nacional de Energía Solar).

• Mexico: 25,000 “Solar Roofs” Programme-

  Small thermosiphon systems are in the focus point of the new 25,000 Solar Roofs Programme of the German Agency for Technical Cooperation (GTZ) in Mexico.

  Photo: GTZ Mexico

• Solar Water Heating Legislation in Mexico (2009)-

  Jaime Brash G., from the Mexican National Commission for Energy Efficiency (CONUEE), made this presentation during a solar heating and cooling workshop which took place in July 2009 in Mexico City.

  The presentation explains the national programme PROCASOL (2007-2012) created to boost solar energy in the Mexican residential sector. It refers the main obstacles and drivers of the solar thermal development and the new regulations brought by the programme.

  Estimations are that by 2012, 1.800.000 m2 of solar collectors will be in place.

• 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.

• Carbon Finance and Solar Water Heating Technology (2004)- This document (from 2004) explores the potential of carbon finance to boost markets for solar water heating (SWH) technology in developing countries. It also introduces many of the barriers that have traditionally prevented SWH from gaining a foothold in the residential and commercial energy sectors.
• Testing Draft Standards and Regulations on Solar Systems (2002)-

  This document from 2002, produced by ANES, the Mexican national association of solar energy, summarises a set of tests meant to evaluate draft regulations and standards on solar collectors and water heating systems. The objective is to help producing legislation, containing all the necessary requirements to equipments and systems used to produce solar thermal energy. The document provides clear information on all the procedures and steps that need to be undertaken during the tests. The specific exams referred are:

• Assessment of the World Bank/GEF Strategy for the Market Development of Concentrating Solar Thermal Power (2006)-

  This report from 2006 gives a detailed assessment on the approach of GEF towards concentrating solar power development. In particular it looks into the GEF's Operational Programme 7 (OP 7) which deals with the development of technologies with low greenhouse gas emissions that are not yet commercial, but which show promise of becoming so in the future.

• Process Heat Collectors - State of the Art within Task 33/IV-

  This document provides an overview into the types of process heat technology describing the technology in easy-to-understand terms, and provides information on their stage in development.

  Technologies covered are:

  Advanced Flat-plate Collectors
  Evacuated Tube Collectors
  CPC Collectors
  Parabolic Trough Collectors
  Linear Concentrating Fresnel Collectors
  Concentrating Collectors with Stationary Reflector

  The second section of the document provides an overview of installations and their operation.

• Overview on Worldwide Installed Solar Cooling Systems (2007)-

  This report was submitted by the Institute for Renewable Energy and EURAC Research of Bolzano, Italy in 2007. It is an overview on worldwide installed solar assisted cooling systems.

• International Technology Collaboration and Climate Change Mitigation - Case Study 1: CSP technologies (2004)-

  This case study from 2004 was prepared by the OECD and IEA secretariats and reviews past and current experiences in international collaboration in the field of CSP technologies. In addition to identifying the success stories and the failures of CSP related international collaboration, the case study also lists four important lessons:

  1) International collaboration may help, but domestic policy decisions remain decisive

  2) In technology transfer non-financial barriers must not be underestimated

• Mexico City Shows the Way to Solar Obligations in Central America -

  Larger flat plate collector systems are gaining momentum in Mexico city, thanks to a Environmental Norm which makes solar water heaters mandatory. The photo shows a 144 m² collector field of a public swimming pool in the district of Miguel Hidalgo in Mexico City. Quelle: GTZ / Foto: Marco A. Lemus

• International Experiences with the Promotion of Solar Water Heaters (SWH) at Household-level-

  The objective of this paper is to analyse and evaluate international experiences with the promotion of solar water heaters at household level.

  During the compilation of this study, it became apparent that responsible organisations did not pay much attention to a distinct monitoring and an explicit evaluation of promotion programmes. The study shows which promotion measures resulted particularly successful, which difficulties occurred during their implementation and how these circumstances possibly could have been avoided.