Belgium

• TramStore21 Report: Building Sustainable and Efficient Tram Depots for Cities in the 21st Century – Solar Thermal Systems (2012)-

  This report compares experiences of solar thermal technology for the five benchmark tram depots of the TramStore21 project. For the project, five European partners – from the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Belgium, France and Italy – have worked since 2008 at pooling existing best practices and know-how for the construction of four benchmark tram depots.

• Sonnenkraft: “We Have a Responsibility to Innovate and Develop Solar Energy”- With the expansion to the United Kingdom and Switzerland, Sonnenkraft’s network of sales offices now spans across nine countries. When adding the company’s partnerships in other markets, the manufacturer is among the solar thermal businesses with the most extensive market coverage across Europe. Solarthermalworld.org spoke to Magnus Wallin (left), who has been Director of new and emerging markets in Sonnenkraft since 2008, and Torben Sørensen (right), CEO of SolarCAP since 2010 (the Danish holding company of Sonnenkraft – among other companies) who came from a position as CEO of Faber and Benthin Group (subsidiaries of VKR Holding), about the market potential in different European countries and the company’s future growth strategy.
  Photos: Sonnenkraft
• ESTTP Workshop “Future challenges for solar thermal R&D”, Brussels- The Workshop “Future challenges for solar thermal R&D” organised by the ESTTP (European Solar Thermal Technology Panel) of the European Technology Platform on Renewable Heating & Cooling (RHC-Platform) will take place in Brussels, on the 12^th December 2011. The workshop will discuss some of the challenges for solar thermal R&D and contribute to the update of the ESTTP Strategic Research Agenda (SRA).
• 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.

• Potential for Solar Heat in Industrial Processes (2008)-

  This paper from 2008 wants to highlight the potential use of solar thermal plants to provide heat for industrial applications. It reports on studies which have been carried out accross the world: Austria, Australia, Belgium, Germany, Greece, Portugal and Spain.

  The report states that the main focus of solar thermal today is on the residential sector, which, as is acknowledged, has a lot of opportunities. However, the report also shows that the potential for industrial applications may not be ignored due to its share in primary energy consumption.

• Belgium: Ambitious Targets for Solar Thermal- After a five-month delay, Belgium finally submitted its National Renewable Energy Action Plan (NREAP) in November 2010 - with quite ambitious targets for solar thermal: The cumulative collector area is to increase by a 22-fold, from 0.21 million m² in 2010 to 4.62 million m² in 2020. Tax credits and incentive programmes are thought to support the implementation. However, experts doubt its feasibility.
  Source: NREAP/own calculations
  
  
• European Solar Days Advocacy Event, Brussels- The  European Solar Days Advocacy Event  “Europe’s energy independence and security of supply starts with solar” will take place at Radisson Blu EU Hotel, Brussels, Belgium on 26 May 2011. The debate on Europe’s energy mix is today more important than ever. Recent events have accentuated the need to consider alternative, more sustainable energy sources. Renewable energies and especially solar energy can play a central role within Europe’s energy strategy. European energy independence and security will be the core theme of this year’s European Solar Days campaign closing event.
• EREC 2011 – Europe’s Renewable Energy Policy Conference in Brussels-

  Europe’s Renewable Energy Policy Conference, EREC, is going to take place in Brussels on 24 May 2011. The 4th Biannual Edition is a discussion forum for the European renewable energy industry, and favours interactions with the European Parliament, as well the new European Commission. The conference will provide a reality check on the 2010 White Paper Targets for Renewable Energy Sources, debate the implementation of the Renewable Energy Directive, and outline Europe’s energy pathway to 2050.

• EREC 2011, Brussels- Europe’s Renewable Energy Policy Conference will take place in Brussels at 24 May 2011. The 4th Biannual Edition will be an unique platform for the European renewable energy industry and promotes interactions with the European Parliament as well as the new European Commission and will provide a reality check on the 2010 White Paper Targets for Renewable Energy Sources, debate the implementation of the Renewable Energy Directive and outline Europe’s energy pathways to 2050. More than 600 stakeholders are expected to attend from a wide range of backgrounds.
• Antarctic: Polar Station "Princess Elisabeth" wants to expand Solar System -

  According to a press release by German manufacturer Consolar, the solar thermal system at the Antarctic polar station "Princess Elisabeth" is going to be expanded during the current research season 2010/2011. The station of the International Polar Foundation (IPF) started its work in February 2009 and is the first polar research base operating entirely on renewable energies (see http://www.solarthermalworld.org/node/605). Thomas Gillon (photo) from the Belgium office of Consolar put the two systems through their paces and could confirm their flawless operation even under extreme weather conditions.
  Photo: International Polar Foundation

• Sweden: First Buffer Tank receives P-Mark Certificate -

  The buffer tank Ecoscience by Swedish tank manufacturer Fueltech Sweden AB is the first tank to receive the P-Mark certification. After one year of testing and paper work, the P-labelling of the 520 litre tank with fresh-water station and external solar loading module was approved at the beginning of November 2010. P-Mark is a quality mark developed by SP, the Swedish National Testing and Research Institute. To receive the label, a product must fulfil requirements in four different categories: efficiency, safety, documentation and manufacturing quality.
  Photo: Fueltech Sweden

• Baxi Group: US$ 3 million for a New Collector Production in Turkey-

  A modern Turkish collector factory: Baymak purchased a laser-welding machine as part of the new collector production unit at Istanbul. Photo: Baymak

• European Solar Days: Around 6,600 Events in 17 European Countries-

  Everything revolves around the sun: 17 European countries participate in the 3rd edition of the European Solar Days from 1 to 16 May 2010. Around 6,600 events are planned for this year’s campaign, involving several hundred thousand citizens at a local level.
  Photo: Fotostudio Pflueg

• ProSTO Workshop, Brussels- Solar Thermal Ordinances (STO) are legal provisions stipulating the installation of solar thermal systems in buildings. In general, the obligation applies equally to new buildings and major refurbishments.
  
  Most of the existing STOs are incorporated into national or regional energy legislation and implemented through municipal building codes. Municipalities, regions and countries are increasingly adopting solar thermal obligations and already over 150 million people in Europe live in regions covered by a STO.
  
• REPAP2020: Roadmap Fixes 2020 Targets for the Solar Share in the Heating and Cooling Sector-

  Some countries in Europe have made plans for using solar energy to cover between 1 and 4% of their gross final demand of heating and cooling by 2020. The states with the most ambitious targets regarding their national sector are Portugal, Germany and France.
  Source: National RES Industry Roadmaps

• Barriers to Technology Diffusion: the Case of Solar Thermal Technologies (2006)-

  This joint paper from the OECD and IEA (October 2006) looks into the different barriers that exist which prevent solar thermal technologies to deliver its real potential. Next to listing the barriers, the document also looks into means to overcome these, the existing technologies & markets and identifies best practices which can be used by policy makers in both industrialised and developing countries.

  Three barriers to diffusion are analysed in more detail:

  (1) Technical barriers,

  (2) Economic barriers and

• Process Heat: the Solar Thermal Challenge of the Future-

  So far solar thermal technology is mostly used for domestic hot water, pool heating and room heating. It´s often forgotten that there is a huge demand for heat below 250 °C in industry, which can easily be reached with solar thermal collectors.

  An international team of researchers working on behalf of the International Energy Agency estimated the realisable potential of solar process heat in the European Union at 100 GW_th, which corresponds to 140 million m² of collector area. T

  Today, however, a solar thermal capacity of only 13.5 GW_th is in operation across Europe. Task 33 of the International Energy Agency reported 85 solar process heat plants worldwide with a capacity of 27 MWth. However, this market segment seems to be waking up. Just recently, news about huge solar process heat installations did the rounds. There is the 13,000 m² plant in Hangzhou, China, on the roof of the textile dyeing factory Daly Ltd., which is most probably the biggest installation for solar process heat in the world. The total investment adds up to RMB 12 million (€ 1.11 million) including the tanks and mounting system. According to the project developer, the Chinese company Shenzhen Quir Solar Technology Co., Ltd, the solar collectors will save RMB 3.38 million (€ 0.31 million) per year, so that the investment will pay off within 3 years. The hot water is provided at a low temperature of 55 °C. Secondly, this summer the German brewery Hofmühl GmbH in Eichstätt will start operating a pilot plant with 1,389 m² of vacuum tube collectors, which will supply process heat between 90 and 140 °C to the brewing and cleaning processes. The owner of the system estimates a reduction of 20 % in the annual energy demand of the factory. The company is convinced that the investment will pay off and has plans for subsequent upsizing to 3,000 m². The project is being subsidised by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety.

  What are the main topics for the future to open this new market sector?

• Solar Thermal e-Learning: Education without a Classroom-

  Electronic »e-Learning« programmes for solar heating are beginning to gain popularity with training centres in the UK. These are designed to assist training centres in teaching solar domestic hot water installation techniques to apprentices and engineers. Source: www.elearning-shop.co.uk

• Germany: Solar Thermal Should Cover 2.6 % of the Total Heat Demand by 2020 -

  Ways into a modern energy industry: This is the title of the German roadmap for all renewable energy technologies published by the German Renewable Energy Federation BEE in mid-December. The document states that Germany's policies will not be sufficient in utilizing the full potential of solar heating and cooling technology by 2020.

• European Solar Days Kick-off Today-

  The second European Solar Days are celebrated from 15 to 22 May with more than 500.000 citizens participating in 7.000 events in 15 European countries.

• Greece: A newly founded and independent Energy Ministry heads the drafting of NREAP-

  Some recent personnel changes taken by the new Greek government makes you optimistic about the future of renewable energy policy in Greece. First, the government appointed Prof. Arthouros Zervos, long-term President of the European Renewable Energy Council (EREC) and the European Wind Energy Association (EWEA), CEO of state-controlled Public Power Corporation (PPC), the country’s biggest electricity provider.

• PROCESOL II: Solar thermal plants in industrial processes – Design and maintenance guidelines (2002)- PROCESOL II project intends to promote the use of solar thermal systems coupled with heat recovery technologies in the industrial sector in Greece, Spain, Portugal, Germany, Austria, France and Belgium.
• Building Momentum for Solar Thermal Markets in Belgium (2002)-

  The solar thermal market in Belgium is at the beginning of a new era. Since 2000, several regional overnmental initiatives and action programmes have been initiated. An overview of implementation programmes across Wallonia and Brussels is also covered. This document from 2002 published on European Green Cities Network website.

  The Soltherm programme of the Walloon regional government is the most extensive one. The integrated approach of market and quality development is presenting its first successes.

• REFUND+ Final Report (2009)-

  The REFUND + project (2006-2009), supported by the Intelligent Energy Europe and ADEME (Agence de l'environnement et de la maîtrise de l'énergie), intends to identify, monitor and evaluate the impact of incentive schemes on the development of RES heating systems in private households in five countries: Austria, Belgium, France, Italy and Portugal. Implementation of specific financial instruments was simulated in two case studies in Lithuania and Poland.

• Harnessing Solar for District Energy: Europe Leading the Way- This article offers an outline to the solar district heating market in Europe and in particular outlines the trend to diurnal storage and heat-driven cooling applications. A SWOT analysis of the industry points to technical and non-technical barriers for market development, but highlights that among others combined heating and cooling offer advantages to the sector. The greatest potential for market development is foreseen for Germany, France, UK, Poland, Netherlands and Belgium. Information on centralised solar heating plants is also included.
• ArcelorMittal Launches Solar Copper Coating- The Belgium ArcelorMittal presented its new coating at the booth of European Solar Engineering SA (ESE) at the fair Intersolar 2008 in June. Photo: Bärbel Epp
  

• European Solar Days- The next European Solar Days will be celebrated from 1 to 16 May 2010 in 16 European countries: Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Slovenia , Spain, Switzerland, Denmark , Norway, Netherlands, UK, Belgium, Hungary, Poland and Sweden. The two weeks event is coordinated by the European Solar Thermal Industry Federation (ESTIF) in close co-operation with the European Photovoltaic Industry Association (EPIA) and supported by 24 organisations at a national and European level.
• EU Project: Introducing Solar District Heating to the Market-

  18 experts from twelve different institutions and associations met in Stuttgart, Germany, to launch the EU project SDHtake-off. This team is to develop and introduce a new approach and new instruments for a Europe-wide market introduction of solar district heating.
  Photo: Solites

• Dynamic Growth Throughout the European Solar Thermal Sector -

  Estec2009 – a meeting point for solar thermal experts in Europe: Around 400 representatives of associations, as well as manufacturers, politicians and researchers discussed trends, potentials and obstacles of the solar thermal sector. Photo: Bärbel Epp

• Webinar: Compact Heat Storage- Registration: www.onlineregistrationcenter.com/register Title: Compact Thermal Energy Storage Technologies: Status, Applications and Developments Speaker: Wim van Helden (ECN) Abstract: More than half of the primary energy consumption is for the generation of heat. Thermal energy storage is of key importance for energy reduction technologies and for increasing the share of renewables in the thermal energy consumption.