Australia

• USA: Slowdown in 2009 while Imports go up-

  Slowdown in the US: After the 2008 peak, the total sold area of medium temperature collectors decreased by 5 % in 2009, to 204,700 m². Exports amounted to only 2,100 m² of collector area, which means that the newly installed collector area in the United States in 2009 adds up to a total of 202,500 m².
  Source: Energy Information Administration

• Concentrating Solar Power: Global Outlook 09-

  This 2009 report looks into the global outlook of concentrating solar power (CSP). The report first looks into the different CSP technologies and makes a comparison based on the advantages and disadvantages. The report also provides an overview of the CSP development by region. For certain countries per region a more detailed assessment is provided. In particular, the potential of the Mediterranean and the MENA region is being assessed.

• Zero Carbon Australia Stationary Energy Plan (2010)-

  This is the synopsis of a report prepared by Beyond Zero Emissions and the Climate Emergency Network, with the support from Climate Positive. The final version of the report will be launched on 14 July 2010.

  The Zero Carbon Australia 2020 project was conceived to develop a blueprint for the transition to a decarbonised Australian economy by 2020. Wind and Concentrating Solar Thermal (CST) with Molten Salt Storage are the two primary technologies used, with some backup from biomass and existing hydro.

• Australia: Country's largest Solar Cooling System on Hospital -

  The largest solar cooling plant built in Australia so far has been running since April 2011. The solar-assisted cooling installation is a project by the Echuca Regional Health, a public hospital in Echuca, around two and a half hours drive north of Melbourne.
  Photo: Echuca Regional Health 

• Australia: Second Decline in a Row-

  The Australian solar thermal market has not actually recovered since the boom year 2009. According to the Head of the Renewable Department of Rheem Australia Pty Ltd, Chris Mundy, the total installed collector area in 2011 again decreased by around 13 % to 100,000 systems. In 2009, around 150,000 systems had found a buyer in Australia. The company is still advertising the subsidies that have been granted around the country, but these subsidies will stop in June 2012. This means that economic prospects will likely remain difficult this year.
  Source: www.solahart.com.au

• Estimated Hot Water System Running Costs in Victoria (2010)-

  This report was prepared by Energy Consult Ltd. for the Sustainability Victoria governmental agency’s programme. The goal of the report was to estimate the annual energy consumption, GHG emissions and energy running costs of different hot water and heat pump systems in Victoria. This study is an update of an earlier study done by the same company.

• Australia: Victoria runs Solar Hot Water Rebate programme -

  Since the 14^th June, 2008 the Victorian Government runs the Solar Hot Water Rebate programme, administered by Sustainability Victoria, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions for water heating in the private sector which accounts for around 20 % of a household's greenhouse gas emissions in the state. The incentive programme assists regional and metropolitan Victorian households to switch their existing electric or gas hot water system to solar.

  The guidelines of the programme have been revised at 1 July 2011 and the amount of subsidies is reduced since then.

• Australia: Reasons for the Slowdown of the Solar Thermal Market-

  In Australia, solar water heating systems are more and more overshadowed by photovoltaic installations. According to Chris Mundy, General Manager - Renewable Energy at Rheem Australia, the solar thermal market is going to decrease by around 30 % this year compared to the boom year 2009 with around 420,000 m² of newly installed collector area. Rheem is the market leader in solar thermal in Australia. It has two major brands: Solahart and Edwards.
  Photo: Solahart

• Western Australian: rebates for gas-boosted solar systems -

  The Solar Water Heater Subsidy Scheme in Western Australia began in late 2001. The latest extention was approved in June 2009, when a new budget of Australian Dollar (AUD) 6 million was released. Since May 2006 the subsidy scheme is focused on gas-boosted solar systems, which have much lower greenhouse gas emissions than any other commercially available hot water systems.  Recently the scheme was extended until 30 June 2013.

• Australia: Vacuum Tube Collector with Overheating Protection-

  Chinese company Hejia Solar Energy presented a new collector type at the All-Energy Australia 2011 trade fair in Melbourne in October 2011. The collector’s automated coverage prevents the system from overheating during daily operation. The participation in the fair was organised jointly by the Chinese manufacturer of the new collector type, Heijia Solar, represented by Chief Engineer Pan Kexue, as well as CEO and owner of Hejia Solar, Wu Guosheng, and the Australian Sales Office OZ Hejia Solar, represented by Director Frank Witowski (middle).
  Photo: Oz Hejia Solar

• 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.

• 49th Annual AuSES Solar 2011 Conference, Sydney- The 49^th annual Australian Solar Energy Society’s (AuSES) conference will take place from 30 November to 2 December in Sydney. The event involve a range of leading government officials, scientists, developers, and solar industry experts. The program will feature many practical, in-depth forums and discussion panels sharing current thinking and best practice
• India: Australian Grant for Developing a Solar Thermal Cooling System-

  The recently held workshop on solar cooling technology in India was a great success: Instead of a target audience of 30 to 40, almost 100 people joined the workshop in Delhi this October. The picture above shows Deepak Gupta, Secretary for the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (right), while speaking at the inauguration session.

• Mauritius: Rebate Programme Drives the Market-

  The new subsidy programme of the government of Mauritius has been a successful one. More than 4,000 solar water heaters have received a subsidy of 10,000 Mauritius Rupee (MUR), approximately € 279, by the Development Bank of Mauritius (DBM) since August 2008. The target for the first year of the programme is to install around 20,000 systems in households.

  “Now, the solar water heating market is booming,” Raj Appalaswamy, sales coordinator of Kaylor Rotomoulders, a manufacturer of solar water heaters, affirms.

• 5 Star Standard: Western Australia Adds the “Plus”-

  The Government of Western Australia aims to increase the efficiency of water heating systems in new residential buildings.  The 5 Star Plus energy and water efficiency requirements stipulate that new home builders install either an energy efficient gas water heater, a solar water heater or a heat pump (see table below). “We give homeowners the choice”, says Angela Heymans from the state’s Department of Commerce. All three types of hot water heating systems are approved as being highly efficient by the Sustainable Energy Development Office in Western Australia.

• 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).

• Performance of Water-in-Glass Evacuated Tube Solar Water Heaters (2005)-

  This article was written by the researchers I. Budihardjo and G.L. Morisson form the University of New South Wales, Australia.

  The goal of the research was to evaluate the performance of water-in-glass evacuated tube. A comparison was made with flat plate systems operating in Sydney, Australia.

  The simulation programme TRNSYS was used to evaluate the performance and energy efficiency of the systems.

• 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

• Emerging Technology Option for Clean Power Generation - Concentrated Solar Power (2009)-

  This 2009 paper underlines the overall benefits of solar power especially when considered as part of a country or region's energy generation options mix. In addition to listing the available technologies, the document also looks into the economics of solar thermal and provides a summary comparison among parabolic through, central receiver and parabolic dish technologies.

• 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.

• European Institutes to Test According to Australian Standards-

  The Australian solar thermal market is growing rapidly – on average 27 % within the last two years. One factor in the countrywide growth is the Renewable Energy Certificate (REC) provided for newly installed solar thermal systems.

• “There has been a Lot of Market Turmoil in Australia”-

  Solarthermalworld wanted to investigate why the Australian Government decided to discontinue its Solar Water Heater Rebate Programme and conducted an interview with Stephen Cranch, Sales and Marketing Manager of Solahart Industries Pty Ltd Australia.
  Photo: Solahart

• Clean Energy Fact Sheets: All About Solar Thermal (2009)-

  This fact sheet was created by the leading clean energy industry association in Australia, the Clean Energy Council. Its focus is on how solar thermal technologies can contribute to the development of the carbon-free energy industry in Australia.

• USA: Chromasun’s Concentrating Flat Plate Collectors supply Santa Clara University -

  60 Chromasun MCT collectors have been generating heat for the dining service at the Benson Memorial Center of Santa Clara University since 12 April 2011. Californian industrial rooftop solar solution company Chromasun manufactured the concentrating flat plate collector panels, California-based solar system integrator SunWater Solar was responsible for the installation. According to Chromasun, the system is the largest solar thermal project completed under the California Solar Initiative – Thermal (CSI-T) programme to date.
  Photo: Chromasun

• 1,000 Solar Keymark Licenses for Collectors: among them 7 % from China -

  Solar Keymark is a very broadly accepted label on the European solar thermal market. More than 1,000 collector certificates have been issued since the introduction of the certification system in 2003.
  Source: www.solarkeymark.org

• 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

• Australia: Economics of Solar Thermal, PV-based and Conventional Cooling System (2010)-

  In Australia, solar cooling is still a niche technology - despite good solar resources and a large air-conditioning and refrigeration market. The multiple market barriers which prevent the technology from achieving greater market shares are mostly economic in nature. During a presentation at the 9th IIR Gustav Lorentzen Conference 2010 in Sydney, Dr Paul Kohlenbach, Director of international solar cooling consultancy Solem Consulting, and Dr Mike Dennis of the Australian National University, highlighted these market barriers and opportunities for solar cooling in Australia. Kohlenbach himself has additionally carried out a study comparing the economics of a solar thermal, a PV-based and a conventional cooling system over a 20-year lifespan.
  Figure: Solem Consulting

• Solar Water Heaters – Markets and New Developments (1996)-

  This paper was prepared by Graham L. Morrison from the School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering of the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia The paper provides an overview of the international and Australian solar water heating markets, focusing on promotional programmes to encourage the adoption of such products.

• “Made in Taiwan is a brand name which still sells” -

  Taiwan remains a country strongly dominated by flat plate collectors. Solarthermalworld.org spoke with local solar thermal manufacturers and planners about the advantages of the technology in comparison to vacuum tubes. The photo shows an installation at the elementary school in the municipality of Jin-Yue - planned and installed by Taiwanese company Wang Aun.
  Photo: Wang Aun

• Canada: Solarbeam replaces up to 15 Flat Plate Collectors -

  The Canadian company Solartron Energy Systems installed the first nine Solarbeam Concentrator collectors. The subsidiary of the Canadian company EG Energy Controls was founded two years ago, to launch and market the medium temperature parabolic collector that provides solar hot water up to 98 °C.
  Photo: Solartron Energy Systems

• Renewable Desalination Market Analysis: Oceania, South Africa, Middle East & North Africa (2010)-

  This report was released as part of the Project ProDes (Promotion of Renewable Energy for Water production through Desalination). The project ProDes (2008-2010) brings together 14 European organisations in order to support the market development of renewable energy desalination technology in Southern Europe. At present the main renewable energy technology options for powering desalination (reverse osmosis or distillation technologies) are: solar thermal, concentrated solar power, photovoltaic, wind power, geothermal energy and ocean energy.

• South Korea: Improved Machinery Equipment for automated Solutions-

  Brazing, soldering and welding specialist Dr Shin from South Korea: The Managing Director of Korean machinery equipment supplier SK Brazing presented several improved products for the manufacturing of tanks and collectors at the Intersolar North America in San Francisco in July 2010.
  Photo: Bärbel Epp

• 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.

• Solar thermal energy systems in Australia (2006) -

  This document, published in 2006, provides an overview of the available solar thermal technologies in Australia. Starting with underlining the potential Australia has in solar thermal development, the document also concludes that Australia has a low market penetration of only 5%.

• Seizing the Solar Solution: Combating Climate Change through Accelerated Deployment (2009)-

  This report was published on December 2009, parallel to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) summit taking place in Copenhagen, to bring authorities' attention to solar energy and the relevant contribution it can provide to reducing GHG emissions.

• Solar2010, Canberra -

  The 48^th Annual Conference of the Australian Solar Energy Society (AuSES), Solar2010, will be held at the Australian National University in Canberra from Wednesday 1^st December– Friday 3^rd.
  

• USA: SRCC tackles Backlogs in Solar Thermal Testing and Certification-

  The US-based Solar Rating and Certification Corporation (SRCC) is on the fast lane. Within only one and a half years SRCC has increased the number of accredited test labs from two to fourteen. Collector and system suppliers that want to enter the US-market can now address test institutes in Australia, Spain, Canada, Germany, China and Switzerland, as well as the US.

• 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

• 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

• The Present and Future Use of Solar Thermal Energy as a Primary Source of Energy (2005)-

  This document from the International Energy Agency (2005) covers all aspects of solar thermal energy Different solar thermal technologies covered includes passive solar architecture; solar cooling; district heating; concentrating solar troughs, towers, and dishes; the solar thermal market.

  It discusses the current market and policies, as well as worldwide potential of solar thermal energy for the future.

  The paper was written by Cédric Philibert.

• Stanwell Solar Thermal Power Project (2006)-

  This paper was released by the Stanwell Corporation, University of Sydney and the University of NSW in 2006. It describes the success and implementation of the Compact Linear Fresnel Reflector (CLFR) solar thermal system.

• Australia and New Zealand: Design Handbook for Large-scale Systems -

  The Master Plumbers and Mechanical Services Association of Australia (MPMSAA) and Sustainability Victoria jointly produced the Large Scale Solar Thermal Systems Design Handbook, which provides guidance in best practice approaches for designing large-scale solar hot water systems.

• Australia: Solar Cooling for Dairy Farms and Cold Stores (2009)-

  Solar cooling systems on dairy farms possess a high impact on the energy consumption of such businesses. Solar energy can contribute up to 80 % of the total cooling load and 57 to 65 % of the hot water load for a typical dairy farm, according to a study carried out by Australian company Solem Consulting in June 2009 on behalf of Sustainability Victoria (see attached document).
  

• Australia: Federal Solar Rebate Programme with reduced Subsidies-

• Solar Energy Activities in IEA Countries 2005 - This 2005 report on solar energy activities in IEA (International Energy Agency) Solar Heating and Cooling Programme (SHC) countries provides an overview of national activities and key trends of a total of 13 countries. Detailed information is offered on national solar activities, notably on the status of government policies, funding levels, R&D, technology advances, and commercial development. Each report further concludes with an outlook for solar over the next five years in that country.
• Seasonal Storage for Solar Thermal Systems in Australia? (2007)-

  This study from 2007 explores the potential for setting up in Australia large centralized solar heating plants with seasonal storage. These are long-term storage systems, which allow energy being collected in summer, and delivered in winter. The study aims to evaluate these systems - which already exist in Europe - in an Australian context.

• Solar Heating Worldwide (2005)- This report from 2005, published by Solar Heating and Cooling Programme (SHC) of the International Energy Agency (IEA) relates the solar thermal capacity previously installed in important markets worldwide. It further reports the contribution of solar plants to the supply of energy and the CO2 emissions reduction, resulting from operating these plants.
• Global Potential of Concentrating Solar Power (2009)-

  This paper presented at the 2009 SolarPaces Conference in Berlin sets out an analysis of the potential of concentrating solar power (CSP) on a global scale. The paper starts with assessing the level of direct normal solar irradiation needed for CSP plants which is combined with an analysis of the suitable land resources based on various site criteria.

• Manufacturer Founds Air Collector Association SAHWIA-

  Air collector companies exist very much in the shadows of the manufacturers of water collectors. Therefore a Solar Air Heating World Industry Association (SAHWIA) is necessary. But not all manufacturers are pleased with the procedure that lead to the association’s founding. Photo: Solarwall

• Solar Water Heater Contribution to Greenhouse Gas Abatement- Published by the IEA in 2001, this document describes the Australian solar heaters industry and also includes a summary of solar and heat pump water heating technology currently available in Australia. Go to Document
• Victoria: Every Second New Building Heats Its Water with the Sun-

  Solar water heaters and rainwater tanks become common place in Victoria´s homes nowadays. The reason for this development is a building code named 5 Star, which was implemented in the Australian state in 2005. The regulation affects all new houses and single storey units designed after the 1^st July of that year.

• Australia: Sunny Days in a Sunny Country-

  Australia is pushing solar: The solar water heater market profit from the banning of electric water heaters in new homes. Photo: Rheem
  

• Australian Solar Cooling Interest Group-

  Independent solar cooling specialists and lobbyists: Dr Paul Kohlenbach (left) initiated the Australian Solar Cooling Interest Group (ausSCIG) and Dr. Uli Jakob initiated the Green Chiller Association for Sorption Cooling e.V. in Europe. Together the two experts run the company Solem Consulting. Photo: Solem Consulting

• 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.

• Australia: First Solar-Cooled Shopping Centre -

  Satisfied engineers: Antoine Millioud (left) and Stefan Minder of the Australian company NEP Solar show the Innovation Award that they won at Intersolar 2009 for their PolyTrough collector with a polymer-carrier-based reflector. Photo: Bärbel Epp

• Australia: AUD 500 for a Solar Water Heater in Queensland-

  “It's never been more affordable for Queenslanders to switch to solar and save with the Queensland Solar Hot Water Program," Stephen Robertson, the Minister for Natural Resources, Mines and Energy, said. Photo: Government of Queensland

• Design of a 240 MWe Solar Thermal Power Plant (2004)-

• High Temperature Solar Thermal Technology Roadmap (2008)-

  This technology roadmap from 2008 has been commissioned to identify goals and milestones for the research, development and demonstration of high temperature solar thermal (HTST) technology in Australia.

• Australian RECs: An Overview after 8 Years of Certificate Trading-

  As a purchaser of a solar hot water system in Australia, you not only benefit from a federal or state rebate, but are also able to sell so-called Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs). After these certificates had been introduced in 2001, they became a key factor for the 30% annual growth of the Australian solar thermal market until 2004. The following two years market growth dropped because of the declining value of RECs.

• Australia's Push for Solar Hot Water -

  
  New testing facility: Peter Garrett (right), Australian Environment Minister, officially inaugurated the solar testing facility at the University of South Australia’s Sustainable Energy Industry Support Centre in April. Photo: University of South Australia 
  
  

• Australian & New Zealand Solar Energy Society (ANZSES) Solar 2009, Townsville- The ANZSES's annual conferences have reputation for bringing together professionals from all energy-related sectors, from Australia and Overseas, to meet and exchange new ideas, and discuss the latest developments in the area of clean energy technologies. The Solar09 conference will be a major opportunity for researchers in the subjects related to renewable energy sustainability and application to mix with other scientists, and industrialists. This year's conference will be held in Townsville, Queensland's Solar City from 29th of September to 2nd of October 2009.
• South Australia: solar rebate for low income houses-

  The South Australian Government's Solar Hot Water Rebate Scheme provides a rebate of AUD 500 or AUD 700 on the cost of a new solar or electric heat pump water heater system installed on or after 1^st July 2008. The Rebate Scheme is targeted at low income households to help them comply with the Performance Standards of Domestic Water heater Installations, effective from the 1^st July 2008. These new standards aim to increase the uptake of high-efficiency gas, solar and electric heat pump water heaters.

   

• Australia: National Solar Schools Programme -

  Within six weeks 1,400 schools signed up for the National Solar School Programme of the Australian Government. The AUD 480 million program allows schools to apply for grants of up to AUD 50,000. The focus point of the subsidies are solar power systems with 2 kW_p, but solar thermal systems, rainwater tanks and energy efficiency measures are also funded.

   

• Australia: Solar thermal power and desalination plant-

  The German Office for Foreign Trade (BFAI) offers a wide range of useful information about business opportunities including international tenders.

  Country:              Australia

  Activity:                Installation of cycle/solar thermal power and
                              water desalination plant

  Buyer:                  n/a (self-financing)

  Publication date:  August 15, 2008

  Original Language:English

• ISES Asia Pacific Regional Conference 2008, Sydney- The Asia Pacific Regional International Solar Energy Society Conference 2008 (ISES-AP-08) is the premier conference in the Asia-Pacific region in 2008 on the topic of renewable energy. This region is pivotal to the further growth of the industry both in terms of manufacture and markets.