Solar obligation

• Namibia: Solar Water Heaters Mandatory for Public Buildings-

  A recoupment period of two years: The University of Namibia in Windhoek replaced an oil boiler that had reached the end of its life cycle with 109 solar water heaters.
  Photo: Namibian Engineering Cooperation/Solahart
  

• Rebate Programme in Ireland: 9,500 Systems Installed-

• Spain: Solar Obligation since 2006 -

  In March 2006 the Spanish Government passed the new Technical Buildings Code (CTE). It has been the most significant reform of the country’s building sector in decades. The law covers safety, health and noise protection issues in buildings, and it deals with sustainability and energy efficiency aspects. The solar sector of the CTE includes an obligation regarding the use of solar thermal energy in all new buildings and buildings undergoing major renovation and/or changes of use. Solar energy is supposed to cover 30 to 70 % of the domestic hot water demand.

• Delhi: Solar Water Heaters Save Electricity -

  Reducing the burden of the electricity load: a solar water heater in the city of Delhi. Photo: Koto Trade & Service
  

• Israel: The World’s first Solar Thermal Legislation -

  Israel has been the first country to pass a legislation on solar thermal installations. With the second oil crisis end of the 1970s members of parliament searched for ways to make their country more independent of imported energy. The result was a law on solar water heating to be used in new residential buildings up to 27 metres. The legislation came into effect in 1980.

• Solar Obligation in Barcelona: Pioneers in Europe -

  The Barcelona Solar Thermal Obligation was the first of its kind adopted in a large European city. The first version entered into effect in August 2000. The revised version was approved in February 2006. Main changes are that the regulations now apply to more buildings and that the solar fraction was increased.

• Renewable heating law in Germany: solar - an option among others-

  With the Renewable Heating Law (EEWärmeG) the German government aims at increasing the share of renewable energy in the heating demand from 6 to 14 % until 2020. From 1 January, 2009 on owners and operators of private, commercial and public buildings will have to provide a minimum share of their energy demand by renewable energy. They can choose between solar thermal energy, biomass, geothermic and environmental energy.

• Portugal: Solar Obligation since 2006 -

  To increase the use of renewable energy sources is one of three goals in the Portuguese National Strategy for Energy. One instrument is a solar thermal obligation which entered into force in 2006. Its introduction has been prepared by a market stimulation programme.

• 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.

• “The Slowdown has Forced us to Increase our Efforts“-

  Solar thermal businessmen from Spain: Julio Castro (right) and Angel Martínez founded the collector manufacturer Termicol Energía Solar, S.L. eight years ago and invest even in times of crisis.

  Photo: Termicol

• Maharashtra State Leading the Way to Solar Bye-laws-

  Maharashtra state and its 35 districts: ten major cities approved solar bye-laws, others will follow soon
  

• Cape Town: Draft of Solar Water Heating Bye-law -

  Currently, solar water heating systems have hardly penetrated in Cape Town, South Africa. Only 2 % of city’s 906,000 households use solar energy. The planned bye-law should boost the market to 76,000 newly installed system in the next two years, but has been delayed due to continuous legal obstacles. Photo: Sustainable Energy Africa

• India: Building byelaws in Chandigarh City with far-reaching Rules-

  The Open Hand is one of the landmarks of Chandigarh city, the capital of the two Indian states Punjab and Haryana in the north of India.
  Photo: City of Chandigarh
  

• Solar Obligation for Public Buildings in Namibia (2007)-

  Namibia has successfully implemented a directive in 2007 which requires SWH on all new public buildings, on existing public buildings without water heaters and existing public buildings with electric geysers. Namibia could reduce its peak electricity demand by almost 20 MW thanks to this directive. Find more details about the solar obligation in the following table.

   

• 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: