IEA

One of the successful show cases of solar cooling applications in France: The vinery in Banyuls, in the south of France, where 130 m² of vacuum tube collectors supply an absorption chiller with 52 kW cooling capacity since 1991.
Photo: Tecsol

This was a study prepared by the International Energy Agency (IEA) in 2002. The study documented the collector areas previously installed in the 22 IEA member countries and to identify the contribution of solar plants to the supply of energy and how it cut down on CO2 emissions.

It has all the member countries listed with the total collector area, for different types of solar thermal systems, with energy savings equivalent.

This short document, produced by the International Energy Agency, provides a summary of the solar heating and cooling situation in 2009.

The document is divided in different sections: market status; economics; outlook; system related aspects; environmental impact; technology status development; which touch upon different issues ranging from the installed capacity, to solar resources of different countries, drivers and barriers for growth, etc.

At the request of the US Solar Rating & Certification Corporation (SRCC), the International Energy Agency’s Solar Heating and Cooling Programme (SHC) formed Task 43, the “Solar Rating and Certification Procedure”.
Photo: IEA SHC

This book from 2003 presents the collaborative work of international experts from research, industry and academia in the IEA solar heating and cooling programme's Task 26, Solar Combisystems

The book details methods for analysing and optimising combisystems for different house types and introduces standardised classification and evaluation processes and design tools for these systems. Furthermore the book addresses the need for guidelines in selecting and designing the appropriate system according to the specific needs of the building and the local environment.

The 2009 edition of this report, prepared within the framework of the Solar Heating and Cooling Programme (SHC) of the International Energy Agency (IEA), intends to verify the solar thermal capacity previously installed in worldwide markets and to determine the contribution of solar plants to the supply of energy and to the CO2 emission reductions.

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.

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

This report from 2008 falls within the framework of the Internal Energy Agency’s Solar Heating and Cooling Programme.

The objective of this report is to undertake pre-normative research to develop a comprehensive and integrated suite of building energy analysis tool tests involving analytical, comparative, and empirical methods.

These methods will provide for quality assurance of software some of which will be enacted in specific standards to be used for certifying software used for showing compliance to building energy standards.

This report from the IEA (2006) analyses the various storage options storing thermal energy in systems providing heating or cooling for buildings.

The analysis runs along four lines of comparison between the various solutions:

1. Evaluation and Dissemination (creation of common comparative approach)
2. Chemical and Sorption Storage
3. Phase Change Materials Storage
4. Water Storage

Of the conclusions reached, the most significanat are that :

- PCM combined with water is at present the most promising option