In this issue
EU Renewables Directive Revision Could Give New Impetus to Solar Thermal

Portugal: 35 Years’ Solar Storage Tank Production

Switzerland: Plans for Solar District Heating Pilot System

Germany: Renewable District Heating Grants

Belo Horizonte – Brazil´s Solar Capital
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Abu Dhabi's SHC Conference: Solar Energy is the New Oil

Dear Solarthermalworld.org Reader, 

 

More than 500 people attended the opening of the 5th Solar Heating and Cooling (SHC) Conference in Abu Dhabi, UAE, on 30 October. It is the first time that this annual conference by the IEA’s Solar Heating and Cooling Programme has been organised jointly with the Solar World Congress, resulting in 2017’s largest experts’ meeting on integrated SHC solutions for buildings, industry, cities, regions and utilities.

 

Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, the UAE’s Minister of Climate Change and Environment, and Fatima Al Foora, Assistance Undersecretary for Electricity and Future Energy, provided a warm welcome to the international solar research experts, who may play an important role in advancing the adaption of solar technologies to the dusty, often waterless Gulf region. The host of the conference was Masdar Institute, which had been incorporated into Khalifa University of Science and Technology this February. Scientists from the institute emphasised that sand and dust soiling has a much higher impact on the efficiency of photovoltaic panels than on the one of solar thermal collectors and that desalinated water is energy which should be integrated into Abu Dhabi’s future renewables mix. Abu Dhabi, one of the UAE’s seven emirates, has one of the largest CO2 footprints worldwide, an ambitious 2021 clean energy target of 27 % and a nuclear power plant under construction. More news articles on the conference and the region will follow soon. (Photo: Masdar Institute at Khalifa University of Science and Technology).

 

Have a good read and sunny regards

The Editorial Team

EU Renewables Directive Revision Could Give New Impetus to Solar Thermal
by Riccardo Battisti

The European Parliament is planning to vote on a revised Renewable Energy Directive next February. About 1,300 amendments had been submitted until July 2017 related to the first draft of the revised directive from November 2016. The amendments are currently discussed by the members of the ITRE (Industry, Research and Energy) Committee. Its members are scheduled to vote on these amendments on 28 November and the solar thermal industry is looking to ensure that the solar thermal sector isn’t being left out of the loop.

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Portugal: 35 Years’ Solar Storage Tank Production
by Filipa Cardoso
 

Videira, a family-owned storage tank manufacturer from Portugal, is celebrating its 35th anniversary this year. In 1982, José Oliveira Rocha (sitting) and three of his five children (back) established a small business in Paredes in northern Portugal. Meanwhile, production facility has grown to 5,000 m² and the company employs 155 staff, who generated a turnover of EUR 15 million in 2016.

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Switzerland: Plans for Solar District Heating Pilot System
by Eva Augsten

“Why is there no solar district heating in Switzerland?” Swiss scientists were asking after their visit to Denmark. They had been investigating the feasibility of solar heat in district heating networks in the St Gallen canton and published a 50-page study this March. As it turns out, solar heat could be produced in several networks for 60 to 160 CHF/MWh (50 to 140 EUR/MWh).

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Germany: Renewable District Heating Grants
by Bärbel Epp
 

German politicians are beginning to appreciate the benefits of SDH. Germany’s Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, has launched District Heating Networks 4.0, a new subsidy scheme for grids which use solar, biomass or waste heat to meet at least 50 % of their customers’ annual demand. Since 1 July 2017, utilities and cooperatives have been able to apply for a grant covering up to 60 % of the cost of feasibility studies and up to 50 % of the investment in new networks.

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Belo Horizonte – Brazil´s Solar Capital
by Bärbel Epp

Belo Horizonte, a municipality about 600 km north of Sao Paulo in the state of Minas Gerais, is also known as the solar capital of Brazil. Not only does it have a population of about 2.5 million, but solar water heater installations on many of its high-rise multifamily buildings. This article presents the main drivers of an exciting market development in Latin America: a university research group specialised in solar heating and cooling, committed system planners, strong manufacturers and a pro-solar state utility.

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Solar District Heating: How to Tackle Land Use Issues
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SHC Solar Award: Five Finalists with Successful Support Policies
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India’s Solar Thermal Industry Calls for Awareness Raising to Boost Market
Sweden’s Solar Heat Market on Hold
World Bank Supports Solar Concentrating Solutions for Industry
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