Solar thermal cooling and hot water at hotel in California
by Bärbel Epp

US-based company Energy Concepts has been offering absorption chillers for more than 20 years. In August 2016, it started up a solar-heated Helisorber chiller to demonstrate the use of air conditioning and simultaneous production of heat-pumped hot water at a hotel in California.

California between PV mandate and buildings ready for solar heat
by Riccardo Battisti

This year, California´s energy policy has been clearly focused on pushing PV. In September, Governor Jerry Brown signed a bill committing the Golden State to zero-carbon electricity supply by 2045. Likewise, revised Building Energy Efficiency Standards will require PV systems on new residential buildings from January 2020 onwards.

PVT and seasonal storage: innovations from Spain
by Riccardo Battisti

Local production of PVT panels and systems which achieve high solar fractions by using seasonal storage: This is the main objective of Spanish start-up company Abora, based in Saragossa. Four more installations are in the pipeline and each consists of a PVT system, seasonal storage and a heat pump.

What simulation tools to use for SHIP? 
by Bärbel Epp

As use of industrial solar heat is still at an early stage, planners require tools to model and compare differently sized systems and ideas for process integration. In August 2015, researchers working on SHC Task 49 published a list of suitable simulation software. Since then, the developers of these programs have added new features.

Solar Academy: Solar Standards and Certification

The four speakers of this webinar will introduce perspectives for solar standards and certification. You will hear how the Global Solar Certification Network supports the collector industry via mutual recognition of test reports. The 1.5-hour event will be held from 1 to 2.30 p.m. Greenwich Mean Time on Wednesday, 12 December 2018. Click here to register online.