Solar Thermal Action Plan for the Mediterranean Countries

The Mediterranean region is endowed with significant, yet largely untapped solar resources. Solar water heating (SWH) systems are already commercially viable and, in some cases, already cost competitive. In particular, domestic solar water heating applications are the most well-known and widespread. A great potential is still to be tapped in other niches. Thus, promising future applications include process heat, district heating, cooling and desalination.

The objective of the Solar Thermal Action Plan for the Mediterranean Countries is to identify the enabling environment for boosting and investing in solar water heating in the Mediterranean countries by showing the status of solar thermal technologies, their potential benefits and prerequisites for an uptake of this market. It highlights some of the critical factors that are necessary for a wide scale deployment, including regulatory and policy framework, technological improvements and cost reduction, as well as social acceptance. 

Author: Observatoire Méditerranéen de l’Energie (OME)/UNEP

Date: May 2014

Pages: 39

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