July 3, 2019 - 2:00 - 3:30 pm GMT/UTC
This webinar highlighted the key data and findings of the two most recent SHC market reports: Solar Heat Worldwide. Global Market Development and Trends in 2018 from IEA Solar Heating and Cooling Programme (IEA SHC) and Renewables 2019. Global Status Report from REN21.
The cumulated solar thermal capacity in operation by the end of 2018 was 480 GWth (686 million square meters). Compared to the year 2000 the installed capacity grew by the factor 7.7.
Despite these achievements, the global solar thermal market has faced challenging times in recent years. In 2018 very positive growth figures in nine of the top 20 countries worldwide point to a turnaround in the market for solar thermal energy.
Also, the number of megawatt-scale systems for district heating as well as for industrial applications show positive trends. A number of promising projects have been implemented ranging from small-scale demonstration plants to very large systems with 100 MWth capacity.
Last but not least hybrid photovoltaic-thermal collectors and applications have reached a market volume that is notable. By the end of 2018, more than one million square meters of PVT collectors had been in operation.
The webinar was organized by the Solar Academy of the IEA Solar Heating and Cooling Program and hosted by ISES, the International Solar Energy Society.
Webinar Recording
Speakers
Three experts spoke during the 1.5 hours webinar.
Global Market Developments and Highlights in 2018 - Werner Weiss
Werner Weiss is founding member and director of the Austrian research institute AEE – Institute for Sustainable Technologies (AEE INTEC) in Gleisdorf and is working in national and international solar thermal and energy efficiency projects since the beginning of the 1980s. He headed numerous national and international projects – especially in the framework of EU, IEA and UNIDO programs. Since 2009 he is a board member of the European Technology and Innovation Platform on Renewable Heating and Cooling and since 2010 the Austrian representative in the Executive Committee of the Solar Heating and Cooling Programme of the International Energy Agency (IEA). From 2010 to 2014 he acted as chairman of this IEA programme. Since 2007 he is a lecturer at the Vienna University of Technology and the University of Applied Sciences - Technikum Wien.
Photovoltaic-Thermal Systems (PVT) Achieves Market Relevance - Thomas Ramschak
Thomas Ramschak is a research associate at AEE - Institute for Sustainable Technologies (AEE INTEC) in Gleisdorf, Austria and Subtask leader of IEA SHC Task 60 “Application of PVT Collectors”. He is an Engineer holding a Master Degree in Mechanical Engineering and Business Economics and has more than 9 years of R&D experience. The focus areas of his research are Thermal Energy Technologies and Hybrid Systems.
Industry and Business Trends 2018 - Bärbel Epp
Bärbel Epp is the founder and managing director of the German consultant consulting company, solrico – solar market research & international communication. She is responsible for the international newsletter on the web portal www.solarthermalworld.org, reporting exclusively about market and technology trends in the solar heating and cooling sector. solrico also published the first World Map of SHIP suppliers (SHIP = Solar Heat for Industrial Processes) see www.solar-payback.com/suppliers and carries out surveys among the approximate 80 companies listed on the world map. For three years Bärbel Epp has authored the SHC chapter of the Annual Global Status Report on Renewables published by REN21.
Moderator - Pedro Dias
The webinar will be moderated by Pedro Dias, Secretary General of Solar Heat Europe, Belgium. Mr. Dias joined Solar Heat Europe in 2008, first as the Operations Manager, later as the Deputy Secretary General. He was appointed as Secretary General in April 2014. Mr. Dias holds a management degree from Instituto Politécnico de Viana do Castelo (IPVC) in Portugal and has extensive experience in both the private and non-governmental sectors. He has worked previously in the heating sector, more specifically in gas retail and commercialisation of heating equipment.