New Generation of Solar Thermal and Cooling Systems

Objectives Activities Results Working Group Leader

Objectives

To gather detailed information on technical features of combined solar thermal systems for hot water and heating and on solar cooling systems from the research partners
To gather information on problems and good experiences with solar thermal applications in the Mediterranean partner countries and the respective technical features of the applications
To elaborate a Potential Analysis for selected solar thermal and cooling technologies in order to identify technologies with high potential for the application in the Mediterranean partner countries

Activities

Potential Analysis

The Potential Analysis brings together technological know-how on the new generation of solar thermal systems for hot water, heating and cooling with specific experiences of the Mediterranean partner countries with solar thermal applications. The basis of the potential analysis is an inquiry of the partner institutions of the strengths and weaknesses of the currently applied technologies and their assessment of future potentials. The analysis includes information on the development of standardised systems which are already on the market and for which European standards can be transferred to the Mediterranean partner countries. The analysis covers four main fields:

High efficient solar collectors
Combined solar systems for hot water, heating and cooling
Solar cooling systems
Standardisation of new solar thermal applications

In a joint workshop the members of Working Group “New Generation” present innovative solutions for solar hot water preparation, heating and climatisation (including solar collectors, solar combi-systems for hot water and heating, solar cooling systems). They also define the specific challenges for solar thermal technologies in the Mediterranean partner countries. On this basis they discuss the features of selected solar thermal and cooling technologies and applications with regard to their application under the specific conditions of the Mediterranean partner countries.

Results

Potential Analysis for a new Generation of Solaterm Thermal in the Southern Mediterranean Region

The Southern Mediterranean Region is confronted with an increasing energy demand caused by economic growth, demographic development and rapid urbanisation. The biggest energy resource in the region is solar irradiance. Solar irradiance in the MENA region has a potential that exceeds total world electricity demand. Currently, there are large differences in the use of solar thermal energy in the region. Installed solar thermal capacity reach from 0.003 kWth/inhabitant in Algeria to 0.287 kWth/inhabitant in the Palestinian Territories.

The report comprises an analysis on obstacles and market barriers, quality and Efficiency, pilot plants and standardisation.

High Potential
Hospitals and hotels are applications that have a high potential for solar thermal in all Southern Mediterranean Countries. Another very promising application in many of the Southern Mediterranean Countries is the public bath, “hammam”.

Obstacles and Market Barriers
The main obstacles for a better market penetration of solar thermal energy in the Southern Mediterranean Countries are high investment costs, lack of qualification and technical skills, lack of technologies, low quality of already existing technologies as well as the absence of norms, standards and certification schemes. To overcome these barriers the Solaterm Potential Analysis report suggests various measures, including

Energy policies in support of renewable energies;
Implementation of academic and professional education and training;
Implementation of norms, standards and certification schemes.

Quality and Efficiency
The quality and efficiency of the components used within the locally installed solar domestic hot water systems need to be improved;

There are software applications that can be used for the development of more efficient collectors, e.g. a software developed by the National Energy Research Center (NERC) in Jordan;
Once higher quality larger solar thermal systems for hot water will be in place, production and sound planning, installing and operation of these system can be set up;
With components of higher quality and efficiency, systems for solar cooling, sea water desal ination and other process heat applications can be introduced.

Standardisation
With regard to standardisation it seems to be advisable to install a certification scheme either within the different countries or on a bilateral or even multilateral level including all Mediterranean Partner Countries.

Pilot Plants
Finally, the report recommends to implement more pilot plants, e.g. for hospitals, hotels and/or hammams within the Southern Mediterranean Countries to act as demonstration projects and multiplicators. The report lists good examples from already successfully installed and operated large solar thermal systems within the Southern Mediterranean Region.

Working Group Leader

Foto: ESTIF

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