Solar Heating & Cooling
Energy is being consumed at an ever growing rate—worldwide consumption is projected to increase 54% by 2025 from 2001 levels—while the serious environmental implications of fossil fuel consumption have become increasingly obvious.
Most people don’t but heating buildings consumes more energy than that used for electricity or transportation so increasing the use of solar thermal energy is not only important, but timely as our demand for energy continues to steadily grow.
Solar thermal energy is appropriate for both heating and cooling. Key applications for solar technologies are those that require low temperature heat, such as domestic hot water heating, space heating, pool heating, drying processes, and certain industrial processes. Solar applications also can meet cooling needs, where the supply (sunny summer days) and the demand (desire for a cool indoor environment) are well matched.
The Solar Heating and Cooling Programme was established in 1977, one of the first programmes of the International Energy Agency. The Programme’s work is unique in that it is accomplished through the international collaborative effort of experts from Member countries and the European Commission.
The benefits of this approach are:
accelerates the pace of technology development,
promotes standardization,
enhances national R&D programmes,
permits national specialization, and
saves time and money.
The Programme is headed by an Executive Committee composed of one representative from each Member country and Sponsor organizations, while the management of the individual projects is the responsibility of project managers (Operating Agents) who are selected by the Executive Committee.
The Programme’s work is enhanced through collaboration with other IEA Programmes—Energy Conservation in Buildings and Community Systems Programme, Photovoltaic Power Systems Programme, and SolarPACES Programme—and solar trade associations in Europe, North America, and Australia.
The International Energy Agency (IEA) was established in 1974 as an autonomous agency within the framework of the Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) to carry out a comprehensive program of energy cooperation among its 25 member countries and the Commission of the European Communities.
An important part of the Agency’s program involves collaboration in the research, development and demonstration of new energy technologies to reduce excessive reliance on imported oil, increase long-term energy security and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The IEA SHC’s R&D activities are headed by the Committee on Energy Research and Technology (CERT) and supported by a small Secretariat staff, headquartered in Paris. In addition, three Working Parties are charged with monitoring the various collaborative energy agreements, identifying new areas for cooperation and advising the CERT on policy matters.
Mission
To continue to be the preeminent international collaborative programme in solar heating and cooling technologies and designs.
The Power of Collaboration
The collaborative work of the SHC Programme spans nearly three decades. Over these years, the
investments made in this international partnership have generated valuable results and products beyond what any one country could do on their own.
To support its work, the SHC Programme also is collaborating with other key players in the field, including the solar industry associations of Australia, Europe and North America. Together they are working to increase the awareness of national and international government bodies and policy
makers and to encourage industry to use new solar thermal products and services. By 2025, the SHC Programme and affiliated associations envision solar thermal technologies providing 10-15% of the total energy demand in the OECD countries. For Europe, the goal is even more optimistic with the Joint Declaration for a European Directive to Promote Renewable Heating and Cooling calling for 25% of the EU heating and cooling to be supplied by renewables in 2020.
Notice:
The Solar Heating and Cooling Programme, also known as the Programme to Develop and Test Solar Heating and Cooling Systems, functions within a framework created by the International Energy Agency (IEA). Views, findings and publications Solar Heating and Cooling Programme do not necessarily represent the views or policies of the IEA Secretariat or of all its individual member countries
Unfortunately, solar represents only a small share of all the heating and cooling needs. The main barriers preventing the greater use of solar energy are:
Many solar technologies are not yet cost-competitive.
Current government policies benefit existing non-solar technologies.
The environmental costs of using fossil fuels are not taken into account.
To overcome these barriers and penetrate the global market, the IEA Solar Heating and Cooling (SHC) Programme is working in three key areas:
Education of users and decision makers.
Expansion of the solar thermal market.
Research, development and testing of hardware, materials and designs.
Additional Information on Solar Heating & Cooling
Solar’s Untapped Potential
Why Use Solar Technology?
The Power of the Sun
Ensuring a Bright Future
Solar Heat Worldwide
Markets and Contribution to the Energy Supply
What’s New
The following are recent additions to the IEA-SHC web site:
Solar Thermal Market Sees Steady Growth Globally
Added: June 1, 2007
Solar Heat Worldwide 2007
Solar thermal market grows 10%. 159 million m2 of solar thermal collectors generated 66,406 GWh of energy in 2005.
Added: May 2007
2006 IEA SHC Annual Report
Solar Update No.46 - December 2006
Added: December 2006
Click to learn about Solar combisystem
Sources:
http://www.iea-shc.org/whatsnew.htm
http://www.iea-shc.org/about/index.html