IEA group helps reduce cost of solar thermal by 7% - 30%
STOCKHOLM, Sweden, 2004-07-28 (Refocus Weekly)
The global solar thermal industry has reached “substantial cost and price reductions” of 7% to 30% as a result of activities to promote large-scale procurement.
Task 24 of the International Energy Agency Solar Heating & Cooling
Programme was formed in 1998 and, in its final management report last year, said
the only unresolved issue was the inability to fulfil a complete second round of
co-ordinated international tenders within the time available. It noted that some
of the international projects will continue in other projects, such as the EC
‘Soltherm Europe Initiative.’
“Creating a sustainable market for innovative solar water heating products can
be of benefit in several ways,” including cost savings, GHG reduction and
customer satisfaction, it explains. “Reducing market barriers, establishing
international standards and encouraging international exports of solar water
heating systems are key factors to facilitate growth of the solar industry, both
domestically and internationally.”
The objective of Task 24 was to increase the use of solar water heating systems
by encouraging coordinated large-scale purchasing, with a focus on reducing
costs for marketing, distribution and hardware, as well as improvements in
system performance and helping to meet environmental commitments. “The
procurement efforts have focussed primarily on small domestic active solar water
heating systems, but have also applied to larger commercial systems.”
Task 24 had two sub-tasks, one of which was to raise general interest in active
solar thermal and to form buyer groups to purchase systems. It launched a
funding round for small national projects, with the second round designed to
increase international collaboration and tendering.
“The extra challenge for Task 24 compared to other procurement projects was
that solar water heaters are not widely accepted products yet, unlike elevators,
housing appliances and light bulbs,” it explains. “One of the biggest
challenges for Subtask A proved to be the formation of buyer groups,” and
finding representatives of buyers willing to invest in “buying and marketing a
relative unknown product as a solar water heater” was not easy.
Six countries participated in the work: Belgium, Canada, Denmark, The
Netherlands, Sweden and Switzerland. Task 24 is one of 33 tasks of the IEA
program, which includes coordination of solar heating and cooling R&D,
performance testing of solar collectors, evacuated collectors, central solar
heating plants with seasonal storage, passive and hybrid solar low energy
buildings, photovoltaics in buildings, solar air systems, solar energy in
building renovation, daylighting, optimization of solar energy use in large
buildings, solar assisted air conditioning, solar facade components, solar crop
drying, and solar heat for industrial process.
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