2.100 MWth of new capacity: another record year for solar thermal in Europe
Solar heating and cooling on its way to mainstream
Brussels/Freiburg, 19 June - Today, the European So-lar Thermal Industry Federation (ESTIF) has published their latest market statistics for the 27 EU Member States and Switzerland at their bi-annual estec conference. The market development in 2006 exceeded expectations and solar thermal heating and cooling has clearly grown out of being a niche market.
“2006 was another great year for our sector”, emphasizes ESTIF President Gerhard Rabensteiner. “We are seeing growth across Europe. France is continuing its breath-taking growth that started in 2000. In Germany, new installations increased by 58% last year. Even markets such as the UK and Ireland have finally woken up. The European citizens have started to realise: The future is solar! And they act accordingly.” At an annual growth of 47% the market for new installations in the EU27 plus Switzerland has exceeded everyone’s expectations: 2.100 MWth of new capacity were added in Europe during 2006 (3 million m2 of collector area).
ESTIF explains that this result cannot be attributed to just one but to several factors: millions of satisfied customers and increased presence of the solar thermal industry – especially in the new markets – with new products and marketing strategies. Other key drivers are public support schemes, such as the solar obligations in Spain, training programs in France, and the many financial incentive schemes which exist in most EU countries.
In Germany alone more than 1.000 MWth were newly installed, increasing that country’s contribution to 50% of the total EU market. Other countries have also grown considerably and the 5 Mediterranean countries, Greece, France, Italy, Spain and Cyprus, now account for almost 30% of the EU market.
On a per-capita basis, Austria clearly leads “continental” Europe with 25 kWth/1.000 capita of new installations. In Europe, only Cyprus added more solar thermal per 1.000 capita, 57 kWth. In 2006, the average new capacity per 1.000 capita for EU27 + Switzerland was just 4 kWth. The differences on a per-capita basis show very clearly that there is a large near-term market potential: Spain and France, for example, are still adding new capacity at only 10-12% of the level of Austria.
And the very positive market developments are not restricted to the old EU Member States. The Polish market for new solar thermal capacity grew by 49% to 29 MWth and in Slovenia 44% more collector area was newly installed in 2006.
The total solar thermal capacity in operation in EU27 + Switzerland has reached 13.500 MWth, producing 9.600 GWh of solar thermal energy.
“We have a goal for 2020”, says ESTIF Secretary General Uwe Trenkner.” 1 m2 of collector area for every European. Countries like Cyprus or Austria are already well underway to exceed that level by 2020. It is possible, and policy makers should follow through with clear policies everywhere in Europe: buildings should no longer be constructed without at least a minimum share of renewables for heating and cooling. No heating system should be renewed without integrating solar thermal or another renewable energy source!”
For 2007, the expectations for the EU27+CH are set at a growth rate of just 17%. This is mainly due to a drop in sales figures in the first quarter of this year in the German market. Here the sales figures are expected to remain steady and no growth rate is expected.
Note: There is a small mistake in the figure quoted on page 2 of the printed statistics brochure. The growth rate for EU27+CH should be 17% not 27%. Please refer to the PDF version of the brochure on our website, http://www.estif.org/139.0.html, for the correct details.
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Press contact
Silvia Döffinger
German Solar Industry Association
Tel.: +49-30-29 777 88-11
Fax: +49-30-29 777 88-99
Email: doeffinger@estec2007.org
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Brussels/Freiburg, 19 June 2007
2.100 MWth of new capacity: another record year for solar thermal in Europe
Today, the European So-lar Thermal Industry Federation (ESTIF) has published their latest market statistics for the 27 EU Member States and Switzerland at their bi-annual estec conference. The market development in 2006 exceeded expectations and solar thermal heating and cooling has clearly grown out of being a niche market (more...)
Download this press release (.pdf, 35 kB)
Brussels/Freiburg, 19 June 2007
Solar thermal will make a substantial contribution to EU renewables targets
As the fastest growing sector in renewable heating and cooling, solar thermal can deliver a substantial contribution to reaching the EU targets for renewables, if the right policies are quickly introduced at EU level and in the Member States. (more...)
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Brussels/Freiburg, 19 June 2007
European Solar Thermal Energy conference opens with signs of growth
estec2007, the largest international solar thermal conference ever held opens today in Freiburg. With 550 participants from over 50 countries, estec has almost doubled its size, confirming its status as the premier solar thermal event worldwide (more...)
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Brussels/Berlin, 3 May 2007
High Growth Potential for Solar Thermal Energy
The European Solar Thermal Energy Conference estec2007 will be the most important event of 2007 for the solar thermal sector worldwide. The new directive for heating and cooling with renewable energy of the European Union, which is under development, and the strong market growth reaching 80% in France and 60% in Spain, Germany and UK show the fast growing interest in solar thermal energy (more...)
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Brussels/Berlin, 29 March 2007
High Growth Potential for Solar Thermal Energy
the solar thermal market is booming. According to surveys conducted by the European Solar Thermal Industry Federation (ESTIF), the European market grew by 35% to more than 2.7 million mē collector area in 2006, with the new solar thermal capacity exceeding 1.900 MWth (preliminary figures). (more...)
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Brussels/Berlin, December 19, 2006
Solar Thermal in Europe grows significantly
The use of solar thermal has increased significantly in 2006, the same applies for sales of solar thermal systems in Europe which grew by 35 % up to 1.900 megawatts of solar thermal power. (more...)
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Berlin, 08 November 2006
Preparations for estec2007 are Under Way - Call for Abstracts for the European Solar Thermal Energy Conference Opens
As of the beginning of November, interested experts are invited to submit abstract proposals under www.estec2007.org for one of the nine topic categories. (more...)
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Brussels, 22 June 2006
estec2007 to be held in Freiburg (Germany), on 19-20 June 2007
estec2007, the 3rd European Solar thermal Energy Conference will be held in Freiburg (Germany) on 19-20 June 2007, just before the opening of Intersolar 2007. ( more...)
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