High Growth Potential for Solar Thermal Energy

European conference discusses the prospects for solar thermal energy

Brussels/Berlin, 29 March 2007 – 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 m² collector area in 2006, with the new solar thermal capacity exceeding 1.900 MWth(preliminary figures). As the market grows, however, so do the challenges faced by the solar thermal industry. The future development of the European and worldwide markets, the most efficient market launch programmes, new collector and storage technologies as well as process heat and solar air conditioning are important topics affecting the industry. These and underlying policy frameworks will be discussed at the 3rd European Solar Thermal Conference, estec2007, which is taking place from 19- 20 June 2007 in Freiburg, Germany. The conference is being held prior to Intersolar 2007, Europe’s largest trade fair for solar technology. The conference programme is now available here

estec provides an international platform for discussing the latest developments in the solar thermal industry. The two-day conference is aimed at experts and decision-makers from industry, research and politics. “We were extremely delighted to have received more than 100 conference papers,“ says Raffaele Piria, Policy Director at the European Solar Thermal Industry Federation (ESTIF). ESTIF is hosting estec2007 and at the same time sponsoring Intersolar. The conference is being organised by the German Solar Industry Association (BSW-Solar) in collaboration with Intersolar 2007. “The high quality of the submitted conference abstracts underlines the importance of estec2007 as the world’s most important solar thermal conference,“ states Piria.

In addition to policy frameworks, the opening presentations at estec2007 will discuss the latest market developments and prospects for solar thermal. These will be viewed particularly in the context of the resolution adopted by the European Council on 9 March 2007 to increase the share of renewable energy sources to 20% by 2020. Distinguished speakers will outline future technological developments and the first results from the European Solar Thermal Technology Platform ESTTP. The conference will focus, amongst other things, on presenting the development of the most important European and international solar thermal markets.

“The emerging solar thermal industry needs sound information on the market and the technological trends,“ explains Gerhard Stryi-Hipp, Managing Director of the German Solar Industry Association (BSW-Solar). “It is only then that investment decisions such as whether to increase production or to launch into the export business can be specifically planned. In this regard, estec2007 offers decision-makers from the international solar power industry the world’s best information platform,“ according to Mr. Stryi-Hipp.

Successful European marketing models are included in the programme, as well as country reports from all over the world. Among others, Roger Hackstock, Managing Director of the solar thermal association Austria Solar, reports on the “European Solar Day” and the experience had in Austria. Groups of presentations on the possibilities of marketing, quality assurance, standards and certification as well as solar thermal technical innovations, including the utilisation of process heat and solar air conditioning as well as the latest collectors and storage developments round of the comprehensive programme.

The conference takes place from 19-20 June 2007 in the Konzerthaus in Freiburg (Germany), and is supported by the European Community under their Intelligent Energy – Europe programme. Registration at the reduced early booking price is possible up to 7 May. Further information on the conference is available online at www.estec2007.org. Users can also subscribe to the newsletter, which in the run-up to the conference provides monthly information on the development of the international solar thermal markets and the most important conference topics.

The conference will be immediately followed by Intersolar 2007, Europe’s largest trade fair for the solar power industry, which takes place at the Exhibition Centre from 21-23 June.

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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...)

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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 m² 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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