Solar Hot Water Heating and the European Union
To reach this target, the renewable heating sector will have to make a significant contribution since the demand for solar hot water heating and cooling represents 49% of the total energy demand in Europe. The SolarBeam Concentrator can be used for solar hot water heating and for general space heating. The SolarBeam is a thermal system, this means that it uses the sun to heat water. Solar thermal systems are excellent to provide thermal heat at low temperatures ,below 95 C. The applications for this type of thermal heat are endless, and include the following industries: beverage companies, breweries, wineries, dairy and farm, hotels, government, schools, hospitals, residential etc. A study was done by European Solar Thermal Industry Federation (ESTIF) In order to provide the European Union and its Member States with substantiated information on the solar thermal contribution to the 20% renewable energy target and its long-term potential.
Detailed surveys were conducted using a representative sample of five European countries – Austria, Denmark, Germany, Poland and Spain. The information gathered was then extrapolated to the 27 EU countries. To determine the potential contribution solar heating would make to the overall heat demand in the selected reference countries, a model was developed for the future demand – taking into account also energy efficiency measures. Based on this model, the future heating and cooling demand was calculated for the years 2020, 2030 and 2050. The model includes three scenarios and focuses on the following segments: ? space heating of residential buildings ? solar hot water preparation in the residential sector ? space heating in the service sector ? industrial low temperature heat (up to 250