European consumers chose solar thermal over gas and oil
Brussels 27 June 2006. Sparked by the high prices for oil and gas, consumers more and more often chose solar thermal for domestic hot water and space heating. In 2005, almost 1.400 MWth of solar thermal capacity (2 million m2 of collector area) was newly installed in Europe – 26% more than in the previous year. New installations more than doubled in France where 85 MWth were added in 2006.
'We are very pleased with the development of the European market', says Uwe Brechlin, Secretary General of the European Solar Thermal Industry Federation (ESTIF).' The traditional lead markets – Germany, Austria and Greece – have all performed well in 2005 and we now see some very good developments in several of the high-potential markets like France and Spain'. At the end of 2005, the total capacity in operation in the EU (plus Switzerland) reached 11.175 MWth (15,9 million m2 of collector area).
Based on recent market feedback, ESTIF estimates that 2006 will finish with another growth rate of 20% or more. It is with great pleasure the association reports that several European governments have introduced new solar thermal support programmes. Spain has gone a step further by introducing an obligation to use solar thermal in nearly all new buildings. With this decision, Spain creates stable framework conditions which are a prerequisite for strong long-term growth of solar thermal. For the heating and cooling sector, ESTIF encourages all governments to support solar thermal in order to minimise the use of conventional fossil fuels.
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