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Soltherm
Europe receives European award for the promotion of solar heat technology
Yesterday evening Ecofys received the European
‘Campaign for Take-Off’ Award for the Soltherm Europe
Initiative. The ceremony took place at the European Conference for
Renewable Energy in Berlin, organised by the European Commission.
Soltherm Europe is an initiative to promote solar heat systems in
Europe. The results that have been achieved by Soltherm Europe since
its start in January 2002 are now rewarded with an award in the
category “Promotion”.
Campaign
for Take-Off
Within the framework of the Kyoto Protocol
the European Union has set an objective of a 12% contribution
of renewable energy sources to the total energy consumption
by 2010. In 1998 the ‘Campaign for Take-Off’ was
started as a means to raise interest in renewable energy sources
among industry, investors and the public. The campaign focuses
on sectors such as solar power, solar heat, wind turbines
and bio-energy installations.
Soltherm
Europe
For the solar thermal systems sector, which includes solar
collectors and solar heaters, the EU aims at 100 million m2
of solar collectors in 2010. This would mean a reduction in
European energy consumption of about 1.5%, or almost 20% of
the EU’s Kyoto commitments. To actually achieve this
goal an annual average market growth of more than 25% is needed.
In January 2002 Soltherm Europe was established to stimulate
a structured increase in market development. |
Picture:
Campaign for Take-Off Award 2004.
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Market
development strategy
As the European coordinator Ecofys is the driving force behind the
Soltherm initiative. Project manager Bart van der Ree of Ecofys:
“The challenge lies in stimulating the demand and at the same
time creating a solid infrastructure capable of meeting this demand.”
Over the last two years Soltherm made good progress on both fronts.
About 50 partners from 10 countries have joined Soltherm and a wealth
of information and tools have been made available for different
stakeholder groups: market analyses, campaign guidelines and tools,
overviews of quality standards and certificates, etc. All of these
are accessible through the website www.soltherm.org.
Furthermore Soltherm Europe provides expert support for marketing
campaigns. Van der Ree: “Currently ten campaigns are running
in Europe. Campaigners have been able to learn a lot about effective
methods through an intensive knowledge exchange between countries.
We expect about 15 million m2 of solar collectors to be installed
in Europe by the end of this year.”
Note
for the editorial staff
Ecofys
Ecofys is a leading company in the field of renewable energy and
energy efficiency. More than 150 employees in six countries deliver
integrated sustainable energy solutions. Ecofys is part of the Econcern
group (www.e-concern.com), with the mission "a sustainable
energy supply for everyone".
Soltherm Europe
The Soltherm Europe Initiative is an action network with the goal
to make stimulate the market growth of solar thermals systems. Soltherm
Europe is funded by the Altener Program of the European Union. The
following organisations are project partners within Soltherm Europe:
- Pan-European: Climate Alliance, ESTIF (European Solar Thermal
Industry Federation)
- Austria: AEE-Intec (Arbeitsgemeinschaft Erneuerbare Energie),
ESV (O.Ö. Energiesparverband), Grazer Energie Agentur
- Belgium: 3E
- Denmark: DTI (Dansk Teknologisk Institut) Ellehauge & Kildemoes
- France: ADEME (Agence de lÉnvironnement et de la Maîtrise
de l’Energie), RAEE (Rhônalpénergie Environnement)
- Germany: BEA (Berliner Energieagentur), BSi (Bundesverband Solarindustrie),
Door2Energy
- Greece: CRES (Centre for Renewable Energy Sources)
- Italy: Ambiente Italia
- The Netherlands: Ecofys, Novem (Nederlandse Organisatie voor
Energie en Milieu)
- Spain: ICAEN (Institut Català d’Energia), Trama
Tecnoambiental
- United Kingdom: BRE (Building Research Establishment)
For more information please
contact:
Drs.
Ellen Hendrix
Marketing Manager
Ecofys
T: +31 (0)30 –
280 83 19
E: e-mail: e.hendrix@ecofys.nl |
Drs.
Bart van der Ree
Project Coordinator
Soltherm Europe
T: +31 30 –
280 83 27
E: e-mail: b.vanderree@ecofys.nl |
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