Around 30 solar thermal experts from 14 different Mediterranean countries met in Albania on 20/21 March 2013 to discuss strategies for market development. “The target of the workshop was to share knowledge among key experts from both the public and private sectors regarding best practice and deployment strategies in this region,” explains Amr Abdelhai, Project Coordinator at the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). The two-day workshop was part of the Global Solar Water Heating Market Transformation and Strengthening Initiative (GSWH) and was organised by Observatoire Méditerranéen de l'Energie (OME) one of the regional partners of this initiative. The photo shows the visit to the orphan house in Tirana, Albania, at which a 20 m² solar thermal collector field supports domestic hot water and space heating.
Photo: Bärbel Epp

With the launch of the Solar Food Processing Network in January 2013, India can look forward to a successful usage of solar thermal systems to meet the energy needs of this sector. The initiative for the network came from private entrepreneur Ghanshyam Lukhi (see the small photo above). He is the owner of Tapi Food, an export-oriented producer of tutty-fruity, jam, jelly, soft drink concentrate and ginger candy, located in Gujarat state, Western India (see second photo). Since November 2008, most of the factory’s energy has come from a solar thermal concentrating system installed on its roof. The well-performing system has become a landmark project for India’s food processing sector. Meanwhile, other process industries have already commissioned another 10 of those systems.
Photos: Tapi Food