Six Pillar: Finance and Incentives

Portugal: 45 % Drop in 2012

The Portuguese national solar industry association, APISOLAR, has just released the solar thermal statistics for the third quarter of 2012 and has once again reduced its forecast for the entire […]

Germany: No Retrofit Tax Rebate

After a long debate, the tax bill for the energy-efficient modernisation of buildings died before being enacted. In summer 2011, the German parliament had agreed on the law, which was […]

Austria: More and Less Successful Subsidy Schemes

Austria´s solar thermal market has come to depend a great deal on incentive programmes. The schemes in 2012, however, met with varying degrees of success. Demand was again great for […]

China: Compulsory Energy Efficiency Label

Solar water heaters produced after 1 September 2012 require the China Energy Label in one of three different classes: 1, 2 or 3. The aim of the label, which was […]

Solar Thermal Bankable – yes or no?

It is not easy at all to persuade third parties to finance large-scale ESCO (Energy Service Company) projects for solar thermal: The financial sector needs to become more aware of […]

Malta: Delay in New Incentives

It is still unclear if there will be another subsidy scheme in Malta in 2013. The last phase of the solar water heater grant programme ended in November 2012. According […]

Italy: Government Approves New Subsidy Scheme

Market observers expect the new incentive mechanism for renewable heating systems and energy-efficient measures in Italy, to come into force at the beginning of January 2013. The three Ministries of […]