Archives: News

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 […]

Chile: Mining Sector May Be Solar Thermal’s Future

In September 2012, Chile´s Energy Ministry published a comprehensive study on the country´s solar thermal market. The company who had carried out the “Market study of the solar thermal industry […]

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 […]

Germany: Fraunhofer ISE’s New Climate Test Stand

At the end of November, the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE started its new test stand for solar thermal collectors. Using this test stand, the scientists aim to […]

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 […]