The Solar Heating and Cooling Programme (SHC) of the International Energy Agency (IEA) has launched a new research programme (Task 49) with the aim of advancing the use of solar thermal energy for process heat. The purpose of the four-year programme is to develop the software and hardware needed to make solar thermal energy more attractive for industrial applications.
Last year, a team of researchers from five countries investigated why so few companies have started using solar process heat so far. They found a whole string of reasons, which will now be tackled in the follow-up project. For example, the project will improve existing collector designs and develop further testing standards that will allow collector quality to be conclusively assessed.
A further objective is to improve the actual integration of solar thermal energy into the respective industrial process. Finally, monitoring systems and design guidelines will be developed, which will support potential investors.
