1. Market situations and trends of small-scale chillers

The first part of the project was devoted to an analysis of possible markets for solar combi plus systems. Since the competing technology are conventional (non-solar) air conditioning systems, the available technological solutions with small cooling capacity as well as their markets in Europe were analysed.

The European Air Conditioning (AC) market has grown rapidly during the last 5 years. The size of AC markets in the seven major European countries (France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Russia, Spain and the UK) expanded from some 2.4 million sold units in 2000 to 5 million sold units in 2004. A further breakdown of the European AC market reveals that Italy and Spain are holding the largest market of about 1.4 to 1.7 million units per year (after 2004), followed by France, Greece and UK at 300,000 to 500,000 units each [1, 2].

For small cooling demands, typically room air-conditioning units or multi-split systems are used. As can be seen from a closer look at the French and the Italian markets, it can be stated that especially the monosplit units with small capacities are responsible for more than 50% of the overall units sold (see Figure 1 and 2). Application areas for these systems are mainly in smaller buildings such as the trade and residential sector and small office buildings where in the past mainly local solutions were used.

Fig. 1. Evolution of the air conditioning market of individual air conditioners with a capacity below 17.5 kW in France. Sold units in the years 1998-2003

Fig. 2. Share of air conditioners with different capacities on the overall Italian market in the years 2005 and 2006 [3]

However, small chiller systems have an increasing market share in many European countries. These smaller buildings are seen as the most promising target market for solar combi plus systems, which offer a central chiller system powered by solar heat (see Fig.3). The survey among the industrial participants of the SolarCombi+ project also showed that they see the most interesting markets for their solar combi plus systems in Spain, Italy and France (see Fig. 4).

Fig. 3. Number of systems sold until Feb. 2008, as reported by the SolarCombi+ industry partners

Fig. 4. Markets which are considered of high priority by the SolarCombi+ industry partners

2. Solar thermal markets in Europe

Currently, solar thermal markets are growing all over Europe (see Fig. 5), even if at different pace and with different focus: Germany is still the largest market; Austria and Greece are among countries with the highest per capita collector area, but while in Germany and Austria solar combi systems become increasingly important (35% of installed area), in Greece dominate thermosiphon systems for DHW; other southern European countries as e.g. Spain and France are catching up now. Solar combi plus systems have a large potential here because systems can be used year around for DHW, pool heating, space heating and last but not least cooling. Although small solar combi plus systems are relatively new to the market, sales are rapidly increasing. The industrial partners involved in this project have already installed more than 130 systems all over Europe.

Fig. 5. Solar thermal market in participating countries

Fig. 6. Answers to the question, whether consumers ask retailers about energy efficiency

5.3. Air conditioning costumer needs

To estimate the potential of small-scale solar combi plus systems, a market survey among AC systems retailers was conducted - the target group being the consumers, but the source to collect and analyse the necessary data the retailers, who could provide data not only on volume of sales but also on consumers attitude. Even if the research partners faced some difficulties in approaching retailers and collecting information, the filled questionnaires (elaborated by CRES) reveal some interesting aspects, which are presented here.

In line with the results of the EU-survey of “consumer attitudes related to EU Energy policy” [4], which states that 80% of EU citizens say energy efficiency influences their decision when buying household appliances (nearly half of them very much) and that they are quite certain that within the next decade they have to change their every day behaviour, but also the technology used to make their living space comfortable, also in the selection of air conditioning systems in almost all countries in Europe, energy efficiency is a major topic (see Fig. 6). This has a clear consequence on the selected products. In fact in Italy most products sold are classified as energy class A while in Greece more class B and C than class A products are sold. (see Fig. 7).

While other criteria such as maintenance effort, noise, the trademark, aesthetics – and total cost! -are also important aspects when buying air conditioning systems (Fig. 8), a high percentage of consumers pay attention to energy label and efficiency data. 40% of them are even willing to pay more for a product if it is energy efficient (Fig. 9). This survey shows that solar combi plus systems can have a significant market if they are as reliable and convenient as conventional air conditioning systems even if they are somewhat more expensive.

Fig. 7. Answers to the question how many percent of the sold products belong to which energy class

Fig. 9. Costumer’s willingness to pay more for a product that is: More efficient? More reliable? More Elegant?

Bibliography

[1] Y. Vougiouklakis, E. Korma (2008), Report on market situation & trends about small scale chillers, Project Report D2.1 of the IEE Project – SolarCombi+, www.solarcombiplus.eu
[2] REFRIGE.COM Portal - HVAC & Refrigeration news, events, training, books, magazines and directoryonline/01/2007
[3] CO.AER Associazione Costruttori di Apparecchiature ed Impianti Aoraulici
[4] Flash Eurobarometer series 206 (2007) Attitudes on issues related to EU Energy Policy – Analytical report