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Solar Combi + Newsletter
Issue 2 (January 2010) |
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What is the project Solar Combi+?
Small-scale thermally driven chillers are relatively new on the market. These chillers can be integrated in solar combisystems for domestic hot water preparation and space heating. These so-called solar combi plus systems are becoming available on the market as pre-engineered packages. The EU project Solar Combi + is supporting the market entry of such systems.
See www.solarcombiplus.eu for more details on the Solar Combi+ project.
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SWOT Analysis
A comprehensive SWOT analysis for the SC+ systems was carried out in order to recognize the advantages and the drawbacks of the technology. Moreover, external factors related to the current market situation and the prospects for future developments were investigated with the aim of identifying the opportunities to be exploited and the threats that have to be avoided for a successful market penetration of SC+ systems. The investigation of both strengths and weaknesses was conducted on a technical, cost-related and marketing basis, whereas the exploration of external factors, i.e. opportunities and threats, was carried out through consideration of technical, cost-related and market related issues, as well as financial incentives and legislation. You can find more details about the SWOT Analysis here.
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Most Promising Markets
The main idea of the analysis was the creation of maps that, in a graphical way, permit an easy evaluation of the locations that are suitable for this kind of application. Data of the solar thermal collector market in Europe were studied as a first step of the analysis, in order to individuate which markets are the most sensitive to the solar energy exploitation for thermal applications (domestic hot water and heating production). Then meteorological data were studied to evaluate the maximum amount of solar energy that can be obtained from a given collector technology (flat plate and evacuated tube collectors were considered) at different temperatures, relative to different distribution systems installed in the building. At the same time, the demand of heating and cooling of buildings in Europe, over the whole year, was evaluated. Comparing demand and availability of energy, the most promising markets were defined. For more information click here.
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Online Tool
Standard system configurations reduce the design effort for single applications considerably and are the basis for the development of package solutions by the participating sorption chiller producers. To identify and promote such configurations a user friendly online tool was developed to disseminate the main results of a number of simulated case studies selected through economical and ecological ratings, for different typical working conditions (i.e. application, climate, etc.).
Out of the large number of virtual case studies, a handy number of standard system configurations, which work best under different conditions, were identified. Based on these, the industry partners were able to provide consistent package solutions. These will enable planers and independent craftsmen to install reliable systems. The economical and ecological rating of the virtual case studies also allowed identifying most promising markets, where systems are yet at the edge of economical breakeven point or beyond. Moreover, customers, planners and architects can get advice about specific installations, which suite best for given working condition. The inquiry tool makes the results of selected virtual case studies easily available online. The structure of the tool is divided into input values selected by the user (location, application, cold distribution system, heat rejection system, solar collector type) and output values given through the database (total solar fraction, cooling solar fraction, relative primary energy saved, specific primary energy saved, total electric efficiency, gross solar yield). No direct comparison between industry partner chillers is deliberately presented but the user through different configurations can use different chillers. This online tool is available under: http://wis.eurac.edu/solarcombiplus/
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Upcoming training courses
Organiser: SorTech
10.02.2010 Freiburg (Germany)
09.03.2010 Region Essen (Germany)
For registration click here
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Industry participation
A number of producers of small-scale solar driven sorption chillers / suppliers of solar heating and cooling systems are direct partners in this project. Please check their homepages for more information on their products
For more information on the project please contact the Project Coordinator
European Academy (EURAC) www.eurac.edu
Roberto Fedrizzi
Viale Druso 1
I-39100 Bolzano
Italy
Or your local Institutional project partner