The current situation of the solar thermal market in the
EU can be summarised as follows:
-
Installed area in the EU through 2003:
about 12,000,000 m2 (source: www.estif.org)
-
In the past 20 years growth rates of
the EU collector market varied considerably per year,
varying from -20% (1987) to +50% (1992) with an average
growth rate of 13% since 1990.
-
Collector sales in 2003 have amounted
to well over 1,400,000 m2.
The value of the market at present can
be estimated at about 700 million Euro per year.
-
The EU market declined in 2002, but has
taken up speed again in 2003.
-
The sales in Germany represent about 55%
of the annual EU collector sales at the moment.
-
Market growths per country vary from 0%
to > 20%.
For more market figures, see the latest ESTIF
report.
Until today the market of solar water heaters for single
houses has contributed most to the market growth. The annual
potential for solar water heaters to be installed
in single houses when replacing the existing water heater,
is about 6 million m2. The moment of renovation of the conventional
water heater is the best moment to sell and install a solar
water heater. Practical evidence from Germany supports this:
50% of the solar waters heaters are sold in regional campaigns
aiming at the renovation of combined space and water heaters.
With these figures it is worthwhile to develop an EU market
development strategy based on the renovation market of existing
water heaters, trying to push the installation of SWH surface
near the 3 million m2 a year.
The potential market for solar thermal markets also includes
large solarheating plants. An overview of European large-scale
solar heating plants (more than 500 m2) can be
found here.
Despite this great potential, the market for solar thermal
systems is well behind the goals presented in the EU's white
paper: "Energy for the Future: Renewable sources of Energy."
| 
