Large-scale solar concentrating technologies are already established at an industrial scale for solar power generation, for example in Spain, the US and in China. These plants typically operate at up to 600 degrees. At higher temperatures, heat loss by radiation increases and reduces the efficiency of the plants. A major advantage of the thermal trap developed by ETH Zurich researchers is that it minimises radiative heat losses.
Our approach significantly improves the efficiency of solar absorption," says Casati. "We are, therefore, confident that this technology supports the deployment of high-temperature solar plants." However, detailed technical and economic analyses are still pending, he says. Such analysis is beyond the scope of the current experimental study, which the researchers have published in the scientific journal external page Device.
Casati is continuing his research to optimise the process. The technology could one day make it possible to use solar energy not only to generate electricity, but also to decarbonise energy-intensive industries on a large scale. "To combat climate change, we need to decarbonise energy in general," says Casati. "People often think of energy in terms of electricity, but we actually use about half of our energy in the form of heat."
Casati E, Allgoewer L, Steinfeld A: Solar thermal trapping at 1,000°C and above. Device, 15. May 2024, doi: external page 10.1016/j vice.2024.100399
Sie sind als InternetUser angemeldetWollen Sie sich wirklich abmelden?
Sie sind als InternetUser angemeldet.Wollen Sie sich wirklich abmelden?
Besides external factors (CO2 tax with a very limited impact and fluctuating oil price), the Swiss solar thermal market is predominantly driven by the good will of private persons and the trust they put into this solution to help the planet and their wallet. This is why the market is primarily on single family houses and to a smaller extent also on pre-heating of DHW in dwellings. In addition, the Swiss cantons are about to establish cantonal building regulations requiring the use of renewable energy in new buildings or in the case of renovating the heating system. However, with the latest changes a stronger trend to heat pump solutions and PVcan beobserved.
Increased cantonal subsidies for domestic solar thermal systems can not make up for the tendency to further electrify the energy system. Missing subsidies and other incentives for solar district or solar industrial heating make it difficult to establish new and more profitable market branches.
The Swiss solar thermal industry is relatively small. About half of the collectors installed in Switzerland are imported, mainly from European countries. The other half originates from domestic production. From the total Swiss collector production, about one quarter is exported. Most products are sold via manufacturers to installers.Since the merger of two of the threedominant manufacturer on the market,a single market leader has emerged.
The Swiss solar professional association Swissolar estimates that there are about 2,000 jobs from the solar thermal market slowly shifting towards the solar PV market as well astowards the heat pump market or wood boilers suppliers.
Swiss installations tend to be of high standard corresponding to the demand of the market and better quality comes often at a price. One example: The use of (more expensive) stainless steel storages for domestic hot water installations is common instead ofenameledsteel storages. Quality controls are to be deployed with low-cost monitoring devices coming from pilot projects that showed their benefits.
The brand MINERGIE® is a sustainability standard for new and refurbished buildings. It is mutually supported by the Swiss Confederation, the Swiss Cantons along with trade and Industry and is registered in Switzerland and around the world. Comfort is at the heart of MINERGIE® – the comfort of the users living or working in the building. A wholesome level of comfort is made possible by high-grade building envelopes and the continuous renewal of air. Specific energy consumption is used as the main indicator to quantify the required building quality. In this way, a reliable assessment can be assured. Only the final energy consumed is relevant.
The MINERGIE® Standard is widely accepted. There are many reasons for this, the most important being the objective oriented approach: If builders and planners – in other words architects and engineers- can achieve the standard, they have complete freedom both in their design and choice of materials and also in their choice of internal and external building structures.
In the meantime, the building sector has developed a wide range of products and services for MINERGIE® buildings. Suppliers include architects and engineers as well as manufacturers of materials, components and systems. The diversity and competition of this market increases quality and lowers costs. The last product is a zero-energy building standard, called MINERGIE-A. MINERGIE-ECO that includes to address indoor environment quality is having a small market share in theMINERGIE market.
Since MINERGIE is a label for a project, quality controls of built MINERGIE projects must be undertaken.For this reason, MINERGIE started a supplementary product for quality assurance. This reaches out beyond the planning phase, to the construction and the operation phase of a building.
Very typical heating technologies are heat pumps, especially for new buildings, sometimes in combination with PV. New legislation supports this trend, and it goes along with the MINERGIE® standard. Solar thermal combi systems never had a big market share which tends to continue to decrease.
Seasonal storage in water tanks is a proven solution in several pilot projects and a few houses or buildings choose it.
An emerging combination that has been demonstrated in several pilot and demonstration projects is heat pump and ice storage recharged by solar absorbers. Examples are a 75 m3 ice storage in a MFH in Rapperswil close to Zurich and the project «La Cigale» in Geneva which provides monitoring data in the internet that reveal promising results.As of today, there are several new projects in the planning and implementation phase.
Cantonal support schemes for MINERGIE buildings or the national programme for building renovations (see ) are key drivers for the interest in energy efficient buildings. CO2taxes remained at 120 CHF/t since national objectives were not met. But this has little effect on consumer choices since oil prices have decreased in greater proportions.
Legislation makes solar DHW mandatory in some cantons. Some subsidy schemes on low level exist in some cantons for solar collectors (per m2).
See statistics on (available in German, French and Italian).
The integration of both solar thermal and PV on the same roof with the same frame and shape is a topic underdevelopmentas well as approaches to use the facade. PVT collectors and coloured collectors have been further developed in the past years. Coloured thermal collectors are expected to be on the market like the coloured PV modules that have been demonstrated on some buildings in Switzerland and Denmark, using the technology developed in Switzerland since 2001. One of the current core areas of research is the cost reduction, e.g. by drain back concepts with temperature limitation.
In close cooperation with the most important funding agencies that competitively award grants, the Swiss Federal Office of Energy (SFOE) supports and coordinates research and innovation in the energy sector along a major part of the innovation chain. Swiss national R&D programmes exist for solar heat and heat storage, for solar industrial heat, and for energy in buildings. The activities of SFOE are based on a programmatic and subsidiary approach that is governed by the Federal Energy Research Masterplan.
The research programs are accessible to any organisation in Switzerland presenting a project that will be evaluated by the Swiss federal office of energy. Beside R&D projects, also pilot or demonstration projects can be applied for.
The following innovations have been introduced in Switzerland:
The legal basis for the support of R&D and market dissemination measures for energy efficiency and renewable energy is the national law of energy. The CO2reduction goals of Switzerland have been published (50% reduction in 2030 from 1990 levels). A May 2017 referendum called for more renewable energy and energy efficiency in Switzerland, and another June 2023 referendum mandates a net-zero CO2target by 2050.
In Switzerland, the government is responsible for the funding of R&D, whereas the cantons are responsible for building regulations and subsidies for renewable energy installations. Not all cantons are equal in their solar support.
Solar GeneralResidentialCommercialIndustrialInstitutionalAgricultureHistoric BuildingsPool HeatingWater HeatingSpace HeatingHeat PumpsBuilding IntegratedPassive Solar BuildingsZero Energy BuildingsUrban PlanningCoolingLarge SystemsDistrict HeatingProcess HeatingPower GenerationPV/ThermalPhotovoltaicsDaylightingLightingCollector ComponentsCollector PerformanceCollector Testing & RatingStandards & CertificationSystem ComponentsSystem PerformanceStorageDesign ToolsResource AssessmentESCOsCase Studies
About Switzerland solar thermal energy
As the photovoltaic (PV) industry continues to evolve, advancements in Switzerland solar thermal energy have become critical to optimizing the utilization of renewable energy sources. From innovative battery technologies to intelligent energy management systems, these solutions are transforming the way we store and distribute solar-generated electricity.
When you're looking for the latest and most efficient Switzerland solar thermal energy for your PV project, our website offers a comprehensive selection of cutting-edge products designed to meet your specific requirements. Whether you're a renewable energy developer, utility company, or commercial enterprise looking to reduce your carbon footprint, we have the solutions to help you harness the full potential of solar energy.
By interacting with our online customer service, you'll gain a deep understanding of the various Switzerland solar thermal energy featured in our extensive catalog, such as high-efficiency storage batteries and intelligent energy management systems, and how they work together to provide a stable and reliable power supply for your PV projects.
Related Contents
