Platforms

Volker Wittwer

Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems, Heidenhofstr. 2, 79110 Freiburg, Germany

Abstract

In this paper, an overview of the content of the strategic research agenda of the European Solar Thermal Technology Platform in the area of active solar buildings will be given. The vision for a sustainable energy supply of our buildings based mainly on solar energy will be presented as well as a review on short-term, medium-term and long-term research. In addition, the integration of this vision into the framework of the other technology platforms in the area of renewable energy is shown. Beside some competition, many synergetic effects are possible, which will help us to create a sustainable energy supply system for the future.

Keywords: energy-efficient buildings, solar collector, energy supply system,

1. Introduction

The decision of the European governments to reduce the energy demand by 20% by 2020 and to supply 20% of the energy demand 20% by renewable energy forces all countries to strengthen their activities in the field of renewables. If the worldwide potential of renewables is analysed, solar energy is found to have the highest potential (figure 1). Therefore solar energy should be used wherever it is possible. Of course there might be some places, where geothermal or available district heating systems might be preferred or combined with solar systems but in general solar energy could be our main resource in future.

If the final energy demand is examined in detail, the result for Europe is that heat is the dominating component with roughly 50 %, followed by energy for transport with 30 % and electricity with 20%.

The total heat demand is dominated by the heating demand of our buildings followed by the process heat demand of the industry. Thinking about the European goals of 20% reduction and a 20% contribution by renewables by 2020, the reduction of the heating demand in buildings and the increased integration of solar systems are fundamental approaches to reach these goals.

In 2005 a preliminary steering committee for the European Solar Thermal Technology Platform was founded by researchers and industry under the administrative leadership of ESTIF and EUREC to work out a vision paper and a strategic research agenda, which should show how we can reach this goal.