M. Lopes Prates, J. Cruz Costa, J. Farinha Mendes e Maria Joao Carvalho

INETI, Department of Renewable Energies, Campus do Lumiar do INETI, 1649-038 Lisboa, Portugal

Phone: +351 21 092 4769
Corresponding author, lopes. prates@ineti. pt

Abstract

This paper starts remembering the steps given in Portugal to prepare the introduction of a solar thermal obligation. Next, it presents a description of the present legislation related to the Solar Thermal Obligation (STO) and to other incentive measures for growth of the solar thermal market in Portugal. The main problems with implementation of the new regulation are analysed and systematized. Based on the acquired knowledge, further actions are presented to guarantee the success of Solar Thermal Obligation, namely proposals for updating the obligation in conformity with best practice for solar thermal installations and taking into account the new realities upcoming from the actual solar thermal market development, without sacrificing the final technical quality and user satisfaction.

Keywords: thermal performance of buildings, solar thermal obligation, solar thermal systems, solar thermal collectors, certification

1. Introduction

The first steps that allowed the present implementation of a solar thermal obligation in Portugal started in the past nineties, with the implementation of courses for installers of solar thermal systems and dissemination campaigns for good practices, in the framework of European ALTENER projects [1, 2], contributing to the development of education material to be used in installers training courses and to the establishment of the Portuguese qualification scheme for installers.

The next steps were given within the Sub Programme “Solar Hot Water for Portugal”, which was part of the general energy policy of the Portuguese Government, published in 2001[3]:

i) the implementation of a new Technical Committee on Energy, within the Portuguese Professional Certification System, that prepared and implemented a scheme for solar systems installers based on what was developed by QUALISOL project [2];

ii) the definition of a certification scheme for solar thermal collectors and factory made solar thermal systems.

In 2002, the rules of the “Incentive Measures for Renewable Energies and Rational Use of Energy” [4], applied the two certification schemes to Guarantee the Quality of Solar Thermal Systems to which the Incentives were applicable [5].

In 2006, the legislation transposing the EU Directive 2002/91/CE (EPBD) [6] was concluded and this was the final step for the implementation of a first solar thermal obligation in Portugal. This obligation is integrated in the new Portuguese Thermal Performance Building Regulation (RCCTE) [7].