The aim of the project is to elaborate basic knowledge of the design of solar thermal plants for process heat generation combined with heat recovery measures. The knowledge shall be transported to the target group of HVAC designers, installing companies and production companies in the participating countries Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Portugal and Spain.
The overall goal of the project is to implement activities that reduce the negative impacts from increasing cooling demand in Europe through an increased market penetration of sustainable cooling approaches and technologies. A “preliminary definition” of sustainable cooling consists of the following elements: reducing heat load; minimizing the electricity consumption; increasing the use of renewable energy sources.
Schwarzenegger stadion
Picture source: S.O.L.I.D.
The actual problem faced by this project is that although solar thermal applications are technologically mature and economically advantageous in the long term, they have still little penetration in the European market, with respect to their potential. One of the main reasons is that end users (especially for large systems) are still reluctant to face the high initial investment cost and doubtful for the reliability and durability of solar installations.
Source: Berglandmilch – Werk Voitsberg
The Austrian food, textile and chemical industry show a high potential for the generation of solar process heat. This was shown by the project “PROMISE” performed within the initiative “Fabrik der Zukunft – factory of tomorrow” of the Austrian Ministry of Transport, Innovation and Technology. Production processes are run in batch operation in many cases. A solar thermal process heat plant produces energy whenever the solar irradiation is high enough and does not take the production scheme into consideration.
Solutions for expandable modular solar supported heating networks are developed for new settlement areas, which are established in several phases during the construction. This modular design should open possibilities to adapt the heating and the solar thermal system.
Linz
Picture source: S.O.L.I.D.
The Austrian district heating systems with a total length of more than 3,400 km and more than 13,000 GWh heat generation per year, show great potential for the adoption of renewable energy (seen as long-terms)...
The solar thermal system for public bath facilities in Darakhsh in Iran is a pilot project, which was carried out in cooperation with GREENoneTEC and AEE INTEC. Another 1000 systems are planed to be built.
Fresnel collector for mid-temperature generation (Solarmundo)
In the aim to reach the goal to develop a market for solar thermal systems for process heat are potential studies, development of mid temperature collectors for the generation of process heat up to 250°C and technical solutions to the integration of solar heat for industrial process being worked on. Furthermore are in the framework of this international cooperation together with the solar industry, demonstration projects realised and process data are gathered and evaluated. The quick know-how transfer is carried out by a yearly industrial newsletter and the performance of symposiums.
Zer0-M aims at concepts and technologies to achieve optimised close-loop usage of all water flows in small municipalities or settlements (e.g. tourism facilities) not connected to a central wastewater treatment - the Zero Outflow Municipality (Zer0-M).
