CTO Assessment - European Commission

SOLTHERM WALLOON
Solar Thermal
Action Plan
Contact: Oona Negro • Walloon Regional Government
4, rue des Brigades d’Irlande • B 5100 Jambes • Belgium
Tel: + 32(0)81 32 34 11 • Email: oona.negro@gov.wallonie.be
Websites: http://daras.wallonie.be and http://energie.wallonie.be
The Walloon Region set an action plan with
the clearly ambitious objective to have
200,000 m 2 of solar thermal collectors
installed by 2010. This objective would
translate into about 60 m 2 per 1,000 inhabitants.
Since January 2001, more than
1,000 households have opted for a solar
thermal system and 5-10 large installations
in public buildings are under construction.
Although the objectives are still far
from being reached, the growing trend has
soared for the last year.
Main motivations
This Action plan was launched to create
the conditions for emergence of the solar
thermal market in Wallonia, to help it to
become self-supporting and to initiate a
wide “cultural” evolution.
Main motivations were the mature technology,
the economically viable investment,
the fact that local Small and Medium Enterprises
(SMEs) which are active in solar
already exist in Wallonia and that the technology
can be used by any household.
The Plan
In order to reach the objectives, supply and
demand needs to match, which requires
both sides to be prepared to choose solar
thermal for the water systems. A voluntary
“Soltherm” agreement was developed
for producers and installers to insure quality,
as well as an awareness raising campaign
to overcome the population’s various
prejudices on solar thermal and a support
system to overcome the barrier of
price.
Overall Evaluation
Expected economical impact could reach
200 million Euros. The population has
shown increasing interest in solar thermal
and SMEs in the water-heating industry
have been able to develop their know-how,
thanks to the “Soltherm” qualification
system.
Enabling factors
This program has been mainly catalysed
by a Green Minister for Energy in place in
Wallonia since 1999.
Instead of facing the difficult economic
comparison between the investment cost
of installing a traditional water system and
the investment cost of installing a solar
thermal system, the information campaign
emphasized the long-term interest of a solar
investment: the calculation of the estimated
cost per kWh solar thermal produced
over a period of 25 years became a
key argument for large systems.
To overcome the barrier of the investment
cost, a generous financial scheme has been
set up including the possibility to combine
several subsidies (Region, Provinces, some
municipalities), so as to cover up to 75%
of the total investment. In practice, about
50% of the cost is covered.
A leasing system is also tested in 8 municipalities,
which could dramatically boost the
market by getting rid of the barrier of initial
investment.
Challenges
Few administrative barriers had to be
faced, as several regional energy information
offices offer free advice to private individuals.
For large systems, audits are
subsidized up to 50%.
A very supportive legislative framework
was also developed, offering a framework
of financial support.
Environmental targets
Emissions reduction, thanks to the installation
of solar thermal collectors, is relatively
low as hot water represents only a
small share (only about 10%) of the total
energy consumption in Wallonia. Nevertheless,
energy awareness has globally increased,
which has an indirect impact on
the environment. Indeed, it appears that
people owning a SDHW system are more
cautious about consuming energy.
Solar thermal Action plan of the Wallon Region
An ambitious objective of 200,000 m 2 solar thermal collectors installed by 2010. An integrated approach: voluntary “Soltherm”
agreement on system quality, installers training, architects training, competition for architects, awareness raising campaign,
subsidies, facilities regarding planning permission, demonstration through public example, movable installation on a trailer,
evaluation of the feasibility of a mechanism of leasing,
A major success
change of general misperception that there was not enough sun in Belgium for solar thermal
more than 150 small and medium enterprises (SMEs) active in heating systems trained to solar technology
more than 120 architects trained in solar technology
50 municipalities (out of 262) offer a local promotion
Domestic hot water production: more than 1,000 SDHW systems installed or 5,200 m 2 (achieved by mid 2003). NB: those figures
don’t include equipment installed before January 2001.
Large collector: 1,000 m 2 by 2003.
CTO - Showcase
49