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Cuba

Cuba Solar Thermal

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The Cuban population spends between 529 and 791 GWh/year (6% of electricity) to heat water.

Considering the housing technical conditions and water service stability, 1 million Cuban families could receive hot water service using solar energy.

The first ad written in Spanish about commercial solar thermal technology, published in a mass medium communication was held in a Cuban newspaper in the 1930s.

The equipments introduced at that time were mainly from US and its high costs made them only available to economically advantaged clases of the country.

In 1978 a polygon was established to evaluate solar heating systems and the Cuban Standard for systems installation was approved in 1987.

In that period, first models adapted to island climatic conditions was developed and Cuban patent for a solar thermal compact system was obtained in 1979.

Between 1982 and 1991 they were built and installed over 13.000 solar thermal water heating systems in kindergartens and other social institutions. Most of these systems are now out of service because maintenance and technological problems.

From 1992 to 2006 about 4.000 flat collectors and compact equipments, several imported, were installed and were performed efforts to manufacture in the country.

In 2007 Chinese vacuum tube equipments were acquired for pilot test performing purpose.

Approximately 85% of the installed capacity corresponds to the tourist hotel sector.

Solar thermal systems for applications such as drying of agricultural and industrial products are also used.

The solar energy research centers carry over 2 decades working on solar drying technologies development models for timber, medicinal plants, grains, seeds and other products that now allow industrial use of these cameras and provides great economic benefit.

Very advanced solar dryers for tobacco drying and curing technologies developing have also succeeded.

The mentioned centers also work in the use of solar energy in controlled climate chambers for vegetables production and high quality seeds, refrigeration and cooling. The research focuses on potatoes, tomatoes and other products production that currently Cuba is forced to import.

Solar business in Cuba and Latam with Sopelia

Solar Thermal Energy

Solar Creativity

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When Federico Redin answered the phone call at his office in Bahia Blanca (Argentina) he was happy because it was to request their installation services in a new solar energy project.

But when he came to the house where the project would be located, he realized that the facility had some complexity.

It was a continuous use indoor pool with bathroom, dressing room and kitchen.

The pool was closed with rustic solid brick walls, aluminum DVH low quality openings in the enclosure and transparent polycarbonate roof. A challenge.

Piscina

After the visit, which solution adopt to optimally configure the installation was going around in his head.

Appealing to the characteristic creativity of Argentine people, Federico took an unconventional solution: swimming pool conditioning by floor heating (in the transit zones of the enclosure and in the pool itself).

In this way it would achieve heat the pool regardless of the type of water containing the glass and more efficiently, since conventional pool heating has the negative inertia of moving water.

By heating the pool water with a conventional boiler the water is set into motion with the same pool pump, causing cooling it by this movement; which decreases the overall installation performance.

Therefore, a more powerful source of energy and more thermal reaction is needed.

We know that using solar energy do not have a large thermal reaction, ie the heating time is slower.

By heating the pool with underfloor heating water turns hot through the concrete, once in regime, it has more thermal inertia and allows solar energy to maintain that regime.

The radiant “glass” pool and the transit floor area of the enclosure receive input from a conventional gas boiler, which is responsible for putting installation in system, and 7 heat pipe collectors supplying directly fluid to the circuit (without heat exchanger) that transfers heat in sunshine.

Colectores I

Temperature is regulated with a mixing thermostatic valve to not degrade the soil at high temperatures.

The system has a thermostat for transit zones and a thermostat for swimming pool water.

Then room or water temperature are discriminated with electric heads located at the underfloor heating collector, separating pool and transit zones of the enclosure.

The pool has a natural salt chlorination system (salt water 5%) thus avoiding the use of chlorine.

Caldera

Having 2 separate circuits (the pool and underfloor heating), we protect the boiler to heat salt water, which quickly will cause severe and irreversible damage to it.

Federico Redin is Sopelia facilities expert advisor.

Costa Rica

Costa Rica Solar Thermal

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In mid-2015 was held in San Jose, Costa Rica an international event to bring together experts from different countries to share experiences on solar thermal technology developed in their areas.

The forum was jointly organized by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), the Latin American Energy Organization (OLADE), the Costa Rican Electricity Institute (ICE) and the National Metrology Institute of Germany (PTB).

The forum aimed to bring together experts to support the implementation of mechanisms for quality assurance in order to increase confidence in the technology and spur development, issues of products control, installations and installers, and a visit to the laboratory of solar energy and energy efficiency facilities of the Costa Rican Energy Institute was held.

The most important technical standards of the sector in Costa Rica are:

INTE * 03/01/28 / 2013. Solar thermal systems and components. Solar collectors. General requirements

INTE * 03/02/28 / 2013 Thermal solar systems and their components. Prefabricated systems. General requirements

INTE * ISO 9459-2 / 2013 Solar Energy. Systems for domestic water heating. External test methods for the characterization and yearly performance prediction of solar systems.

In Costa Rica, 41,3% of households use hot water systems (ACS), which mostly operate with electric power.
These systems represent an estimated national consumption of over 250 GWh / year.

It is very evident the need to establish a set of policies and incentives in order to achieve mass use of solar thermal technology in the residential sector.

These should include a technology implementation strategy, covering regulatory aspects, technical training and creation of laws governing the sector.

The aim would be to create a framework to introduce solar thermal systems to replace electric water heating equipment.

The country has approximately 1,200,000 homes for about 4,500,000 inhabitants (3,75 persons / household), of which only 3% are multifamily housing.

It follows that the basic ACS system for the average residential sector of Costa Rica with country radiation levels, would be payed at a more than reasonable time.

One of the most important facilities is located in a Tamarindo (Guanacaste) hotel.

A total of 164 collectors (330 m²) and 25,000 liters storage supplies hot water to 240 rooms and an industrial laundry, generating 529,600 kWh annually.

The investment will pay off in just 36 months with the savings generated.

Colombia

Colombia Solar Thermal

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The first record about solar thermal energy use in Colombia dates back to the 50s with the installation of solar heaters in the banana workers homes located in Santa Marta. The heaters still exist, but they do not work.

In the 60s Israeli solar heaters were installed in some universities in Santander and Bogota.

In the 80s in Medellin, Manizales, some neighborhoods of Bogota and later in the Atlantic coast, solar heaters began massively used; forcing regulation of their use through INCOTEC (Colombian Institute of Technical Standards).

In March 1993 the NTC 3507 was enacted, referring to domestic hot water systems powered by solar energy installations.

In mid 90s, with the support of foundations like Gaviotas, the use of solar heaters spread to hospitals and community centers.

Until 1996, 48.901 m2 of solar thermal systems had installed, mainly in neighborhoods of Medellin and Bogota with Central Bank funding.

All this development stopped short with the introduction of a cheaper energy source, natural gas, which displaced the market of this nascent industry from then until now.

Most systems work well but some users had other expectations of them, which has hinted that the demand exceeds the capacity of the equipments.

Currently, the solar industry remains depressed in Colombia waiting for a new energy crisis.

The only program that tried timidly incorporating solar thermal energy began in 2009 in San Andrés as part of the implementation of solar energy in buildings, to evaluate their behavior in a residential installation.

State action should be directed towards the solar thermal energy development:

– To diversify the national energy matrix and give flexibility to the power supply system

– To reduce the environmental impact of fossil fuels and the reserves depletion

– To provide power supply in remote and isolated áreas

The national energy policy should move towards a gradual increase of supply based on solar thermal energy, developing strategies and setting ambitious and achievable goals, consistent with a gases emissions reducing policy.

The Law URE (Rational Use of Energy) and 3683 Decree, have not been sufficient to promote this energy source, as evidenced results obtained from its promulgation.

Chile

Chile Solar Thermal

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In Chile the energy business understood has caused solar thermal for domestic applications is not subsidized, while maintaining support for hydrocarbons.

It is easier to push price increases in residential electricity rates, which can not access direct contracts and are subject to pool generation system with intermediaries.

The 2014 budget left out solar subsidies for social housing infrastructure, despite the need to extend the Law 20,365 and that this be included in the raised budget.

As the law was not extended, 2 million Chileans were left without the possibility of having free hot water in their homes and solar thermal industry begins again fojas 0 after a boom.

Law 20,365 sought to create a natural market to make unnecessary the subsidy after 5 years, but as it only lasted two years, failed to meet that goal.

On Tuesday 12 January, 2016 the project to extend the law 20,365 and make a direct subsidy for solar thermal systems in social housing exceeded its final step in Congress. Only the law publication in Official Journal is needed to take effect.

For solar thermal industry has been too long waiting time of this law.

The effects of this extension will be diluted again if long term policies in favor of maintaining incentives for solar thermal energy by individuals and businesses are not adopted.

Not only is important solar thermal energy development in the residential sector. Copper mining, dairy products, wines, concrete, bakeries, sawmills and paper mills also present opportunities for incorporating solar thermal energy.

Most industries with potential to incorporate solar thermal energy identified are in the RM (middle región), with industrial plants concentration.

Implementation opportunities in the region VIII are scarce because solar thermal energy is currently not competitive with the use of biomass fuel, abundant in this region.

There are compelling reasons to encourage the development of solar thermal systems:

* It is key for real estate who want to get the “Energy Housing Seal”

* It is estimated that each housing with thermal solar equipment will stop producing 16 tons of CO2 over its lifetime

* Capacity building and business and technological development of the sector

* Each peso that the state invests has a high social returns

Brasil

Solar Thermal Brazil

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According to the IEA, Brazil is 4th in solar thermal installed capacity in the world ranking, but 32nd in solar thermal energy per capita among 57 countries.

Irradiation is extremely high in Brazil. The lowest level is in Santa Catarina, still 30% higher than the average in Germany.

Between 2009 and 2013, the Brazilian production of solar collectors grew at an annual average of over 15%, reaching an installed capacity of 9,6 million m2.

In 2012 Brazil accounted 1/3 global market of flat and pool heating collectors produced, with 965 MW, followed by Germany and the US.

Was the 5th country in solar collectors installed in 2013.

One aspect to improve are laws and regulations.

Many municipal laws are being implemented since 2006 and a few are already a reality in some cities like São Paulo.

Proposals to offer incentives for clean technologies and discounts on electricity fee to facilities equipped with solar water heating are also implemented.

In 2014, the Brazilian solar thermal park production reached 7,354 GWh from a total area of 11,24 million m2 of solar collectors installed in the country.

This year, collectors for solar water heating production grew by 4,5%, with the installation of 1,44 million m2 of collectors.

Considering a residential consumption average of 166 kWh / month, this amount of energy is enough to power 3,7 million households over one year. The city of São Paulo has 3,9 million homes.

Higher sales of solar thermal systems in 2014 were recorded in the Southeast with 61,94%, followed by the South with 21,81%, the Center-West with 10,44%. Regions with less market share were Northeast and North, with 4,51% and 1,69%, respectively.

51% of sales in 2014 was allocated to the residential segment, compared to 9% in 2013.

But the big news was use of solar energy in industry expanding. 17% in 2014 compared to 3% in 2013.

By contrast, housing programs sales was reduced from 19% to 16% in 2014.

Commercial and services segments also recorded a 16% in 2014.

The Basic Sanitation Company of São Paulo State (Sabesp) has installed a Treatment Plant Wastewater solar heater in Taubaté and Trebembé cities. The system heat water to 55 ° C for two centrifuges and other washing elements.

Low-income families in towns of Lorraine and Cachoeira Paulista, in São Paulo state, will benefit from the project “Good Solar Energy”, which envisages the installation of solar thermal energy in more than 383 homes, plus kits with fluorescent lamps.

Bolivia

Solar Thermal Bolivia

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In Bolivia, it is estimated that solar thermal installations will increase at a pace of around 500 per year across the country.

This growth is obviously too slow considering Bolivia’s solar potential.

Its radiation is so high that many applications of solar thermal energy could be used.

However, the domestic market is emerging and there are few companies dedicated to this technology.

The most active area is located in the central region of Cochabamba where there are 5 companies that are mainly engaged in thermosiphon equipment installations.

In Bolivia, energy is only available to a small proportion of the population. Broad sectors of poor people in rural areas are not connected to the public electricity network.

The electricity and gas distribution network do not reach these remote regions because this expansion would not result in profits for suppliers.

The use of solar thermal energy has an enormous potential for providing hot water to communities in the highlands, where there are very low temperatures that adversely affect the region’s production and people’s daily activities.

Weather conditions in the Bolivian highlands are extreme due to night frosts. Water from pits or pipes have a very low temperature and therefore it needs to be heated by electricity or gas for people’s personal hygiene and for washing clothes and various items.

As Bolivia is located near the Equator, solar radiation is very high and with no variation between summer and winter periods. Therefore, there are ideal conditions for using solar energy in water heating.

From all of the above, it is clear that the key to overcoming this situation is to stimulate the solar thermal products market growth through policies that affect both supply and demand in the departments of La Paz, Oruro and Cochabamba.

This would contribute to poverty alleviation, environmental conservation and natural resources protection.

From a business point of view, this would encourage the establishment of many companies in the area.

The spread of this technology is currently limited in Bolivia by:

– Technological shortcomings

– Lack of means for certification rating

– Inefficient structures in service, sales and maintenance

– Distrust of potential users

– High production and services costs originated in limited production and sales volumes

– Poor access to financing

– Lack of state incentives (financing, subsidies or tax exemptions).

Argentina

Solar Thermal Argentina

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In terms of solar thermal energy, Argentina has entered a process of incorporating this technology taking the construction sector as an engine for market development, in absence of laws and regulations to boost it.

There are isolated initiatives. In fact, there are municipalities with Bills or solar ordinances, such as the city of Rosario.

But we could say that the field of solar thermal energy in Argentina is still in diapers.

Up to today, year 2015, there are no comprehensive measures of solar resources available, equipment have not been subjected to testing or certification and have no market sector statistical information.

Generally thermo-siphon systems are installed for DHW heating in houses and townhouses where there is no access to the gas network. Equipment for pool heating are also installed.

A 2009 estimate indicates that around 2,000 m² (about 22,000 ft²) of collectors were installed that year and were about doubled in 2010, reaching 4,000 m2 (about 43,000 ft²).

Flat collectors then constituted 2/3 of the market with a large proportion of domestic products, being vacuum tubes the most imported collectors.

In 2015, it is calculated that above 30,000 m² (around 323,000 ft²) collector capacity was installed; half of them for heating outdoor pools.

Most companies in the sector are located in the Central Region (mainly in Buenos Aires) and the Northwest Region is the one with the largest area of collectors installed, followed by the Northeast.

How could this technology’s sustained development be boosted ?

As far as the public sector is concerned, it would require:

– Elimination of the competitive disadvantage caused by high subsidies for electricity and gas network.

– Standards sanctioning and incentives creation.

– Set an example by incorporating solar systems in its infrastructure facilities.

As for the private sector, it would require:

– Introducing improvements in product quality.

– Training skilled labor on sizing and system design, installation and maintenance.

– Facing the additional challenge of foreign competition, in some cases, with equipment at a lower cost and better performance than those of domestic manufacturing.

Only in the residential sector, there is an estimated potential of 6 million m2 (about 65 mill ft²) for the production of DHW; 2.2 million m2 (around 24 mill ft²) in the public, commercial and services sectors, plus a significant potential in the industrial sector.

Considering 20 years of useful life for a thermal solar system, full investment could be recovered in about 15 years in Buenos Aires province, for instance, when compared with actual price of gas network and considering its level of insolation.

However, in cases of bottled gas and electricity, solar thermal power technology is already profitable in many parts of the central and north regions of the country.

Compared with bottled gas, investment in solar thermal systems could be recovered in 2 years.

Compared with the use of an electric water heater, investment in solar thermal systems could be recovered in about 5 years.

A consistent solar thermal market would provide several benefits to the country:

– Reduction in conventional energy demand.

– Reduction in energy imports

– Reduction of greenhouse gases’ emissions.

– Creation of a new industry sector and new jobs.

– Creation of a national industry sector with high added value.

Solar Thermal Energy

Solar Thermal Latin America

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Solar thermal energy for domestic applications is a mature technology that has been successfully developed in many countries for over 30 years.

It is not well understood why its underdeveloped compared with photovoltaics while almost double its performance.

It is a relatively simple technology that already has small and medium manufacturers in countries of the region such as Argentina, Uruguay and Brazil. However, there is still no certification at regional level as in Europe.

In the Caribbean nation of Barbados 80% – 90% of households have solar energy equipment on their roofs. This country ranks in the top 5 global installed capacity per capita.

There are no reliable data concerning the installed capacity in Latin America.

The most recent global estimate dating from 2012 and informs an installed capacity of 234 GWth. Brazil is among the top 7 countries with about 4 GWth (2%).

The Latin American regional market is slowly developing.

In parallel, there is an emerging incipient regulatory framework for certifications that are mainly based on regulatory frameworks of Europe and the US. COPANT is working on the unification of the regional framework of standards and certifications.

One of the main barriers to the development of solar thermal energy are important subsidies that some countries in the region granted to conventional energy.

Professionals and companies in the solar energy industry of Latin America and the Caribbean met recently in San Jose, Costa Rica, to promote the development of this technology in the region.

The meeting was made by IRENA (International Renewable Energy Agency), OLADE (Latin American Energy Organization), ICE (Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad) and the German Metrology Institute (PTB).

According to the Innovation and Technology Department of IRENA, currently the region only takes advantage of 3% of its solar thermal potential.

The most important conclusión we arrived is that the region has great potential for development of solar energy in residential and commercial areas, but experience shows that to achieve this, we must build confidence in this technology.

How is this achieved ?

Proposals were:

1) Develop mechanisms to ensure the quality of the facilities (standards and inspections)

2) Encourage best practices among professionals and companies (testing and certification)

3) Implement government policies that promote genuine development of this technology

The global analysis of the development programs of solar thermal energy estimates a worldwide installed capacity of 1,600 GWth in 2030 and 3,500 in 2050 GWth.

Will be Latin America an important player in this global installed capacity growing ?

To know that, in next deliveries we will discuss solar thermal sector of each country in the region.