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Solar air conditioning an up and coming trend at estec 2009
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Pangea on 10/12/2009 22:00:00
 
estec is the largest international conference for solar thermal technology and
an international forum for representatives of industry, associations, research
and politics. As was the case with estec2007, the event will take place in the
run-up to the world's largest trade show for solar technology, Intersolar.
Demand for cooling systems is growing extremely rapidly. This growth is driving
up worldwide demand for electricity, especially in the warmer climatic zones. As
a consequence, interest in innovative, energy-saving technologies such as solar
thermal is also growing. The principal function of solar thermal systems is
actually to convert solar energy into useful heat energy. However, this heat
energy can also be used for the energy-efficient air conditioning of buildings.
Rising electricity prices are creating increased interest in alternative cooling
Sales of air conditioning systems with a cooling capacity of up to 5 kW almost
doubled between 2002 and 2007, rising from 44 to 75 million systems. This
increasing demand for cooling capacity, coupled with the rising cost of
electricity, is creating additional interest in innovative and sustainable
technologies - such as solar thermal air conditioning of buildings. The
electricity consumption of conventional air conditioning systems is very high.
In addition, they are subject to increasing criticism, not only due to the use
of problematic cooling agents such as CFCs but also due to the CO2 emissions
they cause. The solar thermal cooling of buildings, on the other hand, makes use
of natural resources and protects the environment. Unlike conventional cooling
systems, which draw electrical energy from the electricity grid, solar air
conditioning is powered by solar heat. This heat is obtained using solar
collectors. The ba sis for solar thermal cooling is the thermochemical process
known as sorption. The cooling energy is generated either by the adherence of
the vaporized cooling agent (generally water) to a solid (adsorption) or by the
incorporation of the cooling agent into a solvent mixture (absorption). Solar
heat is then introduced to force the cooling agent out of the solution or solid,
so that the process can be repeated.
Water is generally used as the cooling agent in these systems as it is
environmentally friendly and has no negative effects on the climate. Solar air
conditioning therefore not only saves energy; it is also an efficient way of
protecting the climate. In addition, buildings require the most cooling at the
hottest times of the day and in sunnier southern regions. It is a further
advantage of solar air conditioning that the greatest demand for air
conditioning exists where solar irradiation is at its highest.
1.4 to 2 kilowatt hours of solar heat are required for the production of one
kilowatt hour of cooling energy. However, as solar heat does not have to be
purchased from an electricity supplier at great cost, this efficiency ratio does
not represent a serious problem for the new technology. The initial outlay
costs, which are still high, and the consequently long amortization periods
represent challenges for solar air conditioning; but they are challenges which
can be met. According to the European scientists involved in the European Solar
Thermal Technology Platform (ESTTP), which was set up at estec2005: "rising
electricity prices and more and more efficient systems mean that mid-term
prospects are excellent in this sector".
estec2009 – trends and challenges in the European solar thermal sector
The prospects of solar air conditioning and other big issues facing the solar
thermal industry are among the central themes of the 4th European Solar Thermal
Energy Conference estec2009. The conference is organized by the European Solar
Thermal Industry Federation (ESTIF) and will take place on May 25 and 26, 2009,
at the Bayrischer Hof hotel in Munich. As the world's largest international
conference focusing exclusively on solar heating and cooling, The conference
will feature specialist presentations on technological trends and global and
national market developments and is aimed at the decision makers of the sector,
including representatives of industry, commerce, the associations and politics.
There will also be plenty of time and scope for networking – beyond European
borders. The organizers are expecting around 600 expert visitors from over 50
countries to attend. ESTIF is presenting a growing industry which has a turnover
of around two billion euros a year an d which provides more than 30,000 jobs in
Europe – and both these figures are set to continue to rise.
The continued cooperation with the world's largest solar technology trade show
Intersolar 2009 provides innovative solar thermal companies with the opportunity
to present themselves to a wide target audience – beyond the scope of the
conference itself – and ensures that both events and the companies involved
gain a maximum of international attention.
For further information on Intersolar 2009, please visit www.intersolar.de.
For further information on ESTIF and estec2009, please visit HYPERLINK
"http://www.estif.org" www.estif.org / www.estec2009.org.
Sponsors of Intersolar 2009:
Intersolar 2009 is supported by the leading solar industry associations: the
German Solar Industry Association (BSW), as the exclusive partner of Intersolar,
the German Solar Energy Society (DGS), the European Photovoltaic Industry
Association (EPIA), the European Solar Thermal Industry Federation (ESTIF) and
the International Solar Energy Society (ISES).
About Intersolar:
The Intersolar brand is internationally recognized as the leading event for the
solar energy industry. The two events, Intersolar in Munich and Intersolar North
America, are jointly organized by Solar Promotion GmbH and Freiburg Wirtschaft
Touristik und Messe GmbH & Co. KG and their North American subsidiaries and
serve the entire international solar supply chain and global solar industry.
Intersolar in Munich, held annually, is the world's largest solar exhibition
with over 1,050 exhibitors from 40 countries across 818,000 sq. ft. of
exhibition space and 52,000 visitors from 142 countries in 2008. The inaugural
Intersolar North America 2008, also held annually, featured 210 exhibitors from
18 countries across 45,000 sq. ft. and 13,000 visitors from 87 countries.
About estec2009/ESTIF:
The European Solar Thermal Energy Conference estec2009 is the largest conference
of its kind in the world. It is organized every two years by the European Solar
Thermal Industry Federation (ESTIF).
Contact:
Solar Promotion GmbH | Postfach 100 170 | 75101 Pforzheim | Germany
Mr. Horst Dufner | Tel.: +49(0)7231-58598-0 | Fax: +49(0)7231-58598-28 |
info@intersolar.de
Media contact:
fischerAppelt Kommunikation München GmbH | Infanteriestraße 11a | 80797 Munich
| Germany
Robert Schwarzenböck | Tel. +49-(0)89-747466-23 | Fax +49-(0)89-747466-66 |
rs@fischerappelt.de
Iris Funke | Tel. +49-(0)89-747466-221 | Fax +49-(0)89-747466-66 |
ifu@fischerAppelt.de