IEA-SHC Task 64: Solar Process Heat

The IEA SHC Task 64/IV promotes the integration of solar thermal energy into industrial heating systems through standardised concepts, simulation tools and market strategies. The focus was on the development of modular integration solutions, the combination with heat pumps and the evaluation of simulation methods. The ‘Guideline to Market’ offers strategies for market launch. The results support companies and politicians in establishing SHIP as an efficient and scalable technology.

Short Description

Objectives

The main objective of the task was to establish solar thermal energy as an integral part of industrial heat supply systems. Austria focused in particular on the support of developing standardized methods for creating load profiles, the integration of solar process heat into hybrid energy systems and market integration through innovative business models.

The Austrian participation focused on three central subtasks:

Subtask A (Integrated Energy Systems): Austria supported the development of a method for creating generic load profiles for industrial companies. Results from the EnPro and CORES projects were used to improve integration schemes for solar thermal heat pump combinations. Three reference climate data sets were also defined.
Subtask C (Simulation & Design): Although Austria was not officially involved here, the SHIP tool and the CORES tool for simulation comparisons were made available through close cooperation with other subtasks.
Subtask E (Market Integration): This subtask was significantly co-led by Austria. The Austrian consortium coordinated the development of the Guideline-to-Market, which evaluated financing options and business models. In addition, contributions were made to the SHIP database, which are included in the annual world market statistics.

Results

Technical innovations: The integration of solar thermal energy with heat pumps was further developed, particularly with regard to modular balance-of-plant (BoP) concepts and the standardisation of design guidelines.
Simulation tools & databases: The project partners contributed significantly to the standardisation of simulation methods, in particular by comparing SHIP tools.
Market relevance: The developed Guideline-to-Market contains recommendations on business models such as Energy-as-a-Service and leasing options to make SHIP more economically attractive.
Economic aspects: Cost analyses were used to underline the importance of scaling effects and financing models such as ESCOs (energy service companies) for the market penetration of SHIP.

Austria's contribution to IEA SHC Task 64 was essential for the development of standardised methods, simulation approaches and economic concepts for the promotion of solar thermal energy in industry.

Project Images

Terms of use: The pictures listed underneath the header “Project Pictures” originate from the projects in the frame of the programmes City of Tomorrow, Building of Tomorrow and the IEA Research Cooperation. They may be used credited for non-commercial purposes under the Creative Commons License Attribution-NonCommercial (CC BY-NC).

Participants

Chile, Denmark, Germany (Task Manager), France, Italy, Mexico, Austria, Switzerland (Operating Agent), Spain, Turkey

Contact Address

Wolfgang Gruber-Glatzl
AEE INTEC
Feldgasse 19, 8200 Gleisdorf
E-Mail: w.gruber-glatzl@aee.at