Clean Energy WireJenniferCollins
Industry says Germany’s heating energy plans neglect solar thermal’s potential
Cities and towns are leaving most of the large potential for solar thermal heat untapped in their transition to climate-friendly municipal heating, according to Germany’s solar industry trade association, BSW.
That is despite solar thermal having the largest theoretical potential of any heat source assessed in the study, including biomass and geothermal, the industry group said. The analysis reviewed 377 completed heat plans, covering 938 municipalities and found solar thermal could potentially supply 457 terawatt hours (TWh) of heat a year.
The municipalities’ heat plans project a total heating energy demand of about 121 TWh a year in 2045.
The authors attributed the low uptake to the mismatch between summer supply and winter heat demand, as well as to competition for land with solar PV panels.
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