German solar-thermal market shrinks by 11% in Jan-Sep

Nov 1, 2013 - German Solar Industry Association BSW-Solar and house, energy and environmental technology association BDH said on Thursday sales of solar-thermal collectors dropped by 11% year-on-year in the first nine months of 2013.

In the period from January to September approximately 820,000 square metres (8.8m sq ft) of solar thermal collectors were installed.

In light of these figures, the two associations demand negotiating parties Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and Social Democratic Party (SPD) to address the issue of energy transition in the heating sector with their coalition talks.

The outdated heating systems in Germany account for 40% of the greenhouse gas emissions and around 30% of the consumers' energy costs. An energy transition in the heating sector would relieve the consumers and also compensate for the increase in electricity prices, according to the associations.

Modernisation of outdated heating systems by pellet technology in combination with solar thermal energy can reduce heating costs by up to 70%, according to Andreas Luecke, head of BDH.

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