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Presentation |
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The objective of the project is to promote the creation and development of Solar Thermal Energy Service Companies (ST-ESCOs) and, by this, to assist in accelerating the growth of the solar thermal market in Europe .
The actual problem faced by this project is that although solar thermal applications are technologically mature and economically advantageous in the long term, they have still little penetration in the European market, with respect to their potential. One of the main reasons is that end users (especially large ones) are still reluctant to face the high initial investment cost and doubtful for the reliability and durability of solar installations.
The ST-ESCOs , by selling the solar energy (and not necessarily the solar plant) at a competitive price and by carrying out the plant's operation and maintenance can remove completely the above mentioned barriers, thus opening the way for a rapid expansion of solar thermal installations throughout Europe in all potential sectors (residential, services and industry), both private and public.
However, the development of European ESCOs in general is still in its infancy and, to what concerns in particular the solar thermal sector, only sporadic (and not always successful) initiatives have been taken.
This project aims to found and foster the sector of ST-ESCOs by carrying out the following work |
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The ST-ESCOs , by selling the solar energy (and not the solar plant) at a competitive price and by carrying out the plant's operation and maintenance can remove completely barriers such as high initial investment cost, doubts for the reliability and durability of solar installations and, by this, to open the way for a rapid expansion of solar thermal installations throughout Europe in all potential sectors (residential, services and industry), both private and public. |
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However, the development of European ESCOs in general is still in its infancy and, to what concerns in particular the solar thermal sector, only sporadic (and not always successful) initiatives have been taken.
This project aims to found and foster the sector of ST-ESCOs by carrying out the following work: |
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Elaborate a market and framework conditions analysis (learning from the past attempts); identify the potential and the most promising sectors for actions.
Transfer the know-how from successful experiences (e.g. in Austria ) among the partners.
Inform stakeholders , bring them together and seek for ST-ESCOs establishment.
Provide valuable tools for ST-ESCOs: a complete Guide with financial, technical and contractual aspects and a user-friendly Software package for the quick assessment of possible applications.
Elaborate and propagate concrete suggestions for necessary ST-ESCOs support measures both at EC (Directive) and National level.
Prepare detailed, real cases of ST-ESCOs agreements and try to implement them in practice. In fact, the expected final outcome is to sign at least one new ST-ESCO agreement for each participating country.
Disseminate the results (by means of a ST-ESCOs web site, brochures, conferences etc.) and seek for future support and ST-ESCOs network creation.
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The actions listed above will result in having (among else): a) well informed/instructed stakeholders stimulated on ST-ESCOs benefits b) progress in creating a friendly framework for the ST-ESCOs future development and c) a founded network of pilot ST-ESCOs.
It is expected that the current project will have a high replication potential in the participating countries as well as in the rest of Europe and will contribute substantially to a quick and healthy expansion of the European Solar Thermal sector. |
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Potential impacts of the action |
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The actions listed above will result in having (among else): a) well informed/instructed stakeholders stimulated on ST-ESCOs benefits b) progress in creating a friendly framework for the ST-ESCOs future development and c) a founded network of pilot ST-ESCOs.
It is expected that the current project will have a high replication potential in the participating countries as well as in the rest of Europe and will contribute substantially to a quick and healthy expansion of the European Solar Thermal sector. |
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- Boost of ST-ESCOs in the participating and other European countries
- Creation of a European ST -ESCOs network using the web site of the project as a valuable tool.
- Realization of high quality plants (mainly Large Scale) with optimised performance.
- Improvement of solar thermal plant's components and construction of “standard modules” for Large Scale installations.
- High visibility from demonstration ST-ESCOs plants.
- Substantial increase of solar thermal collectors installations and penetration of solar thermal plants in new sectors (industry, public buildings, district heating etc.)
- Important contribution to the establishment of EU-wide measures for “green heating”.
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