Solar water heating systems: global perspectives
Delhi, 27.10.2010 - REEEP International Secretariat
Solar water heating (SWH) is a technology that is commercialised and ready for massive upscaling. An extensive parallel session at DIREC,sponsored by TERI, REEEP and the Indian Ministry for New and Renewable Energy as well as UNEP and UNDP, examined the technology and its potential in detail.
 "DIREC SWH event - Gupta and MO")
Deepak Gupta, Secretary of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy addresses the parallel session.
Dr. Osterkorn, REEEP's Director General opened the morning with a brief global overview of the industry status, and took the audience on a tour of the main regions: China, Europe, and South Asia. She stressed the importance of capacity-building and the possibilities offered by China's huge role in the market. (Her speech can be downloaded below.)
Osterkorn also co-chaired the the high level ministerial panel discussion together with Dr. Ajay Mathur of the Energy Efficiency Bureau of the Government of India. It was a great honour for the organisers to welcome the Deputy Prime Minister of Mauritius, H. E. Mr. Ahmed Rashid Beebeejaun, the Minister for Commerce & Industry of the Government of Cyprus, H. E. Mr. Antonis Paschalides and the Minister of State of Haryana, H. E. Mr. Mahender Pratep Singh for this discussion.
The ministers shared their experience with introducing renewable energy in their countries. Interestingly, Cyprus as an island state in Europe has achieved the highest ratio of installed square meters of solar panels per capita and has skyrocketed in the general introduction of RE in their energy supply (100% increase between 2009 and 2010). Mauritius has a vision of introducing RE into their general energy supply to make up 75% in 2025 and is on the best way to achieving this goal. The Indian state of Haryana has also joined ranks with other governments to introduce RE into their energy program, mainly by introducing subsidies and mandatory RE in buildings of 500 m2 and more.
In a session looking at specific country experiences with solar water heating, two REEEP projects were presented. Mr. Aurelio de Andrade Souza from Sustainable Energy and Environmental Services, Brazil highlighted recent efforts to link the financing of solar water heating with that nation's massive home-building programme. Mr. Sivuyile Maboda of Sustainable Energy Africa, outlined his organisation's REEEP-funded efforts to boost solar water heating in South Africa through city-level ordinances and by promoting small SWH-related businesses.
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Marianne Osterkorn's welcome speech can be downloaded here: