A review of large-scale solar heating systems in Europe

Large-scale solar applications benefit from the effect of scale. Compared to small solar domestic hot water (DHW) systems for single-family houses, the solar heat cost can be cut at least in third. The most interesting projects for replacing fossil fuels and the reduction of CO2-emissions are solar systems with seasonal storage in combination with gas or biomass boilers. In the framework of the EU-APAS project "Large-scale Solar Heating Systems", thirteen existing plants in six European countries have been evaluated. The yearly solar gains of the systems are between 300 and 550 kWh per m(2) collector area. The investment cost of solar plants with short-term storage varies from 300 up to 600 ECU per m(2). Systems with seasonal storage show investment costs twice as high. Results of studies concerning the market potential for solar heating plants, taking new collector concepts and industrial production into account, are presented. Site specific studies and predesign of large-scale solar heating plants in six European countries for housing developments show a 50% cost reduction compared to existing projects. The cost-benefit-ratio for the planned systems with long-term storage is between 0.7 and 1.5 ECU per kWh per year. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.