Page 144 - ISES SWC50

7.11 SWC50 Supporter: IEA SHC

IEA Solar Heating and Cooling Programme
In the wake of the 1973-74 oil crisis, industrialized countries established the autonomous International
Energy Agency (IEA) within the OECD framework to help its members respond to major oil supply
disruptions and create an international forum for energy cooperation. This belief that the future of energy
security and sustainability starts with global collaboration led to the creation of Technology Collaboration
Programmes (TCPs). Of these TCPs, the Solar Heating and Cooling Programme (SHC TCP) is one of the
oldest, established in 1977.

For over 40 years, the SHC TCP’s overarching objective has been co-operative research, development,
demonstration, and stakeholder-oriented information exchange regarding solar heating and cooling systems.
What has made our solar work unique over these past four decades is our international R&D collaborative
work. The benefits of such an approach are numerous; namely, it accelerates the pace of technology
development, promotes standardization, enhances national R&D programs, permits national specialization,
and saves time and money.

Our vision has adapted over the years, but our core objective remains the same – to expand where and how
solar heating and cooling technology is used by breaking down the technical and non-technical barriers
through our collaborative research and knowledge exchange.

Who we are today is very different than in 1977. Our SHC family includes 19 countries, the European
Commission, European Copper Institute, ISES, and five UNIDO GN-SECs. And 2020 will see the start of our
66 project. Our projects, referred to as Tasks, bring experts together to work on basic research, materials
th
testing, reliability and durability, design tools, and demonstration projects. All with the primary objective to
develop and improve technologies that use the energy of the sun to heat, cool, light, and power buildings.

What we do today is very different than in 1977. R&D is still the focal point of what we do, but so is
increasing the visibility of solar thermal. To do this, we’ve taken a diverse approach – SHC Solar Academy
(webinars and trainings), annual statistics (Solar Heat Worldwide), publications (reports, databases,
factsheets, newsletters, etc.), conferences (our own and others), and our Solar Award.

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