Page 297 - ISES SWC50

Figure 85: Annual recorded installed air heating panel capacity 2000-2009 for Canada and USA
Source: IEA SHC

2000
• Start of ‘Solar Keymark’ project by European Solar Industry Federation (ESIF) supported by the European
Commission, under its ALTENER programme.

2001
• European standards EN 12975 for solar collectors, EN 12976 for factory made systems and EN 12977 for
custom built systems were introduced.

2002
• The European Solar Thermal Industry Federation (ESTIF) is created by the merger of ESIF (European Solar
Industry Federation) and ASTIG (Association of Solar Thermal Industry Groups).
• First edition of the “Tag der Sonne” in Austria, organised by Austria Solar. This initiative developed later
into the origin of the European Solar Days, which reached its pinnacle in the 2013 edition, with more than
half a million European citizens involved in 6,000 local events spread over 20 countries.

2003
• Solar Keymark Scheme rules are formulated by the European Solar Thermal Industry and major testing
institutes, as a unified and simple solution in order to get solar thermal products recognised all over Europe.
As a result, the first Solar Keymark license was issued that same year.

2004
• At an international meeting in Gleisdorf Austria in September 2004 it was agreed upon the conversion
factor of 0.7 kWth/m² in order to convert collector area to thermal power capacity. Since then, the factor
was quickly adopted and recognised, and it is now used worldwide.

2005
• The state of Victoria, Australia requires new houses to have sustainability measures to save energy and
water. Approximately 70% of new houses now have solar water heaters.
• Estimated 3% of Energy in Israel comes from solar water heaters.
• Establishment of the “European Solar Thermal Technology Platform” (ESTTP) . This was Initiated by
Werner Weiss, Gerhard Stryi-Hipp, Harald Drück et. al.

2006
• Establishment of the “Solar Keymark Network” (SKN) managed by Jan Erik Nielsen with Harald Drück
as Chairman.

ISES SWC50 - The Century of Solar-Stories and Visions | 279