Ensuring a Bright Future

Besides the traditional renewable energy resources biomass, hydro, solar thermal is the second largest renewable, following close behind wind.

International organizations, national governments and private industry are committed to increasing the use of renewables in the world. For solar thermal technology, its growth is steady and its contribution as a renewable energy source significant—but there is more to do.

Solar must become economically competitive with other energy technologies to continue to expand its reach. The SHC Programme will do its part by focusing on:

Improving current technologies.
Making products more cost competitive.
Continuing R&D on new materials and processes that can improve building performance (e.g., electrochromic and thermochromic materials for controllable windows, phase change materials, energy storage materials, transparent insulation, etc.).
Finding ways to better integrate and optimize solar components into energy efficient buildings.
Testing and certifying components and products.
Producing and disseminating critical information to targeted audiences.
Developing improved methods for calculating and disseminating accurate and reliable worldwide solar resource information relevant to all solar technologies.

The SHC Programme is proud of the role it has played in the forefront of solar heating and cooling technologies and will continue to work for a brighter and greener energy future.