SHC Strategic Plan
STRATEGIC PLAN FOR THE IEA SOLAR HEATING
& COOLING PROGRAMME 2004 - 2008

The purpose of the Strategic Plan is to provide direction and focus for the activities of the Solar Heating and Cooling Implementing Agreement over the next five-year term. It was developed through an interactive process with the Executive Committee and represents its views.

Solar energy technologies and designs that include active solar heating and cooling, photovoltaics, passive solar building designs including daylighting, are essential components of a sustainable energy future. In this Plan, solar heating and cooling designs and technologies refer to all of these, including photovoltaic/thermal technologies, but excludes photovoltaics. They are growing in importance as governments and private industry continue to recognize the need to diversify energy supplies and to develop new energy technologies that are secure, can sustain growth, and have a minimal impact on the environment.

Solar energy can replace fossil fuels in many applications. Key applications for solar technologies are those that require low temperature heat, such as domestic hot water heating, space heating, drying processes, water processes for industrial heating and swimming pools. Solar energy can also meet cooling needs, where often the supply and demand are well matched.

The Strategic Plan includes:

• Introduction & Background

• Current Status of Solar Heating and Cooling

• Vision

• Mission

• Programme Strengths, Limitations, & Opportunities

• Objectives

• Action Plan for 2004-2008

• Possible Future Work Topics

• Programme Management

• Collaboration

• Current Tasks of the IEA Solar Heating and Cooling Programme