The aim of IEA SHC Task 69 “Solar Hot Water for 2030” is to create a new basis for the successful, broad, global use of thermosiphon systems and solar PV hot water systems for the year 2030 by developing efficient and reliable system configurations for hot water preparation that are optimally adapted to local conditions and market structures. It thereby aims at global knowledge exchange, fostering cooperation between the solar thermal and solar PV sectors to promote solar hot water technologies.
As SOLTRAIN+ country experts contributed to the IEA SHC Task 69 work with regards to several workstreams, a market study done in the SADC region on the status quo of solar thermal and PV to hot water systems, research on failure modes and reliability of thermosiphon systems as well as best practice examples of thermosiphon and PV to hot water systems in the region, the idea was to bring together experts from both initiatives to discuss topics of common interest, share knowledge and learn from each other.
Thus, a Joint Symposium hosted by NEI Namibia Energy Institute at Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST) took place from 23rd to 26th of September at NUST Hotel School in Windhoek, Namibia, during which a focus was on Standards and Certification in different regions worldwide, Solar Collector tests using EN 12975, as well as the introduction of a comparison study currently done at NEI. Additionally, the SOLTRAIN+ team attended the IEA SHC Task 69 meeting that took place as hybrid event and that gave insight to the work done within Task 69. During a technical tour on the last day of the event, participants visited two housing projects, NHE low-cost housing and Osona Village, equipped with 62 and 90 solar thermosiphon systems respectively and one pumped system at Katutura maternity ward, that were installed in the frame of SOLTRAIN+. At Osona Village the property development company elaborated on their plans how to sustainably develop the Village further considering solar thermal and solar PV solutions as essential parts of the development. At NHE the female-led installation company TBS gave insight into some of the maintenance measures needed to ensure good performance of the systems.
The joint SOLTRAIN+ / IEA SHC Task 69 Joint Symposium in Namibia successfully served as an international exchange platform for knowledge transfer, best practices and research work done with regards to Solar Hot Water.
