SOLTRAIN regional partner, SADC Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (SACREEE), has joined the IEA Solar Heating and Cooling Technology Collaboration Programme (SHC TCP). The SHC TCP, established in 1977, is one of the first programmes of the IEA to promote the use of all aspects of solar thermal energy.
The SHC TCP's work is unique in that it is accomplished through the international collaborative effort of experts from member countries. Accelerating the pace of technology development, promoting standardization, enhancing national research and development programmes, permitting national specialization as well as saving time and money are some of the benefits of collaboration.
Current topics of interest under the SHC TCP include PV-Thermal, Integrated Solutions for Daylight and Electric Lighting, Solar Energy in Industrial Water and Wastewater Management, and Solar Process Heat.
SolarThermalWorld.org, International Solar Energy Society, ISO/TC 180 Solar Energy, The Solar Keymark and European Solar Thermal Industry Federation are some of the collaborating organisations.
The relationship between SACREEE, as regional SOLTRAIN partner, and the SHC TCP will serve to strengthen the institutional ecosystem relating to solar thermal energy and bodes well for the advocacy, support and rollout of solar thermal energy in the region.
