Solar heating and cooling

In 2016, 20% of global electricity demand in buildings was used for air conditioning (OECD/IEA, 2018). Rising living standards, population and economic growth, in addition to climate change will further increase this demand. Without countermeasures, the global demand for electricity required for cooling will triple by 2050. Solar energy has significant potential, as it can be converted into on-site heat and electricity - where needed - both for heating and cooling. The sun as an energy source drastically reduces the environmental impact and relieves pressure on power grids.

Where cooling loads and solar radiation occur simultaneously, using the solar energy for cooling makes sense. Components are potentially available. However, due to its complexity and expense involved, the technology is not yet established on the market. Many currently installed SHC systems are not cost-effective. This can be attributed to the lack of knowledge about the technology’s potential. Remarkably, preventable friction losses occur at the interfaces. Of all the errors that occur in the functioning of solar thermal and other renewable systems, 75% are attributed to issues related to conventional construction, components and inadequate maintenance. Contributing factors include incorrectly positioned sensors, poorly installed valves, inaccurate dimensioning or mismatching in the selection of components for specific applications.