Contact:
Horst Dufner
Phone: ++49 (0)7231 / 58 598-0
E-Mail: dufner@intersolar.de
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| Intersolar 2006 |
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Freiburg (pts040/22.05.2006/14:00) - Recent years have seen continuous growth in worldwide demand for air-conditioning systems. "Against this background, solar air-conditioning provides a sustainable alternative to conventional air-conditioning systems", explains Christian Stadler, Chairman of the Solar Air-Conditioning Working Group set up within the European Solar Thermal Industry Federation (ESTIF). Hence solar air-conditioning will be one of the major topics at this year's Intersolar 2006 (Freiburg, 22-24 June), Europe's largest solar technology trade fair. Leading suppliers will be at hand to present the latest products and developments to emerge from this promising area of technology. The "Solar Air-Conditioning Seminar", which will be held in English, is part of the conference that accompanies the fair. This full-day event is aimed at planners, architects, manufacturers, suppliers and engineers. "There is huge industry interest in this innovative technology. We expect the seminar to attract 120 participants from all over the world", comments Horst Dufner, Project Leader with the fair organiser, Solar Promotion GmbH.
The worldwide demand for air-conditioning systems for offices, workshop halls, hotels and public buildings is growing all the time. The use of computers, photocopiers, lights and other electric equipment makes the need for cooling particularly acute in office accommodation. More and more buildings are now being equipped with power-intensive air-conditioning plant, even in Europe. We are likely, however, to see further substantial increases in the cost of electricity, especially during peak hours. In addition, power stations have limited capacities; these resources were tested to the limit during the heat wave of 2003, when the increased use of air-conditioning placed a heavy strain on the grid networks in many countries. In Italy, for example, six million people had to go without power at times. Against this background, solar air-conditioning is obviously attracting growing interest.
The principle of solar air-conditioning is based on the thermal use of the sun's energy. The heat generated by solar collectors is used to cool rooms and buildings by means of thermally powered cooling machines. The big advantage: The storage issue is not a problem as far as solar cooling is concerned. The stronger the sun, the greater the need for cooling. There are already 100 solar thermal systems installed across Europe to deliver the energy required for cooling and air-conditioning processes.
"Solar cooling systems offer huge potential for growth and a new and expanding sales market for solar collectors in Europe", explains Stadler. Aiming to drive this new technology forward and establish it in Europe, Stadler went ahead last year and set up a "Solar Air-Conditioning" working group within the "European Solar Thermal Industry Federation" (ESTIF).
Numerous companies will be attending Intersolar 2006 to present their own solar cooling systems. They will include Citrin Solar GmbH and Conergy AG of Germany, Thermomax Ltd, a British vacuum tube manufacturer, and GASOKOL GmbH and Solution Solartechnik GmbH from Austria. The Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE, will also be represented.
The "Solar Air-Conditioning" seminar offers a comprehensive overview of the latest products, developments and highlights in this sector. Specialists will be at hand to talk about the technology involved, operation and maintenance procedures, potential applications and their own practical experience of such systems. The Seminar is organised by the Technology Transfer Institute (OTTI) in Regensburg.
For further information on Intersolar 2006 visit http://www.intersolar.de
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