Solar Thermal in Andalusia

SOLAR THERMAL IN ANDALUSIA
CONTENTS
1. Solar Thermal in Andalusia --------------------------Page 2
2. Laws and Regulations (PROSOL)------------------ Page 2
3. Compulsory installations ------------------------------ Page 4
4. Situation in the Market --------------------------------- Page 7
5. Selection of companies ------------------------------- Page 8
6. Competition ---------------------------------------------- Page 13
7. Strategy to attain the targets ------------------------ Page 14
8. References ---------------------------------------------- Page 14
1) SOLAR THERMAL IN ANDALUSIA
The geographic location of Andalusia in the south of Spain signifies that it is in a key position to play an
important strategic role in the implementation of renewable energy technology in Europe, as well as providing
sufficient energy for its own needs and even exporting such projects to other countries.
Moreover, Andalusia is, for cultural reasons, a bound between Europe and South American countries, as well
as for geographical reasons, the link between Europe and Africa. It could not be definitely better located and
in addition, it is the place which gets more radiation in the whole Europe.
Andalusia is the region with more solar thermal capacity and the wish of investing in solar thermal is still
growing (in particular, pymes are getting more and more interested in acquiring a solar thermal system),
although the big investments are still being done by bigger enterprises.
According to the “Agencia Andaluza de la energia”, from the 930.235 M2 that we have in all Spain, (oficial
information provided by the institute of the energy in Spain) 347.182m2 out of them are Andalusian. What
means that southern region is first in Spain representing the 40 per cent of all squares metres.
Seville is the first province in Andalusia, with 185.141 of the Square metres. The second province is Cadiz
(60.931 m2), but already having less than the half of the capacity that Sevilla has, with. Malaga goes after, in
a third position, followed by Almeria (30.824m2), Huelva (25.895m2), Cordoba (17.961 m2), Granada
(13.018) and the last, Jaen with 4.530 m2.
2) REGULATIONS
Andalusia energy policies are generally implemented through regional development plans such as the Plan
Energético de AndalucÃ−a (PLEAN) and the Programa Andaluz de Promoción de EnergÃ−as
Renovables (PROSOL).
The principle objective of the latter programme was to implement and increase high-temperature solar thermal
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energy to 100Â MW in 2006, and now raising it to 230Â MW in 2010. Regarding low-temperature solar
thermal energy installations, there are plans to increase the quantity of m2/1000 installed per inhabitant from
the present figure to a total of 142.
Thanks to this program, the user can easily acquire of the highest quality products for a cheaper price, by
being sponsored by the government of Andalusia.
As for being part of PROSOL It is a must to reach a high level of quality by presenting some characteristics,
passing tests, obtaining certificates, and taking some other actions in order to proof that the products collect
all the quality requirements, not all products can get the certificate. This regulation is not only increasing the
sales within the solar thermal sector but also developing people's awareness concerning quality and
importance of investing in a product with a “longer life”.
According to PROSOL:
• -For solar Thermal installations, it is possible to get up to a 40 % discount out of the total investment.
• -In some cases, (PYMES for example), local administration or other public administration, the
subvention can cover up to a 50 % of the total investment.
• It is also possible to increase the given percentages when a project would have an innovator character
or a great architecture.
*IMPORTANT: This rule will be only applied to those installations which are not obligatory. We have more
information about PROSOL in other file.
However, there are National regulations as well supporting solar thermal. The National government has been
implementing them since the 2000 so far and they will still continue following these premises until the 2010.
The following are the relevant ones:
1 • Programa de Fomento de la Investigación Técnica (PROFIT),
(For tecnical investigation)
2 • Ayudas de financiación y subvenciones del Instituto para la Diversificación y Ahorro de la EnergÃ−a
(IDAE)
(Subventions for the diversification and saving of energy)
3 • Ayudas a instalaciones de EnergÃ−a Solar Térmica. Convocatoria pública 2002 para la acreditación
de empresas colaboradoras.
(Subventions for intallers)
4 • Plan de Fomento de las EnergÃ−as Renovables 2000-2010. Ayudas a instalaciones de energÃ−a solar
térmica para usuarios.
(Subvention for privates/ users of Solar thermal energies)
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For additional information about National regulations and incentives visit this website:
http://www.idae.es
The table you can find below is very interesting in general as it details the situation in Spain not so long ago
and the objectives in the solar thermal sector that they are supposed to achieve, comparing to other provinces
as well. The first position is for Andalusia, which wants to triplicate the square meters of installed surface.
Obviously, Andalusia, Catalunya and Canaries are the provinces with the most difficult objectives.
SITUATION 2004
OBJECTIVES
(sq.m)
213.239
6.686
9.022
78.362
95.731
1.501
34.646
7.845
82.358
3.310
8.911
56.204
19.321
12.473
204
58.199
4.849
700.433 m2
(sq. m)
998.846
88.360
42.370
545.940
612.135
21.696
265.177
297.767
558.570
170.055
44.448
338.709
142.769
83.200
20.856
483.746
126.248
4.840.892 m2
PROVINCE
ANDALUCÃ A
ARAGÃ N
ASTURIAS
BALEARES
CANARIAS
CANTABRIA
CASTILLA Y LEΣN
CASTILLA-LA MANCHA
CATALUNYA
EXTREMADURA
GALICIA
MADRID
MURCIA
NAVARRA
LA RIOJA
COMUNIDAD VALENCIANA
PAÎ S VASCO
TOTAL
Compulsory installations
According to the CTE 5, those obligatory installations are not supported by government.
Lack of supporting regulations and the quality requirements are not so strict.
As they cannot apply for PROSOL subvention they tend to buy low quality products just to meet the
minimum requirements of the law.
The “Documento basico de ahorro de energia” establishishes the minimun solar contribution of SHW for the
new buildings. This contribution has been obtained by the division of the annual valuation of the solar energy
by the annual demand of energy.
These needs of SHW have been calculated according to several factors, mainly, the type of building and the
annual demand of SHW.
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This Minimum contribution also depends on the Zone. In Andalusia there are zones IV and V. Therefore, the
minimum solar contribution in Andalusia is the highest in Spain together with Valencia and Canaries Islands.
See the picture below to find the different climatic zones existing in Whole Spain as curious information:
They consider 2 different cases for this minimum contribution depending on the type of supporting energetic
source (Gas or electricity by applying Joule effect). Please read the information below.
Joule effect
In the table below you can see the annual minimum contribution for the case of indoor pools.
In the document you can find other technical specifications, as minimum requirements that a solar-thermal
system has to have as well as other concretions about all its components. There are also some remarks about
maintenance.
There are circumstances permitting to increase or decrease these minimums according to certain situations as
the difficult location of a building (complicated because of it's inclination, orientation, superposition of other
buildings, shadows, etc) which makes difficult the absorption of radiation, or the use of other forms of energy,
for instance.
3) SITUATION OF THE MARKET
Firstly I would have to give an overview about the strengths and the weaknesses that the market of the energy
in Andalusia has:
* Weaknesses:
- Main motor of the energy: electricity
- Renewable energies are still not so extended.
- The price of the energy is increasing in general.
- Habits of consume of the energy are not enough.
- Stuff working in maintenance hasn't been properly formed.
- Lack of statistical information
* Strengths:
- High potential regarding saving of energy.
- Regulations regarding renewable energies are becoming very exigent.
- Politics' will is active.
In Andalusia, we have approximately a total amount of 500 businesses guarding any relation with the world of
the solar energies. Most of those businesses involve the solar-thermal sector, as this has become the most
efficient way to invest in renewable energies in Andalusia. We can say there are in Andalusia almost 400
Businesses dealing with solar-thermal.
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Half of those 400 are small companies as plumbers, air conditioner, etc. but the other half dedicate mainly to
the production, distribution, installation or engineering of solar thermal systems
Seville is the province which has more businesses dealing with solar thermal energies (170, approximately)
and Jaen and Huelva are of the leasts (60 companies, approximately).
There are a lot of companies growing right in this moment, which were created just a few years ago, around
the 2000, to take advantage of the promising solar thermal sector. They are, in many cases, property of an
individual so not always is possible to find someone in the company who you can communicate in English.
But in general, actually in whole Spain even big companies are growing enormously. Just as an example,
IBERDROLA RENOVABLES, one of the most important companies regarding energies, has grown so far
this year up to an 80%!
The current crisis in Spain has influenced remarkably the Andalusian market but as well it has developed an
ecological awareness that I can state it didn't exist previously to that fact.
People as well as public administration have arrived to the conclusion that investing in solar energies is one of
the keys to solve the current situation, so It is easy to predict that the sales will increase very quickly
(Although the results were very positive so far).
I consider that since the last few years, the following companies of Installers and /or distributors in Andalusia
are experiencing an on-going growing process within the region:
SEVILLE
*Emitsol:
-Installers and distributors in Andalusia.
http://www.emitsol.com/
Contact: info@emitsol.com
*Aldiro energias renovables:
-Distributors
http://www.aldiro.es/
Contact: (through the website)
*Enertel-Instalaciones Francisco Aguilar :
-Installations and distribution.
http://www.enertel.es/
Contact: info@enertel.es
*ABMAXsolar:
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-Engineering, Installers and distributors.
http://www.abmaxsolar.com
Contact: info@abmaxsolar.com
*Proingenieria:
-Installations, distribution, engineering.
http://www.proingenieria.es
Contact: info@proingenieria.es
*Insolac:
Installations and engineering.
http://www.insolac.com/
Contact: comercial@insolac.com
*Varilla Solar:
-Promotion and distribution.
http://www.varillasolar.es
Contact: mlopez@varillasolar.es
*Alumbro:
-Installers and distributors
http://www.alumbro.com/
Contact: energiasolar@alumbro.com
MÔLAGA
*Galber Solar
-Distribution, installations.
http://www.galbersolar.es/
Contact: info@galbersolar.es
*Sun power Solar Spain
-Distribution, importer.
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http://www.sunpower-solar-spain.com
Contact: admin@sunpower-solar-spain.com
*Novasol
-Installations and distribution
http://www.novasol.es
Contact: info@novasol.es
*Transformersolar:
-Distribution and Installations.
http://www.transformersolar.com
Contact: info@transformersolar.com
*Renova Soluciones energeticas:
-Installation and Ingeeniers.
http://www.renovasoluciones.com/
Contact: info@renovasoluciones.com (Lucia Varona)
*Europea del clima SL:
-Distribution, installations, engeeniers and promotion.
http://www.europeadelclima.net/
Contact: administración@europeadelclima.net
*Ecomarbella:
-Distribution and installations
www.ecomarbella.com
Contact: Through website
*Giersolar:
-Distributor, installer.
www.giersolar.com
Contact: info@giersolar.com
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CÔDIZ
*Eolosol SL:
Installations and distribution.
http://www.eolosol.es
Contact: eolosol@ono.com
*Tensol:
-Installations, distribution, engineering and promotion.
http://www.tensol.es
Contact: energiatensol@tensol.es (Juan José Caballero)
*ConfortWorks:
-Group of installers. Andalusian from Cádiz. They work in all Spain and Portugal.
http://www.confortworks.com/
Contact: info@confortwaorks.com
*Solosol:
-Installations, distribution, engineers and promotion.
www.solosol.org
Contact: contacto@solosol.org
*Antesol
-Engineers and installations.
http://www.antesol.es
Contact:
HUELVA
*GrupoReales:
-Installation, distribution, engeeniers and promotion.
http://www.gruporeales.es
Contact: info@gruporeales.es
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CÃ RDOBA
*Ceasur
- Importadora, instaladora.
http://www.ceasur.net
Contact: (through website)
*Eneco
-Distributor and installer
http://www.enecoenergia.com/
Contact: (through website)
*Instalaciones y Aplicaciones energeticas (IASEN):
-Installations, distribution, promotion, formation.
www.iasen.es
Contact: (through web site)
*Grupo SCER:
Installations, engineering and distribution.
http://www.gruposcer.es
Contact: rubencf@gruposcer.es
JAÃ N
*Intelec IngenierÃ−a:
Intallations, engeeniers.
http://www.intelec-ingenieria.com/
Contact: dpalma@intelec-ingenieria.com
info@intelec-ingenieria.com
*Innovasolar:
-Installers, engeeniers, promotions
www.innovasolar.com
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Contact : Innovasolar@innovasolar.com
*Andaluza de la climatización:
-Distribution, installation, and promotion.
http://www.andaluzadeclimatizacion.com
Contact: (through website)
*Ecoavantis
-Instaladora.
http://www.ecoavantis.com/index.php
Contact : info@ecoavantis.com
GRANADA
*Solartex:
Solar thermal, distribution, installers and engineers.
http://solartex.es/es
Contact: info@solartex.es
*Eti Solar:
http://www.etisolar.com
Contact: info@etisolar.com
*Techsolar Solar Energies:
Installations and distribution.
http://www.techsolar.es/acs.html
Contact: info@techsolar.es
*Tecnica solar granadina:
Installations and engineering.
http://www.tecnicasolargranadina.com/es_main.php
Contact: through the website
ALMERIA
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*SHV Tecnologias energeticas SL:
(Seems a good website but It is on construction I read It deals with solar thermal on the yellow pages) Check
it.
*Proyectos Indasolar:
Although the website does not look very nice, they work with Schuco, conergy…
http://www.indasolar.com
Contact: info@indasolar.com
*Solartech energias renovables:
http://www.solartechsl.com/
Contact
4) COMPETITION
Last year, regarding solar thermal, 60 % of the goods were imported to Andalusia and most of them were
brought from China. Cheap Chinese products seem a not risky option for Andalusian people as it seems the
problem for them is the fear to make a big investment of money.
The good new is that according to the new regulations and to profit the incentives that the government of
Andalusia is offering, the products are required of certificates for ensuring the quality and a longer life of the
product. Thanks to those incentives, and as the price would not be such a difference anymore, privates as well
as distributors are worrying more about quality and they seek for branches such as ours. However, when they
think about quality, German products are still the most popular in the Market (Sonnenkraft, Viessmann…)
MEGASUN by HELIOKAMI is our main Greek competitor and It is very well known in Spain.
About the Spanish companies representing the 40 % left, represented by a number of 35 in total, people who
is starting in the business of solar thermal, they prefer to trust in Andalusian fabricants firstly, and specially if
they manufacture within the region. They also trust in Foreigner manufactures with factory in Andalusia.
Those are the following ones:
- Termicol (Seville) - Promasol (Málaga)
- Isofoton (Málaga) - Solaris (Almeria)
- Chromagen - ACPsol (Málaga)
- Disol - Europea de Promociones solares (Sevilla)
(And some others especially manufacturing components)
The “aprobacion del codigo tecnico de edificacion” has imposed as an obligation to install solar thermal in all
new buildings to satisfy SHW's demand. Since the moment that it will be another kind of installation of the
building, it has to meet some requirements of warranty, liability and long term efficiency. However, we don't
have the right legal mechanisms regulating this and that is the reason why they are installing products of a low
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quality, just meeting the minimum strictly. The products manufactured in Asia are the most popular.
5. Strategy to attain the targets
I have been observing many articles, comments from politicians and people's comments on forums about the
situation in Andalusia, prices of the energy, current crisis and the way that is affecting to the energy, etc.
Collecting all the information I have read, I have arrived to the following conclusion:
It is very important to change people's vision, through a good Marketing based in the importance of a good
investment in quality in detriment of the cheaper costs. As Andalusia people want to be a more developed
community in several aspects but walking upon a safe path, that Marketing should get across to people a
message getting the following concept across:
Investing in renewable energies is a sign of being a developed region which takes care of the environment, the
planet and which uses energies in a very efficient way... and then somehow would be essential to remark the
importance of quality, etc.
We have to profit all incentives that government is giving participating in all the programs and certifying all
the products so that they can be more reachable.
The government has to still stimulating the use of solar energy, for instance by giving incentives and
stimulating producers in efficient manufacturing.
Installers must be instructed so they can deliver good installations and services.
Making them feeling confident is the way to get the andalusian's people trust but at the same time It is
necessary to put a little pressure on them so that they feel pushed, otherwise they will not do make a
movement. This is especially for companies which are STARTING OR GROWING in this time. And this is
the only way how they could get rid of their fear of investing: giving facilities or commodities while
delivering like longer deadlines in regarding payment terms.
6) REFERENCES:
-Plan PROSOL
-Contribución solar mÃ−nima de agua caliente sanitaria (Documento Básico
Ahorro de energÃ−a)
- Plan de Fomento de las EnergÃ−as Renovables 2000-2010
-www.agenciaandaluzadelaenergia.es
- www.diariodecordoba.es
- www.portalenergia.es
- www.paginasamarillas.com
- www.cityguias.com
- www.Idae.es
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- NT Nuevas tecnologias (Spanish magazine)
- Other websites, forums, opinions.
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