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THE SOLAR THERMAL MARKET IN NORWAY
1. The present market situation and future prospects
The solar thermal market in Norway has not increased very much over the last 20 years. One of the
reasons is a long tradition by easy supply of cheap and reliable hydro power, as well as cheap
installation and maintenance cost for electric heating systems. Most buildings are therefore heated by
direct electric heaters, often combined with a wood stove, instead of a water heating system. As a
result, there is only one solar manufacturer in Norway.
Norway has a very limited commercial market for solar heating systems. Today less than 1.000 m2
collector area (Domestic hot water/combined space heating and hot water - systems) is installed in
Norway. The main reason for having a government supported solar activity is to develop the national
industry of solar energy products for the export market.
Solnor AS is the only manufacturer of traditional active solar systems. The company was established
in 1990, and is in the process of establishing its market contacts. Up to now, the company has not
exported any commercial solar systems.
Further more, it has become very popular among farmers to build simple and low cost solar hay- and
grain dryers. These installations are site built, based on design manuels which have been developed at
the University of Agriculture.
The Norwegian Solar Energy Program which ran from 1989-1994 had two main elements: research
and market introduction.
In 1994 a new program was initiated: Development of new and renewable energy sources. Here 50%
of the funding is raised by Norwegian industry. The program runs for 5 years and will focus on
selected areas of future Norwegian industry development in the renewable energy sector.
Today there is no governmental incentives for installation of solar energy, which means that the
Norwegian market for solar thermal energy is very limited for the time being.
2. Solar collector production and sales in Norway
Up to now, the commercial market for solar heating has been very limited. A rough estimate indicates
that less than 1.000 m3 solar collectors have been installed.
In addition to the 1.000 m2 of solar collectors mentioned above, approx. 70.000 m2 collector area in
hay- and grain dryers-systems have been installed. No specific Norwegian industry is involved in these
systems, but traditional buildning materials and components are used by local craftsmen. A rough
estimate gives a total of 200 installations, with an average of 350 m2 solar collector per installation.
Most of the Solnor systems are installed at public institutions (hospitals, public swimming pools etc.)
Only a few (<30) systems are installed at private residential houses.
The solar dryers, however, are all installed at private farmers.
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2.1 Estimated park of solar collectors in working order:
Glazed collectors = 1.000 m2 x 0,95* = 950 m2
Unglazed collectors = 600 x 0,95* = 570 m2
* estimated
2.2 Estimated annual solar thermal energy production:
Glazed collectors = 950 m2 x 300 kWh/year = 285 MWh/year
Unglazed collectors = 570 m2 x 200 kWh/year = 114 MWh/year
2.3 Avoided CO2 emissions = 0,26* Tonnes/MWh x 399 MWh/year = 104 Tonnes/year
* Estimated [7].
3. Product types and solar thermal applications
3.1 Domestic hot water systems
Based on a low cost solar system which has been developed at the University of Oslo, the company
Solnor was established in 1990. Solnor AS is the only Norwegian manufacturer of active
solar systems. They have focused on lowcost building integrated systems. The Solnor-system is based
on a simple drainback-open-loop water system with water as the heat fluid. The basic material in the
system is aluminium. Taken into account that the solar collector replaces the normal roof, the total cost
of the system is considerably lower than conventional commercial available solar heating systems. The
cost of the system is within the range of 98-236 ECU/m2.
The cost includes heat storage, controller, pumps and tubes.
A couple of other companies have developed solar air heating systems and have built some prototype
installations. None of these systems are commercially available.
3.2 Heating/hot water systems
For combined water and space heating some (less than 270) solar air heating systems have been
installed. These are almost all "on-site constructions" (not industrial made) which have been designed
by an architect and/or consulting engineer. A typical system includes a glazed air collector and a heat
storage system in pebble bed in the basement of the house.
3.3 Hay and grain drying systems
Approx. 200 hay drying systems have been installed at farms. These systems have been installed
mostly on a purely commercial basis with no incentives or subsidy from the Government. This concept
has a very simple unglaced air collector which preheats the outdoor air 2-60C before entering the dryer.
3.4 Unglazed collectors for swimming pools
In addition, approx. 600 m2 collector area have been installed at swimming pools. Most of the pool
heating systems are imported unglazed plastic or rubber absorbers. The pool water is circulated though
the collectors.
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4. Product technology and production methods
A typical Norwegian solar system is mainly made of aluminium extracted in Norway.
The Norwegian solar collectors from Solnor AS:
- absorbers of aluminium with selective surface
- plastic cower (polycarbonate)
The typical drainbach storage tank is a tank shaped as a cube made of aluminium. Inside this a
conventional hot water storage tank of stainless steel is placed.
The solar industry in Norway is at the moment developing tubes and pumps of aluminium.
Extracting of aluminium is already a major industry in Norway.
5. Breakdown of solar system costs
The figures below are pased on existing Solnor installations and show cost of the components
(installation is included, but not VAT). All costs are related to the size of the solar collector. The price
of the components is based on larger systems.
Solar collectors 67-128 ECU/m2
Storage 12-31 ECU/m2
Pipes and plumbing 12-61 ECU/m2
Pumps and controllers 7-16 ECU/m2
6. Research and development aimed at improving products
Through the governmental programme which ended in 1994, 6,11 mill. ECU was used for 93 different
projects. Half of these projects dealt with research and development of solar energy. Only a few of
these succeeded in finding a Norwegian industry to implement the product ideas.
7. Product distribution networks, marketing and after sales methods
The Norwegian manufacturer Solnor AS has their own installers/plumbers and sell their solar systems
directly to the end consumers.
In Norway the general level of knowledge regarding active solar energy systems is extremely low. The
first solar energy programme did include production and dissemination of information material, but
only to a very limited extent. Only a few thousand brochures were distributed.
The incentive programme in 1992-93 included investigations of the knowledge of solar energy among
building sector people. (i.e. engineers, architects, contractors etc.). They revealed a very poor level of
knowledge.
Professionals as well as the general public are now informed of solar energy through conferences,
seminars and technical periodicals like "Sun at work in Europe" and the Nordic newsletter "SO-
LARIS". Resently solar energy courses are moreover introduced at the Institute of Technology in
Trondheim and at the School of Architecture in Oslo.
8. Incentives and financing methods
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In 1992 a new incentive was introduced. Every solar installation with a solar annual output of more
than 1.000 kWh, was entitled to a grant of 0,37 ECU/kWh. More than 30 installations were subsidized
in 1992 with an estimated total annual solar output of 630.000 kWh. 70% of the installations were
solar dryers for hay and grain. This incentive was part of the agreement related to the programme
"Utilization of Solar Energy", which lead to the establishment of the Solar Energy Research Center in
1991, SOLFORSK.
For the year 1993 the grant was reduced to 0,31 ECU/kWh, and solar dryers were no longer included
in the programme. Due to lack of governmental fundings, the incentive program was concluded by the
end of 1994, and for the time being there is no governmental subsidy for solar energy installations.
This means that solar system sales have almost stopped at present.
The incentives were given to 57 installed solar collector systems:
Hay/graindryer 30
Heating water 20
Swimmingpools 7
Total energy 1 mill. kWh
Subsidies 0,27 mill. ECU
9. Typical solar domestic hot water system
Size - vary a lot
Technology - forced circulation with a differential control. Drainback systems with a large
storage tank. Supplementary heat: mostly electricity.
Cost - 99-238 ECU/m2
Solar energy - ex. 10 m2 x 300 kWh/m2 = 3.000 kWh/year
10. Standards and codes of practice
In Norway no certification of active solar systems is required.
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11. Conventional water heating systems and energy prices
Due to the easy supply of cheap and reliable hydro power, electricity is the most common heating
source in Norway.
Prices for conventional energy:
Electricity 49-73 ECU/MWh
District heating 43-49 ECU/MWh
Natural gas No Norwegian market
Petroleum 31-49 ECU/MWh (80-90% boiler efficiency)
12. National energy policy
No governmental prospect is given for the role of solar energy as a future energy source in Norway,
which can be ascribed mainly to the low electricity costs.
13. Objectives for the solar market
The theoretically potential for solar heating in Norway is estimated at 5-25 TWh by the year 2030. The
large range between the low and the high estimate is due to uncertainties of the future cost of
conventional energy sources, at the technical development and competitive alternatives (energy
conservation, heat pumps, wind energy, etc.). A market based on just a small share of this potential
represents after all a substantial industry also for the home market. In the field of solar energy no
prospect is given, however, some niches in the market might occur, for example low temperature solar
systems, systems for swimming pools and larger domestic systems for hospitals, camp grounds etc.
that have a large consumption of hot water in the summertime.
The govenmental prospect for solar energy in Norway is very limited. The solar energy activities are
by the govenmental research programme based on the following visions for solar energy in Norway by
the year 2010:
- A profitable Norwegian solar industry is established for exports
- Solar heating is commonly used in some areas of Norway
Expansion of the homemarket is a very important step to get the experience and the research
possibilities for entering the export marked in the future.
The potential of solar hay- and grain dryers is at the moment the most promising application for the
future. These systems does not require subsidy from the government to be profitable.
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Norway Total solar Prod. Solar Conventio- Emissions Total CO2
collector kWh/m2 pr. energy nal energy avoided emissions
surface m2 year supply replaced tonnes/ avoided in
MWh MWh year 2005
tonnes/
year
Larger 5.000 300 1.500 Electricity 0,26 390
domestic and
systems district heat
(Hospitals
etc.)
Swimming 2.400 200 480 Electricity 0,26 125
pools and
district heat
Total 7.400 1.980 515
14. Strategy to attain the targets
Resumption of the governmental subsidies is of great importance to the Norwegian solar thermal
market. This is being worked on at the moment, and the Norwegian solar market hopes to obtain the
subsidies for installation of solar systems very soon.
The kind of information that might help convince the Norwegian people of the adventages of solar
energy might be some documented good examples of cost effective installations. The most important
barriers of today are probably the installation costs, and the fact that Norway does not have a tradition
of water heating systems in residential buildings.
Information must be in the Norwegian language. Only a few will accept information in English. This
means that international information must be translated and local examples included in order to reach a
large number of people.
15. Results expected when the targets are reached
By resumption of the governmental subsidies it will be possible to obtain a larger homemarket for
solar energy, from which the Norwegian solar market possibly can obtain the experience of
preparation and development of competitive solar systems for exports. If this is carried out, it will
result in an estimated imployment of 80 persons in the Norwegian solar industry. Also the industri of
aliminium extraction will benefit from this development.
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16. References
[1] KanEnergi AS - Fritjof Salvesen.
[2] SOLARIS. Special issue: September 1994.
[3] Solar Energy Activities - in IEA Countries: November 1993.
[4] R & D programme 1994-1998. Development of new and renewable energy sources.
[5] Programme for solar energy 1994-1995: October 1994.
[6] IEA CADDET RENEWABLES MINI-REVEIW OF ACTIVE THERMAL SOLAR
ENERGY. Fritjof Salvesen, KanEnergi AS: 1995.
[7] Forsyningskataloget, Styregruppen for Forsyningskataloget 1988.
ISBN 87-89072-18-9.
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SOLAR THERMAL DIRECTORY
SOLFORSK
1. Manufacturers and distributers of solar (Solar Energy Research Center of Norway)
SINTEF Varmeteknikk
thermal equipment 7034 Trondheim
Tel. + 47 07 59 31 93/ + 47 59 20 71
SOLNOR AS Fax + 47 59 38 59
Wiedemannsgate 8 Indoor testing facilities
Holmestrand
Tel. + 47 33 05 42 00 Fax + 47 33 05 08 75
• Manufacturer: - drainback hot water systems
• Beginning of solar activity: 1990 5. Solar research centres
• Number of employees: 4
• Trade area: National SINTEF ARKITEKTUR OG BYGGTEKNIKK
7034 Trondheim
Tel. + 47 07 59 30 00 Fax + 47 94 29 52
2. Technical consultants specialised in SOLFORSK
solar projects SINTEF Varmeteknikk
7034 Trondheim
KANENERGI AS Tel. + 47 07 59 31 93/ + 47 59 20 71
Bærumsveien 473 Fax + 47 59 38 59
1351 Rud Solar Energy Research Center of Norway is a co-operation betwine
Contact: Fritjof Salvesen SINTEF, NTH and other Universities- and Researchinstitutes in
Tel. + 47 6713 9984 Fax + 47 6715 0250 Trondheim.
Co-ordinater of solar R&D in the Trondheim area.
Arkitekt HARALD RØSTVIK R&D of all types of solar heating systems.
Stavanger Participant in an international standardization project.
Tel. + 47 51 53 34 42
NORGES LANDBRUKSHØGSKOLE
Institutt for Tekniske Fag
Contact: Gustav tengesdal
Postbox 5065
1432 Ås
Tel. + 47 64 94 87 18 Fax + 47 64 94 88 10
3. Principal sources of information
The secretariat of the Norwegian solar research programme:
VERITAS MILJØPLAN
postbox 300
1322 Høvik
Tel. + 47 02 47 78 25 Fax + 47 02 47 78 50
NORSK SOLENERGIFORENING
(Solar Energy Association of Norway)
Postbox 2312 Solli
0201 Oslo
Tel. + 47 02 83 83 30
Promote use of solar energy. The association has members within:
Specialists, contractors, consumers etc.
FYSISK INSTITUTT
University of Oslo
Tel. + 47 22 85 50 50
Partner in foundation of the Norwegian Energy Research Center
(SOLFORSK)
SINTEF ARKITEKTUR OG BYGGTEKNIKK
Trondheim
Tel. + 47 73 59 50 37
Partner in foundation of the Norwegian Energy Research Center
(SOLFORSK)
The secretariat of the Norwegian Energy Research Center
(SOLFORSK)
SINTEF Varmeteknikk
7034 Trondheim
Tel. + 47 07 59 31 93/ + 47 59 20 71
Fax + 47 59 38 59
4. Testing facilities
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