Solar Heat Europe, the industry association representing solar heating and cooling in Brussels, has announced the appointment of a new President and Board of Directors, setting the stage for an ambitious period of growth in the solar thermal market. The official events, held in Athens, Greece, introduced Guglielmo Cioni, formerly Vice President, as the new President of Solar Heat Europe. Cioni will be joined by a diverse group of newly appointed Board members, each representing different sectors of the industry.
The newly appointed Board members include Oleguer Fuertes (BDR Thermea) and Jakob Jensen (Heliac) as Industry representatives. Their expertise and experience will contribute to shaping the future of solar heating and cooling. Edwige Porcheyre (Enerplan – FR) and Roger Hackstock (Austria Solar – AU) have been appointed as National Associations representatives, bringing valuable perspectives from their respective countries. Hugues Defréville (Newheat) will represent the category of Service Providers, offering insights into the service aspect of the solar thermal industry.
Expressing his vision for the future, Guglielmo Cioni, the newly elected President of Solar Heat Europe, emphasized the importance of positioning solar heat as a key technology in the energy transition. He highlighted the need to address a significant portion of energy needs for heating and cooling with clean, renewable solutions. Cioni also stressed the importance of collaboration with policymakers, partners, and end-users to drive the widespread adoption of solar thermal solutions in buildings, cities, and industries. This strategic approach aims to contribute to climate goals, create green jobs, and maintain the competitiveness of the EU-based industry.
The appointment of the new Board comes at a time when the solar thermal sector in Europe is experiencing remarkable growth. Preliminary data for 2022 shows an average growth rate of 14% compared to the previous year. This growth underscores the crucial role of solar heat as a renewable and decentralized solution for decarbonizing buildings, cities, and industries. Several countries, including Germany, Greece, Italy, Poland, France, and the Netherlands, witnessed significant double-digit growth ranging from 10% to 40%. Forecasts for the current year align with the strategic goals set by the new Board, indicating a continued growth trend in the market.
As the voice of the solar thermal sector in Europe, Solar Heat Europe aims to raise awareness about the immense potential of solar heating and cooling solutions and foster growth through a favorable policy framework. The association has recently welcomed new members, including DualSun, Akotec, Aalborg CSP, and Venman, whose diverse experience and activity will further strengthen collective efforts within the sector.
With members across more than 15 European countries, Solar Heat Europe covers different parts of the value chain, providing valuable insights and data to accelerate the energy transition and boost the European economy, as outlined in their publication “Energising Europe with Solar Heat – A Solar Thermal Roadmap for Europe.“
