NYSEIA News
New York's First Solar Thermal Roadmap Unveiled at NYSEIA's NY Solar Industries 2010 - Business of the Sun Conference |
| Released on May 12 2010 |
ALBANY, NY, May 12 – The Solar Thermal Consortium (STC) today unveiled the first roadmap to establish New York as a national leader in solar heat and cooling (“Solar Thermal”) technologies through consuer education and incentives, installer training, promotions to attract manufacturers, investments in R&D, and permitting improvements.
Developed over the past six months by more than 130 industrial, academic and governmental representatives, the Solar Thermal Roadmap creates a path to move New York State toward 2,000 MWs of solar thermal capacity, equal to 1,000,000 solar hot water collectors, or 500,000 residential systems. The plan would result in $2.6 billion in economic activity and 25,000 new jobs over the next decade.
“Sixty percent of the energy consumed in New York State buildings is to provide heat and hot water,” said NYSEIA President Ron Kamen, senior vice president of EarthKind Solar. “Solar thermal technologies let the sun’s free energy warm homes and workplaces, and heat hot water. With this Solar Thermal Roadmap, New York is moving to become the national leader in the research, development, deployment and manufacture of solar thermal technologies.”
Solar thermal technologies are widely used throughout the world. For the average family, solar hot water systems save over 50 percent of the hot water costs, and solar heating can dramatically reduce fossil fuel consumption in both homes and workplaces. In Germany alone, 200,000 solar hot water systems are installed every year, generating $2 billion toward “clean energy economics.” Over 90 percent of the hot water in Israel is heated by the sun.
Announced at the NY Solar Industries 2010 - Business of the Sun Conference in Albany, presented by New York Solar Energy Industries Association (NYSEIA), the five-point Solar Thermal Roadmap recommends:
- Creating a statewide educational campaign and electronic resource to inform consumers about the benefits of using the sun to heat homes, commercial buildings and hot water
- Initiating a Solar Thermal financial incentive program to encourage installations by shortening the payback time of solar thermal systems
- Promoting New York State as a location for Solar Thermal manufacturers
- Investing in Research and Development to create a scientific base that systematically develops next generation Solar Thermal technologies, especially solar storage and cooling
- Clarifying permitting procedures and union jurisdiction to simplify Solar Thermal installations
Clarkson University President Tony Collins said, “Renewable energy is vital to our nation’s economic prosperity, national security and stewardship of our natural environment. Beyond building the technical competence required to strengthen New York’s solar energy industry, Clarkson’s role is to replicate our track record of bringing research to commercialization through powerful academic-industry partnerships in order to make this roadmap a reality. We are fully committed to help deliver new knowledge-economy jobs to New York.”
Focused on solar heat and hot water applications for residential and commercial buildings in New York State, the Solar Thermal Roadmap is modeled on global best practices that have worked to create markets for this proven technology and new ideas from the consortium.
Focused on solar heat and hot water applications for residential and commercial buildings in New York State, the Solar Thermal Roadmap is modeled on global best practices that have worked to create markets for this proven technology and new ideas from the consortium.
The Roadmap’s proposed level of implementation would save an estimated 6 million gallons of oil, 9.5 million ft3 of natural gas and displace 320 million kilowatt-hours of electrical production annually by 2020, translating into an annual savings of over 350,000 tons of CO2 emissions and consumer savings of more than $175 million per year, according to STC.
The roadmap was presented by speakers from Clarkson University and Droege & Company during NYSEIA’s annual conference May 12-13, at the Crowne Plaza City Center attended by hundreds of solar leaders and supported by the Solar Energy Consortium, the STC, and dozens of government, corporate and other sponsors.
About Solar Thermal Consortium
The STC is led by the collaborative efforts of Clarkson University’s Center for Advanced Materials Process (CAMP), a NYSTAR Center for Advanced Technology (CAT); the New York Solar Energy Industry Association (NYSEIA); The Solar Energy Consortium (TSEC) and Droege & Comp. International Management Consultants. The STC also brings together a broad representation of industry professionals from closely related industries (such as plumbing, heating, cooling, and roofing companies), labor unions, government representatives, regulatory entities and public advocates.
About NYSEIA
The New York Solar Energy Industries Association, founded in 1994, is the only statewide non-profit membership and trade association dedicated solely to advancing solar energy use in New York State. For information, visit http://www.nyseia.org
Media Contacts:
Ron Kamen (917) 453-5740 ron(dot)kamen(at)earthkindsolar(dot)com
Sandy Frinton (845) 454-3895 NYSolarNews(at)gmail(dot)com
Gail Markels (917) 364-4760 gail(dot)markels(at)nyseia(dot)org
###
Last changed: May 20 2010
Back