SOLABS: Development of unglazed solar absorbers (resorting to coloured selective coatings on steel material) for building facades, and integration into heating systems

• Research unit: EU RFP
• Project number: 02.0009-3

Key words (English)

Economic Aspects; Energy Saving

Alternative project number (English)

EU project number: ENK6-CT-2002-00679

Research programs (English)

EU-programme: 5. Frame Research Programme - 1.4b.1 Cleaner energy systems, including renewables

Short description (English)

See abstract

Abstract (English)

SOLABS aims at a major increase of the economic potential and improvement of the acceptability of solar thermal systems in buildings, to achieve the objectives set out in the White Paper. SOLABS shall develop suitable coloured selective coatings (plus corrosion and scratch protection layers) to be applied on selected steel materials to produce low-cost, weather resistant and durable unglazed solar collectors. A survey of wishes of architects and designers shall result in a set of specifications, which will be taken into account in the design of the steel absorbers for optimal integration into the envelope (facade) of retrofit or new buildings. To reduce the price of solar heat by a factor 2 (i.e. a target of 0.025-0.03 euro/kWh), simplifications of heat storage, hydraulic connections and schemes shall also be searched for. Performance tests and simulations shall ensure the reliability of the SOLABS system to support its short-term dissemination.

References in databases (English)

Swiss Database: Euro-DB of the
State Secretariat for Education and Research
Hallwylstrasse 4
CH-3003 Berne, Switzerland
Tel. [phone]
Swiss Project-Number: 02.0009-3