Cooling with solar heat. Concepts and technologies for air conditioning buildings.

Artikel

The cooling or air conditioning of buildings with solar heat has a particular appeal because the heat demand and supply are usually consistent with each another. Cold stores in southern climates and many process refrigeration systems also require considerable energy when the sun shines intensely. The use of solar cooling systems instead of electric chillers also eases the grid, particularly at peak load times. Solar thermal cooling could develop sales markets, for example, in the Mediterranean region but also play a small part in Germany's "Energiewende" – its energy transition. This is reflected in the research funding provided by the German federal government. In technological terms, German research institutions and SMEs have established a leading international position thanks to their intensive research. However, this young industry sector is facing double competition: on the one hand, well-known companies from the cooling sector, particularly from Asia, are surging onto the international markets; on the other hand, new competition is growing with regard to the technology, since the significant decrease in the cost of photovoltaics has also made solar electric systems with compression chillers increasingly attractive. Most scientists, however, see scope for both technologies. In Europe alone, the need for cooling will quadruple between 1990 and 2020 according to a report for the European Commission. An advantage of solar thermal systems is that they can be flexibly combined with other heat sources. For example, industrial waste heat or energy from cogeneration could also be used. Compared with conventional cooling technology, solar cooling requires high initial investment but has subsequently lower operating costs. It is therefore particularly suitable when the cooling load, solar radiation and price of electricity at the location are high. More research needs to be conducted on the components as well as on the system technology. The following sections provide an overview of the various open and closed methods and provide an insight into the research.

Object Details

• ISSN: 1610-8302
• Extent: 24 p.
• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: BINE Informationsdienst - Themeninfo; 3/2016

Classification and Topics

• Subject: A compact guide to energy research ; Building and City ; Renewable energy sources ; Industrial and commercial

Contributors, Places and Time

• Event: Geistige Schöpfung
• (who): Morgenstern, Alexander ; Safarik, Mathias ; Wiemken, Edo ; Zachmeier, Peter
• Event: Veröffentlichung
• (who): FIZ Karlsruhe - Leibniz-Institut für Informationsinfrastruktur GmbH, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen
• (when): 2016

Further information

• Sponsorship: Förderung durch das Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Energie (BMWi). Förderkennzeichen: 0325966A,B,C, 0325979A, 0325994, 0325997, 0327406A, 0327875A, 0327879A, 0329662D, 03ET1107A, 03ET1213A. German Edition: Mit solarer Wärme kühlen. Konzepte und Technologien für die Klimatisierung von Gebäuden.
• Last update: 07.03.2025, 12:05 PM CET