E-enhancing the market opportunities of renewable energies by showing good practices on solar heated swimming pools and the implementation of solar thermal devices.

The energy agencies of the SOLPOOL consortium will continue the SOLPOOL campaings and dissemination actions beyond the project end. The regional / national networks of owners,operators, installers and experts, which will be established within the project, will be maintained and continuously improved.

Additionally the implementation of the SOLPOOL measures in other EU countries, i.e. energy agencies or other qualified institutions of additional Member / Candidate States or their regions will be contacted by the consortium within the project duration to engage them to implement their own measures after the project duration on a national / regional level.  

The SOLPOOL partners estimate that a minimum of 50 % of decision takers of public outdoor pools will be reached. Taking Germany as an example the potential will be presented: A survey on the German outdoor swimming pools  showed that a total number of 725 pools (with a water area of 596.576 m2) have already been equipped with solar thermal systems (1976 – 2004). Considering the total outdoor pool stock of about 3.500 pools in Germany this represents about 21 %. This shows that there is still a big potential not utilised. The mean absorber area used for these pools is 583 m². The impact advisor will support potential users by providing an overview on the cost-benefit of the potential implementation of the system and thus accelerating the change.

In case 10 % of additional pools will install a solar system, the solar thermal area will increase by approximately 160.000 m². This would result in a CO2 emissions reduction of about 12.800 t CO2. As Germany is a precursor in terms of solar thermal the potential in other countries is significantly higher. This does not include private-owned outdoor pools (which represents an even bigger market), which will be involved by information on solar energy and its effectiveness (costs & environmental).

Additional effects can be expected with the application of solar thermal systems for domestic hot water generation in private homes. Installation of information panels ath the entrance/exit of public outdoor pools are part of the planned activities within the project and hence will contribute to the precursor role of public bodies. Moreover, it will lead to a decrease in energy supply dependency and generate interest of installers in the solar market and technologies. Hence, jobs will be created or at least safeguarded through the increase of knowledge and the investments produced with the installation of solar thermal systems for outdoor pools.

As a result of the project activities swimming pool owners and operators will be presented with a series of alternatives to:

• reduce their energy costs
• contribute to the reduction of CO2 emissions
• improve their image, which will be associated to a sustainable management

On the other hand, installers of solar thermal systems will:

• increase their market opportunities in the swimmming pool sector
• become acquainted with the needs and requirements of pool owners an operators, so that they can be considered them for their market development
• increase their market in already relatively well stablished areas like domestic hot water generation