Objective
The SolaCert project has been positively received by most sectors of the Irish Solar Thermal Industry, and is seen as a very positive initiative in the on-going development of the industry.
SolaCert has raised awareness of the many and varied problems / barriers to the uptake of solar thermal technology and has, more importantly, begun to address some of these barriers in the absence of any Irish Central or Local Government solar strategy. SolaCert has contributed greatly to the expansion of the nascent Irish Solar Energy Association and has also brought the twin topics of certification and training to the forefront of the solar agenda.
SolaCert has encouraged a nation-wide examination of the state of the current Irish solar thermal industry, which is the most under-developed in the EU for many reasons. SolaCert is addressing what it sees at the two main reasons:
- Lowest amount of properly trained solar installers and designers in the EU;
- No certification of installers, designers, products or systems.
SolaCert will develop and run two distinct but related training courses in Ireland during 2004. The first will be for those people who are currently installing or have installed to date solar thermal systems. This will then be followed by a longer training course for qualified plumbers who have no installation experience. These courses will be run in co-operation with a leading Irish third-level education and training institution, the Irish Solar Energy Association and other appropriate trade associations and organisations. While outside the scope of SolaCert, it is hoped that a modular training course will be developed for the Irish 4-year plumbing apprenticeship curriculum.
Integral to the above training will be the Certification Scheme, developed by SolaCert and distributed for public consultation. This incorporates the concepts of training, a register of qualified installers, quality control systems for equipment and a warrantee scheme for installations.
Expected results over the 3 year project include:
1 - increased awareness and confidence by the public and those involved with the procurement, design and construction of housing with an active solar component;
2 - theoretical training of 25 extra 'new' installers and practical training of those 25, (plus previous 25 from previous Altener project) in SWHT;
3 - setting up of National Certification System and development of ' Code of best practice' for the industry in Ireland;
4 - substantial increase in the number of installations of SWHT in Ireland, during and beyond the life of this project;
5 - identification of financial 'instruments' to encourage greater uptake of SWHT in Ireland and other European countries.
Programme(s)
Topic(s)
Data not availableCall for proposal
Data not availableFunding Scheme
CSC - Cost-sharing contractsCoordinator
Cork
Ireland