Objective The programme objectives are to:1) Examine existing solar water heating training methods in Europe and co-operate with the relevant authorities with regard to implementation of an accredited solar water heating training infrastructure;2) Develop training courses for the design, installation and maintenance of SWH systems, which will be recognised by the proposed European accreditation framework;3) Provide accreditation of training organisations and programmes which will award solar water heating competency certificates in four pilot European countries, UK, Germany, Spain and Greece. This will include design, installation and maintenance of systems. Minimum requirements for specific certificates will be specified.Description:The ALTENER 'Sun In Action' study of the SWH market proposed that the industry should set an annual growth rate of 23%. The White Paper for a Community Strategy and Action Plan on Renewable Energy Sources projects an estimated contribution of 100 million m2 installed solar collectors by 2010. Given these objectives, and the increasing cost competitiveness of solar thermal collectors, there is need a for a rapid increase in the number of skilled SWH installation personnel. It is very timely and right therefore that certified training courses from accredited institutions should be developed to provide a co-ordinated approach and conformity in SWH training standards across Europe. Such an approach will promote the large-scale implementation of the technology by removing barriers to the market which develop when poorly installed or malfunctioning systems are allowed to penetrate.The development of certifiable training courses is an essential requirement to enable the solar water heating industry to supply the consistently high standards of design, installation and maintenance expected by a commercial market:1. Survey of Existing Training Infrastructure;2. Liaison with International, National and Regional Training Bodies;3. Definition of Accredited SWH Organisations and Training Courses;4. Development of Training Courses;5. Pilot Testing of Accreditation Process;6. Implementation of Approved Training Courses;7. Dissemination of the Accreditation Process.Results from the implementation of the project can be summarised as follows:1. An in depth survey of the existing infrastructure for solar water heating training in Spain, UK, Greece and Germany. This study will examine the needs of both the training organisations and the students they provide for, and give recommendations;2. Dialogue between regional training bodies responsible for training programmes and institutions in each of the four pilot countries;3. An assessment of resource and staffing requirements for organisations offering SWH training programmes and definition of minimum requirements for certification;4. Pilot training courses on the design, installation and maintenance of SWH systems. Competency certificates will be awarded by the proposed European accreditation mechanism;5. A procedure for auditing the accreditation process. As the project nears completion the accreditation process will be taken over by the existing training infrastructure in each country, overseen by a European auditing body;6. Dissemination of the accreditation programme. Successful dissemination will provide knowledge throughout Europe. Programme(s) ENG-ALTENER 2 - Multiannual programme for the promotion of renewable energy sources in the Community, 1998-2002 Topic(s) Data not available Call for proposal Data not available Funding Scheme CSC - Cost-sharing contracts Coordinator IT Power EU contribution No data Address The Manor House, Lutyens Close, Basingstoke Hants RG24 84G Chineham, Hampshire United Kingdom See on map Total cost No data Participants (5) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all Center for Renewable Energy Sources Greece EU contribution No data Address 19th km Marathonos Avenue 190 09 Pikermi, Attiki See on map Total cost No data European Solar Industry Federation Germany EU contribution No data Address DIESELSTRASSE 45 87437 Kempten See on map Total cost No data Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V. Germany EU contribution No data Address Breslauer Str. 48 76139 Karlsruhe See on map Total cost No data Institute for Sustainable Power Europe United Kingdom EU contribution No data Address The Warren, Bramshill Road RG27 OPR Eversley, Hampshire See on map Total cost No data TTA Spain EU contribution No data Address Ripolles 46 08026 Barcelona See on map Total cost No data
