SOLCAMP - The action

(a) The overall objective:

Is to create, to implement and to monitor a campaign for increased use of solar thermal systems at camping sites. To achieve this goal a standardised, neutral consultant tool, the "SolarCheckCamping" will be developed to provide the camping site owners with independent information on solar thermal systems and with the planning data for their site free of sales interests.

A "SolarCheckCamping" tool simulation software will be developed and in each of the 11 regions "SolarCheckers" will be trained. Increased penetration of solar thermal systems at camping sites will convince the guests by making positive experience also to invest in such systems, thus contributing to further dissemination of solar energy use.

(b) Work description:

First the actual local and regional situation will be analysed including all relevant data concerning camping sites, grant schemes and a compiled list of firms experienced in planning and installing solar thermal systems. Also networks consisting of project participants and other relevant stakeholders will be established.

A manual as internet supported brochure including pre-conditions, possible technical solutions and "best practice" cases will be elaborated. A low-priced simulation software especialy for dimensioning solar thermal systems at camping-sites will be produced and in each of the regions "SolarCheckers" will be trained. During application of "SolarCheckCamping" audits quality label "SolCamp" will be awarded to the sites after checking the implemented solar system by an independent expert. Monitoring and dissemination will be performed by project partners via newsletter and on web sites and project results will presented in the course of an international seminar. Planned are also closed feed back loops to the target groups "SolarChecker" and camping sites respectively.

(c) The main activities:

Within the proposed activity a significantly increase of share of solar thermal systems at camping sites in each of participating 11 regions is expected. A neutral tool for dimensioning solar thermal systems at camping sites adjusted to regional conditions in every partner region will be produced. Furthermore it is expected that within the first training courses 100 - 150 SolarCheckers will be educated, the number being doubled before the end of the project. Moreover it is expected that more than 1000 "SolarCheckCamping" audits will be performed in the course of the project resulting in a 10 percent points increased share of solar thermal systems at camping sites by the end of the project.

This will lead to a totally increase of approx.15000 m² collector area corresponding to additional 150 new jobs. As a secondary effect it is expected that 0.5 % of guests of awarded sites will take the same decission and implement solar thermal systems in their own houses resulting in further 10000 solar thermal systems.

SOLCAMP - Outcomes and Impact

The objective aimed at with the proposed activity is to increase significantly the share of solar thermal systems at camping places in 11 regions of EU which at the present is far below achievable figures.

Direct outcomes

In each of participating regions regional networks and the regional web sites

(month 4) will be established. In addition to regional project partners the members of these networks will be representatives of regional craftsmen associations and organisations or persons being supportive of further dissemination of solar thermal systems. Within the framework of the work package 2 "Status-quo analysis" regional lists with basic data on camping sites (month 4) and solar firms (month 4) will be elaborated and published on regional web sites. The same holds for information on financial aids regarding investments in solar thermal systems (month 4).

The overall information on the project status and progress will be compiled within the work package 7 "Monitoring and dissemination" and published on project web sites (established in month 3). The basic tool for an independent consulting service is the simulation software which will be used in each of the participating region. This tool will be ready for use in month 5 of the project. The other prerequisite to overcome the barriers described in Chap. 2 is the training of "SolarCheckers" so as to be able to apply the software, make their product independent recommendations and inform the camping site

owners on favourable financing scheme for their particular solar system.

In the course of month 9 first training courses for "SolarCheckers" in each region will be finished and regional lists published on regional web sites. It is expected that these courses will result in 100 - 150 SolarCheckers, the number being more than doubled before the end of the project.

Further, it is expected that more then 1,000 "SolarCheckCamping" audits will be performed in the course of the project. These checks should finally result in expected by 10 points increased share of solar thermal systems at camping sites by the end of the project. Assuming an average annual demand for hot water of 50 MWh per camping site and 200 - 250 camping sites in participating regions by substitution of actual heating system through solar thermal systems and keeping in mind that solar systems in European average can meet some 65 % of hot water demand approx. 6.5 – 8.1 GWh of solar energy can be earned per year.

This amount of energy can save the same amount of electricity or fossil fuels directly used for hot water preparation and thus reduce substantially GHG-emissions. To implement the systems an amount of approx. 10.5 – 12.8 mill. EUR will be invested and 150 new jobs created.

Potential impact of the action

The creation of regional networks is one of the most important prerequisites for successful dissemination of solar thermal systems. Project partners oblige

themselves to keep the networks active also after the end of SOLCAMP project. Thus, it is expected that after the end of the project new SolarCheckers will be trained and that in the mid-term (2010-2012) all of the camping sites in each of the participating regions will be checked.

It is hard to make a forecast for the number of the sites which after the check are going to invest in solar thermal systems, but it can be expected that the annual total is going to increase every year. One of the incentives for this growth is obviously the incorporation of such sites into the popular "SolCamp" list and their presentation in the internet. Thus, it is expected that also for

the reason of competitiveness camping sites will be forced to invest into solar thermal systems.

But not only increasingly growth of "SolCamp" awarded camping sites community in the participating regions is to be expected. The fact is that "SolarCheckers" in performing their audits are not bound only to initial region. It is expected that they will be active also in neighbouring regions thus disseminating the "SolCamp" quality label also there. In turn, potential checkers from the neighbouring regions will make use of training and contribute to further dissemination of the quality label and solar thermal

systems.

This kind of dissemination - snow ball principle - will not stop on national

borders. Thus it is expected that within ten years after the end of the project the quality label "SOLCAMP" will be spread all over the Europe and that 50 % of all the European camping sites will be equipped with solar thermal systems. Also secondary effects can be expected. Solar thermal systems at camping places will serve as model system for the guests. Leaflet to be given up to each guest of "SolCamp" sites will also serve as dissemination tool for solar thermal systems aiming now at new target group - home owners. This leaflet will be designed and first published in the course of the project but its dissemination, together with corresponding list of "SolarCheckers" and solar firms will be performed also after the end of the project. No accurate estimate can be made on success of this measure.

Keeping in mind increased growth of "SolCamp" community and the related number of camping sites guests an annual rate of 0.5 % of home owners following the information given by the leaflet and investing in solar thermal systems can be stated as an excellent result of the proposed action. Assuming this number to exceed 2 million of guests, which is not unrealistic, some 10000 new solar thermal systems in private houses resulting from proposed action can additionally to the systems installed at camping places be expected.

The related collector area amounts 50,000 m². This in turn will contribute to decrease in price of such systems increasing their competitiveness in the heating systems market. Because of utilisation of endogenous energy source and reduction of emissions related to energy consumption the project will in the long term increasingly contribute to improvement of environment and preventing of the climate change. It will also increasingly contribute to a decrease in energy supply dependency.