> The Solar Thermal Programme: “Hot water from the sun"

Of course, the 100% RES strategy does not only cover electricity production
as solar energy can also be used to produce hot water. Therefore, a solar thermal energy programme, PROCASOL, has been launched in order to promote solar thermal energy installations on El Hierro and in the Canary Islands. The aim of this programme is to substitute electrical heaters with solar thermal systems in order to reduce the total electricity demand for domestic hot water and, in turn, smooth the load profile of the island.
The programme combines direct funding for the investment and the financing of the system at a zero interest rate as well as several measures such as guarantees for the collectors and their installation and maintenance.

In order to ensure the success of the programme, ITC successfully promoted the creation of a local company devoted to, amongst other matters, the installation of solar thermal systems. Although it has been estimated that 2500 m² of collectors would be necessary to cover the entire potential market, the quantitative objective within the first phase this project is to reach an installed collector area of 500 m² by the end of 2005.