A lot can happen in one month. We usually work on different topics, follow political developments, participate or organize several events and meetings. But rarely our activities over one single month converge so clearly into one specific area. It just so happened that the result of several months of work on Solar Heat for Industrial processes coincided in February.

We started this month with the kick-off meeting of the Horizontal Working Groups of the Renewable Heating and Cool technology platform (RHC-ETIP), dedicated to the future integration of renewable heating and cooling solutions in industrial process heat. Their work will involve experts from different renewable heating and cooling technologies over the coming years and will be facilitated by Solar Heat Europe.

We then enjoyed a very enlightened discussion with experts from the pulp and paper industry. This was an opportunity to raise awareness about the potential of solar heat for industrial processes, learn more about the needs of the pulp and paper industry and look into next steps that can facilitate the cooperation between our two sectors.

Later in the month, we presented the results of an assessment of the solar heating and cooling technology roadmap, together with similar assessments for other technologies. A remarkable fact is that Solar Heat for Industrial Processes has met its targets in terms of investment costs and energy prices for 2017, and is likely to achieve further positive developments for 2020. This, despite the fact that the demonstration projects carried out over the past 5 years is only a fraction of what was estimated in order to reach those targets.

At the end of the month, we also participated in a workshop on innovation priorities for Solar Heat for Industrial Processes, organised by the INSHIP project funded by the European Commission.

Last but not least, we have the pleasure to formally welcome three new members to Solar Heat Europe. One of them is the Polish industry association for Heating devices, SPiUG. The other two, Absolicon and TVP Solar, are manufacturers specialized in medium-temperature collectors and with a clear interest for applications in larger systems, such Solar Heat for Industrial Processes.