Solar Heat Europe is proud to announce a new representative on its Board of Directors for 2023 – 2025, confirming once again a new era of ambition and growth for the solar thermal market. Today, members of our Association appointed Christophe Williams, CEO & Co-founder of Naked Energy as a new member representing the ‘Industry’ category. This addition reaffirms the commitment to advancing solar thermal applications in residential buildings, tertiary buildings, solar district heating, industrial processes, and the growing hybrid solutions like PVT (producing both renewable heat and electricity).

The Board of Solar Heat Europe is led by Guglielmo Cioni (TVP Solar), who was elected as the new President of Solar Heat Europe in June 2023. He will lead the transformation of the solar thermal sector with a strategic team of fellow Board members: Oleguer Fuertes (BDR Thermea) and Christophe Williams as Industry representatives, Edwige Porcheyre (Enerplan – FR) and Roger Hackstock (Austria Solar – AU) as National Associations representatives, and Hugues Defréville (Newheat) for the category of Service Providers.

Earlier in June, expressing his vision for the future, Guglielmo Cioni, President of Solar Heat Europe, stated: “Now more than ever is the time to grow and position solar heat as a key technology in the energy transition, addressing the 50% of energy needs for heating and cooling with our clean, direct and circular, renewable energy solutions. Together with the new Board, the members, and the Solar Heat Europe team, we will lead by example, and collaborate actively with, policymakers, partners, and end-users, to drive the widespread adoption of solar thermal solutions in buildings, cities, and industries. By doing so, we will contribute to climate goals, create additional green jobs, and preserve the competitiveness of our EU-based industry.”

Latest data shows a remarkable average growth of over 10% in the solar thermal sector in Europe vs 2021. At a critical moment in the energy transition, while tackling the energy crisis and striving for energy independence, the steady growth of the sector stands as proof of the key role of solar heat as a renewable heat and decentralised solution for buildings, cities, and industry decarbonisation. Germany, Greece, Italy, Poland, France, and the Netherlands are among the countries that had significant double-digit growth last year, ranging from 10% to 40% compared with the previous year. Forecasts for the current year also indicate a growth trend for the market, aligning with the new Board’s strategic goals.

As the voice of the solar thermal sector in Europe, Solar Heat Europe aims to raise awareness about the immense potential of solar heating and cooling solutions and foster growth through a favourable policy framework. The Solar Heat Europe Board of Directors together with the committed members, and the Secretariat in Brussels, are prepared for this new era in the solar thermal sector. With a technology ready to scale up, Solar Heat Europe is keen to profile further solar thermal, which can play a significant role in the energy transition, bringing renewable heat to the forefront.