Project description

Title: Support for the Programme to Promote Solar Water Heating in Mexico (PROCALSOL)
Commissioned by: German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)
Country: Mexico
Partner: Centro Mexicano de Promoción del Cobre A.C. (PROCOBRE)
Overall term: 2007 to 2009

Context

Repeated attempts have been made to develop a market for solar water heaters in Mexico over the past 30 years. However, as the sources of funding and the quality standards were inadequate until recently, and as there was poor coordination among the stakeholders, until two years ago no pioneering initiative existed.

In August 2007, the Mexican Energy Commission (CONUEE) finally unveiled its Programme to Promote Solar Water Heating (PROCALSOL) with the goal of tripling the installed surface area of solar collectors by 2012. This corresponds to an increase of 1.8 million square metres. The unique features of PROCALSOL are its consistently integrated approach to developing the market and the fact that public institutions, manufacturers, activities, financial institutions and other stakeholders are pooling their efforts for the first time.

Objective

There are an increased number of solar collectors to heat water in Mexico. Plumbers and technicians are adequately trained, and the population has been informed.

Approach

GTZ Mexico is working with the Mexican representative of the international copper association (PROCOBRE) to facilitate the Programme to Promote Solar Water Heating, and to provide technical and conceptual advice. GTZ is chiefly working on improving the legislative and regulatory environment and on developing quality standards and a special quality seal. It is also giving its support to information and public awareness campaigns. To guarantee the high-quality of installations, GTZ Mexico is also committed to improving and expanding training courses, for instance, by identifying training institutions and certification mechanisms for plumbers, by developing training courses and materials, and by producing a general installation handbook. PROCOBRE itself is responsible for conducting training seminars for plumbers and technicians as well as courses intended to enhance the supply side. Moreover, the copper association is developing voluntary standards for solar thermal energy systems and their installation as well as designing a website on solar thermal energy in the residential sector.

Results achieved so far

The legal environment, especially the quality standards, has improved and the high-quality of installation has been ensured through the creation of the relevant training courses. Moreover, the surface-area of newly installed solar collectors is growing each year and the population is becoming aware of the issues of solar thermal energy and renewable energies.