SOLAR HEAT EUROPE

Their core work

Solar Heat Europe is the Brussels-based European industry association representing the solar thermal sector. They work on accelerating market uptake of renewable heating and cooling technologies, with a particular focus on energy labelling implementation, consumer awareness, and policy support for space and water heating systems. Their H2020 involvement centers on coordination and support actions (CSA) that bridge the gap between EU energy policy and practical adoption of solar thermal and renewable heating solutions across European markets.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

Solar Heat Europe's early H2020 work (2015-2018) focused on implementing EU energy labelling regulations for heating products through the LabelPack Aplus project, which they coordinated. Their later projects (2018-2022) shifted toward broader renewable heating policy via the ETIP secretariat role and toward practical consumer-facing retrofit planning in HARP. The trajectory shows a move from regulatory compliance support toward more strategic, consumer-oriented heating decarbonization work.

Moving from regulatory compliance toward practical decarbonization tools for consumers and heating system retrofits — well-positioned for building renovation wave initiatives.

How they like to work

Solar Heat Europe operates primarily as a participant in consortia rather than leading them, having coordinated just 1 of 3 projects. With 33 unique partners across 8 countries from only 3 projects, they engage in large, multi-partner consortia typical of CSA actions. As an industry association, they bring sector-wide market knowledge and dissemination networks rather than technical R&D capacity — making them a valuable partner for projects needing industry reach and policy interface.

Broad European network of 33 partners across 8 countries, built through large CSA consortia in the renewable heating sector. Their Brussels base and association role gives them natural access to EU policy circles and national solar thermal industry contacts.

What sets them apart

As the European solar thermal industry's representative body, Solar Heat Europe occupies a unique niche: they are neither a research lab nor a technology company, but the sector's collective voice with direct access to manufacturers, installers, and policymakers. For consortium builders, they offer ready-made dissemination channels to the entire European solar heating industry and credibility with EU institutions on heating policy matters. Few organizations can match their ability to translate project results into market adoption across the heating sector.

Highlights from their portfolio

• LabelPack Aplus
  Their only coordinated project (EUR 209,592) — directly supported EU energy label rollout for heating products, a concrete market transformation action.
• SecRHC-ETIP
  Running the secretariat of a European Technology and Innovation Platform signals high trust from the Commission and deep sector coordination capability.
• HARP
  Most recent project with explicit consumer journey focus — represents their evolution toward practical heating decarbonization tools.