21 June 2012: The latest newsletter from the Solar Heating and Cooling (SHC) Programme of the International Energy Agency (IEA) highlights the publication of its “Solar Heat Worldwide” report, new initiatives on non-residential building renovation, and developments in China, Singapore, and the EU.

The newsletter draws attention to the online publication of the SHC Programme’s “Solar Heat Worldwide” report, which presents data on solar thermal energy from 55 countries. The newsletter features a special country highlight of China, which the report finds is the largest solar thermal market in the world, and discusses China’s solar thermal industry, policy and solar application projects, and future expectations.

The newsletter also includes stories on: a new SHC Programme initiative called “Task 47: Renovation of Nonresidential Buildings Towards Sustainable Solutions,” which intends to develop a knowledge base for renovating non-residential buildings towards Net Zero Energy Buildings (NZEB) standards; Singapore’s United World College South East Asia (UWCSEA) East-campus in Tampines, which hosts the world’s largest solar cooling plant; the SHC Programme’s cooperation with the IEA Energy Conservation in Buildings and Community Systems (ECBCS) Programme to develop a common definition of NZEB; and EU support for four research and development projects on compact thermal energy storage technologies.

Finally, the newsletter highlights the 2012 SHC Programme’s annual conference, new publications, and current Tasks and Operating Agents. [SHC Press Release] [Publication: Solar Heating and Cooling Programme Newsletter] [Publication: Solar Heat Worldwide: Markets and Contribution to the Energy Supply 2010]