A major slice of the €3bn turnover comes from local SMEs, through selling, planning, installing and servicing solar thermal systems. For every 80 kWth of newly installed capacity, there is approximately one full time job.

“We replace imported fuels with local jobs” says ESTIF President Olivier Drücke. “Solar thermal has a strong local dimension, it supports domestic economies, and created jobs are mostly for the long-term.”

According to ESTIF, the European solar thermal manufacturers have taken the technological lead in the international solar thermal sector over the past 20 years.

“It is now time for Europeans to enact decidedly supportive policies and framework conditions for renewable heating and cooling throughout Europe to unlock the tremendous domestic energy potentials that all countries have natural access to,” says ESTIF President Olivier Drücke.