Solar thermal energy is gaining traction across Europe as a significant tool in the clean energy transition, with several projects and policies advancing in 2024. The Netherlands recently launched a 37 MW solar district heating (SDH) system, the largest of its kind outside Denmark, demonstrating the technology’s potential to support urban heating. This system, established in Groningen, highlights the increasing use of solar thermal for district heating in Europe—a field that traditionally relied on natural gas and biomass. Long-term contracts and stability in economic policies are crucial for the growth of these infrastructures, allowing municipalities and private companies to confidently engage in large-scale solar thermal projects.

Meanwhile, Italy’s solar thermal sector is set to expand under the new association, Solterm Italia, which is advocating for policy support to triple solar thermal deployment by 2030. While the Italian government has set ambitious renewable targets, industry stakeholders emphasize the need for enhanced political and financial backing to develop solar thermal infrastructure and workforce capabilities adequately.

At the European level, organizations like Solar Heat Europe have called for policy and financial parity between solar thermal and other renewable sectors. They propose that solar thermal technologies could play a pivotal role in meeting European climate targets if supported similarly to wind and solar PV. This advocacy underscores the importance of integrating solar thermal systems into the broader renewable energy landscape to enhance energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions across sectors.