ABSTRACT
The Netherlands has a well advanced policy on energy and environment. For renewable energy, the aim is to have 5% (163 PJ) of the total energy produced by renewable sources in the year 2010. From the renewables the contribution of solar thermal energy should be 5 PJ, for a large part (2 PJ) produced by solar domestic hot water systems (SDHW’s). They were chosen as the spearhead of the policy for introducing solar thermal energy. In 1990 a goal of 300 000 SDHW’s was set for the year 2010. In order to reach this goal a long-term agreement was concluded between the solar energy industry and the Minister of Economic Affairs. This agreement is based on: subsidy, R&D, market development activities, and cooperation with the utilities.
