CHAPTER VI - SOLAR HARDWARE AND EQUIPMENT

Abstract

This chapter presents the name and addresses of the main suppliers of solar hardware in industrialized countries. The solar hardware and equipment industry is still young and not very extensive. However, rapid expansion is taking place at the moment, and undoubtedly the solar hardware and equipment industry will be an important one in a few years. It cannot be expected that the developing countries should import solar hardware from the industrialized countries in the long run. If solar energy is to be applied to a greater extent in the developing countries, solar hardware industries must be established in the developing countries themselves. There are a large number of solar water heater manufacturers and distributors in the USA, but this business is generally in the hands of rather small or medium-size firms, which are not very export-minded. The most important producer of solar hardware in Europe today is West Germany. Another important producer is France, which in certain fields—such as solar water pumping, high-temperature solar ovens, and application of photovoltaic cells for small terrestrial power plants—may be considered a world leader. Other essential solar equipment and components are being manufactured in Italy, Denmark, Holland, and Switzerland.