Solar Heat Europe

Name

Solar Heat Europe

Legal name

Solar Heat Europe/ESTIF aisbl

Website

https://solarheateurope.eu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Renewable Energy Industry Association

NAICS

Business Associations (813910)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Solar Thermal & CSP Systems (Collectors, Receivers, Thermal Storage, CSP EPC) (EUAMABAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Solar Quality, Testing, Certification & Standards (Lab Testing, Inspections, Compliance) (EUAMABAN)

Keywords

• Solar thermal technologies
• Renewable heat association
• Industrial process heat
• District heating solutions
• Clean heat policy advocacy

Headquarters

HQ city

Brussels

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Solar Heat Europe generates revenue through membership fees from its network of over 40 companies, national associations and research institutes dedicated to solar thermal technology.
2. Publications and Market Reports: Annual publications including the Solar Thermal Market Outlook report available for free download, with additional premium publications and market data services.
3. EU Project Participation: Participation in EU-funded projects such as INDHEAP (Optimal Solar Systems for Industrial Heat and Power) which demonstrates combining solar thermal and PV with thermal energy storage.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Solar Heat Europe is a non-profit industry association that represents and promotes all solar thermal technologies for decarbonising heating and cooling in Europe. Its core offering is membership-based advocacy, industry research and publications, policy representation to EU institutions, and participation in EU-funded projects — delivered on behalf of 42 member manufacturers, research institutes and national associations across 16 European countries.

Product overview

Solar Heat Europe (ESTIF aisbl) is the European Solar Thermal Industry Federation, serving as the voice of the solar thermal industry. The organization does not offer a single product but rather represents and promotes a portfolio of solar thermal technologies and market segments. Its core technologies include Non-Concentrated Solar Thermal (flat plate and evacuated tube collectors), Solar Hybrid PVT systems, Concentrated Solar Thermal (CST), and Thermal Energy Storage. These technologies serve four key market segments: Residential Buildings (over 10 million rooftop systems across Europe), Tertiary Buildings (commercial/hospitality), District Heating (large-scale urban networks), and Industry (Solar Heat for Industrial Processes/SHIP providing temperatures up to 400°C). The organization also publishes market intelligence through the annual Solar Thermal Market Outlook report and contributes to policy guidance including the Solar Mandate implementation guidance and contributions to EU Heating & Cooling Strategy consultations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Solar Thermal Market Outlook

Quantifiable outcome

• Levelised cost of solar heat varies between 18-33 EUR/MWh over 25 years for large industrial plants
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• ISES (International Solar Energy Society)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 September 2026Co-organiser of EuroSun 2026 conference in Freiburg, Germany. ISES is a global organisation dedicated to advancing solar energy technologies and hosts the IEA SHC Solar Academy.
• IEA SHC (IEA Solar Heating and Cooling Programme)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 September 2026International research programme co-organising EuroSun 2026. Over 200 experts from 19 countries and 8 international organisations conduct collaborative research on solar heating and cooling. Publishes the annual Solar Heat Worldwide report.
• Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISEcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 September 2026Scientific host of EuroSun 2026 in Freiburg, Germany. The largest solar research institute in Europe providing scientific expertise and venue for the conference celebrating EuroSun's 30th anniversary.
• PV CyclecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 May 2026PV Cycle is a non-profit organisation based in Belgium serving as the management body for take-back and recycling of used photovoltaic (PV) and solar thermal panels in Belgium. Provides Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) compliance services related to WEEE Directive and Battery Regulation, along with waste management solutions. Founded in 2007 by the photovoltaic industry with global representations in Germany, Italy, Spain, UK, and Japan.
• Euroheat & PowermajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganiser of the EHP Congress, Europe's largest district heating and cooling event with over 500 professionals, 35+ exhibitors, and 85+ speakers.
• European Heating Industry (EHI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint publication of brochure on solar thermal benefits for buildings decarbonisation. EHI represents European heating industry and supports solar thermal technology promotion.
• WBCSD (World Business Council for Sustainable Development)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSolar Heat Europe contributed to the Solar Thermal Navigator Brief providing guidance to industrial users on decarbonising heat supply through solar thermal technologies.
• CEPI (Confederation of European Paper Industries)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on factsheet for Solar Heat integration as a solution for pulp and paper industry decarbonisation. Cross-sectoral collaboration for energy transition.
• INDHEAPmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEU-funded project (Optimal Solar Systems for Industrial Heat and Power) demonstrating combining solar thermal and PV with flexible thermal energy storage for mid-temperature industrial processes up to 250°C. Prototype testing in Spain with broader application potential across Southern Europe and MENA.
• SOLINDARITYmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEU-funded project part of workshop on hybrid solar systems for industrial process heat and power, combined with INDHEAP workshop covering thermal storage and industrial decarbonisation.
• SolarHub ProjectmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEU Horizon project in collaboration with Federation of Industries of Greece (SBE) inviting participants for Open Innovation Challenges 2026. Focus on photovoltaics, solar thermal energy, agrivoltaics, and electrical grid integration.
• Federation of Industries of Greece (SBE)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember of Enterprise Europe Network collaborating on SolarHub SYNERGIES 2026 open innovation challenges.
• Affordable Housing Initiative European PartnershipmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWebinar series bridging EU policy and practical implementation in affordable housing renovation, with session on solar thermal potential for renewable solutions.
• Clean Heat EuropemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition co-organising events on Europe's push for energy independence and clean heat transition, including discussion on Heating & Cooling Strategy.
• Cool Heating CoalitionmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition working on analysis of Europe's fossil fuel import dependencies and transition to clean heating solutions.
• Solar Keymark NetworkcoreTechnology or IntegrationIndustry certification and quality assurance scheme for solar thermal collectors, with regular network meetings hosted by Solar Heat Europe.
• SolarPACESmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-organiser of joint webinar on district heating with EuroSun, bringing together international solar thermal and energy systems communities.
• EERA (European Energy Research Alliance)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean energy research partnership collaborating on Inclusive Solar Futures roundtable event exploring role of women in the solar sector.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• SolarPower Europe: Brussels-based industry association representing the European solar PV value chain. Directly comparable as a sister solar industry trade body advocating for solar technology deployment in EU policy and markets.
• Euroheat & Power: International network for district heating, cooling, and combined heat and power. Comparable as a Brussels-headquartered heat-sector association overlapping on district-heating policy and large-scale thermal deployment.
• European Heating Industry (EHI): Brussels-based association of the European heating industry, including boiler, radiator, and heat pump manufacturers. Comparable as a Brussels heating-sector trade body that co-publishes with Solar Heat Europe and represents an adjacent lobbying constituency.
• WindEurope: Brussels-based trade association for the European wind industry. Comparable as a major European renewable energy industry association with similar policy advocacy, member services, and event business models.
• European Heat Pump Association (EHPA): Brussels-based trade association representing the European heat pump industry. Closely comparable as a competing clean-heat technology association engaging in identical EU policy forums (EPBD, Heat Pump Action Plan, Heating & Cooling Strategy).
• European Solar Thermal Electricity Association (ESTELA): Brussels-based association promoting concentrated solar power (CSP) and solar thermal electricity. Comparable as a sister solar thermal association focused on the electricity-generation branch of the technology family.
• Bioenergy Europe: Brussels-based association representing the European bioenergy heat and power sector. Comparable as a renewable-heat industry trade body competing for EU renewable heating policy attention and member dues.

Broad incumbents

• IRENA (International Renewable Energy Agency): Intergovernmental organisation supporting the global energy transition, including solar thermal. Comparable as a broader incumbent setting global renewable energy policy frameworks that the association engages with on solar heating and cooling.

Others

• WBCSD (World Business Council for Sustainable Development): Global CEO-led organisation advocating for sustainable business. Comparable as a broader ecosystem partner that co-publishes the Solar Thermal Navigator Brief with Solar Heat Europe, providing a channel to multinational corporate energy users.

Emerging players

• Cool Heating Coalition: Multi-stakeholder coalition advancing decarbonised heating and cooling in Europe. Comparable as an emerging Brussels-based coalition that partners with Solar Heat Europe and competes for influence on EU clean-heat policy.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@SolarHeatEurope
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/estif---european-solar-thermal-industry-federation
• Xx.com/SolarHeat_EU
• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Solar Heat Europe