Education, testing and quality assessment as basis for successful method of implementing solar and heat pump technologies in austria

During the last 20 years, solar thermal and heat pump technology has slowly but constantly been driven further. Better components, new refrigerants, experience in designing systems, quality labels and training schedules, combined with national incentive policies and other changes in framework conditions supported a stable market development, which is just now starting to grow significantly in some countries. An established market will only continue to exist if the quality of the products are controlled continuous by under strict conditions. This is the reason why the Austrian research center Arsenal - arsenal research- has extended offered examinations for solar thermal and heat pump components. A crucial point in developing these markets has resulted in quality of planning and installing solar thermal and heat pump systems to raise confidence of the consumer. Therefore for training courses started in many countries, the Austrian Certified Heat Pump Installer is one very effective example.