Market potential and development prospects of the solar water heater field in Algeria

Although Algeria prides itself on a huge solar energy radiation potential, such important applications as solar water heating have not yet been sufficiently developed in the country. The present paper deals, in fact, with the analysis of the Algerian case by the examination of the available data and the discussion of the main reasons that have led to the insufficient development of the field in the country. An examination of the installed solar water heater surfaces around the whole country proved that there was not a significant development of this application. This is mainly due to the availability of natural gas at low price and the expensiveness of solar water heaters which were imported from Europe and neighboring countries. In order to increase citizens' interest in this application, it is essential to launch a local production of this device by making good use of the existing industrial capacities based on a subcontracting production mode. The paper presents, also, a concrete project dealing with the development of a solar water prototype intended for local industrial reproduction. It was made thanks to narrow partnerships held with local industrial actors. This practical experience allowed us to provide evidence that local production of this equipment if associated with the existing incentives would certainly induce a rapid growth and development of this important application in Algeria. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.