A recent survey of the Canadian Solar Thermal Industry commissioned by Natural resources Canada shows continued industry growth in 2010.

Total combined domestic 2010 revenue for Canadian manufacturers of solar thermal systems reached $29.2 million, an increase of 37% over the $21.3 million reported in 2009.

Total (domestic plus export) collector sales in 2010 were 252,146 m², the first time that the 200,000 m² figure has been exceeded. It is now estimated that 1,033,864 m² of solar collectors are operating in Canada, the first time that this value has exceeded one million square meters. Factoring in export sales of another $8M and overall industry growth topped nearly 76% in 2010 over 2009. This is the eighth consecutive year that this survey has indicated that the total revenue earned by the Canadian solar thermal industry has grown over the previous year.

For the first time the sale of air collectors, such as MatrixAir™ solar fresh air heating systems, have exceeded the sale of unglazed liquid collectors when measured by collector area. Says Brian Wilkinson, President of Matrix Energy Inc in Pointe Claire (Montreal) Quebec, Canada, “This growth is indicative of the increased awareness of the practicality, efficiency and cost effectiveness of solar air heating technologies within the architectural and engineering communities. All of our market development work over the last few decades is finally having an effect.”

Of the total 139.8 MW of thermal capacity installed in Canada last year, nearly half of this capacity was generated by unglazed solar air collectors covering less than 45% of the total 199,491 m² solar thermal collector area.

The study also demonstrates that Solar Thermal systems, unglazed solar air heaters in particular, provide a cost efficient means of GHG reduction. Overall, one tonne of CO₂ is saved for every $71 of revenue of solar thermal systems. Annual average yield for a unglazed solar air heater system is 422 GJ or 2.1 GJ/m² of collector area. The report further estimates that each unglazed solar air system sold during 2010 will result in 25.3 tonnes of avoided CO₂ emissions annually or more than 39,000 tonnes of avoided CO₂ emissions over their estimated thirty year expected life.

About Matrix Energy Inc: 
Matrix Energy (www.matrixenergy.ca) offers a variety of Value-Added Services for complete Stand Alone (Autonomous) Power Systems to supply DC and/or AC loads for telemetry, solar LED lighting, road and rail traffic signaling, telecommunications, remote homes & cottages and other applications requiring electrical power where conventional utility power is unavailable or cost prohibitive.


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Matrix Energy Inc
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