AIRAH launches Solar Cooling Special Technical Group

The Australian Institute of Refrigeration, Air Conditioning and Heating (AIRAH) has launched its Solar Cooling Special Technical Group.

The organisation’s special technical groups (STGs) provide a way of channelling specialist expertise from the wider industry into the institute. They give their constituents - who are all AIRAH members as well as elite practitioners - a platform for involvement in issues that affect their discipline, including policy advice and regulation development.

AIRAH CEO Phil Wilkinson, M.AIRAH, says the aims of the AIRAH Solar Cooling STG are to advocate for solar cooling, to develop industry practitioner skills, to provide a hub for solar cooling information sharing and to encourage better communication between stakeholders.

“As the sun beats down and air conditioners are turned up, what could be more logical than solar air conditioning? And with enthusiasm for solving Australia’s electricity grid issues, solar air conditioning could be one of the HVAC industry’s answers to reducing both greenhouse gas issues and electricity infrastructure costs,” Wilkinson says.

“So by developing skills and capacity in the use of solar cooling technology, the AIRAH Solar Cooling Special Technical Group will help enable the HVAC industry to access new business opportunities in the renewable energy industry.”

Dr Stephen White, M.AIRAH, from CSIRO Energy Technology, says the AIRAH Solar Cooling STG will address barriers to the development of a vibrant solar air-conditioning industry across Australia. He says the STG has a number of tasks it will implement in order to achieve its goal of growing skills and capacity building.

These initiatives include developing a comprehensive web portal; holding a regular conference to share information and recognise project excellence; delivering quality solar cooling training; preparing an industry roadmap; submitting responses to government public consultation processes; contributing to solar cooling standard development; and supporting AIRAH’s Dennis Joseph Award for the innovative use of solar energy in HVAC&R.

“The AIRAH Solar Cooling Special Technical Group will develop a work plan to promote a level playing field for HVAC-based solutions in the renewable industry,” White says. “The STG will also disseminate the latest technical information on solar cooling - taking advantage of standards, guides and tools.”

White says Australia is one of the leading countries in the race to develop new solar air-conditioning solutions.“Solar cooling involves the transformation of solar energy into useful building air conditioning,” White says. “In terms of reducing emissions and lower energy costs, it makes a lot of sense.

“Now with the AIRAH Solar Cooling STG, the discipline will have some much needed structure, and the support of Australia’s most respected HVAC&R organisation, in order to help take solar cooling to the next level.”