Collector Output Label

The collector label is a voluntary product label introduced by several market players of the solar thermal market. It provides information about the performance and energy output of different solar thermal collectors in a transparent way and allows consumers to make an informed decision on the product which best meets their needs.

The product which best meets their needs.

What kind of information can the consumer get from the collector label?

The design of the label itself and the symbol for the collector makes the consumer aware of the topic: it is about solar collectors, which are considered as a basic heating technology. The icons for hot water and heating together with the temperature indicate that the solar collector is used for water and space heating. Furthermore, the scale represents the different energy output classes and the technological stages available in the market. The map of Europe shows the influence the regional location has on the output values. Furthermore, the consumer is able to proof all these information on the website of the Solar Keymark Network.

The voluntary collector output label for solar thermal systems offers the consumers the possibility to choose among the different collectors according to their energy output. Its form and methodology is different to that of the already established energy efficiency label of the European Union. It has a green A-scale (A=renewable), the arrows go from the right to the left since collectors do not use primary energy, and therefore deliver heat ecologically and economically. The collector label expands the application area of the EU labelling scheme, which is currently restricted to primary energy use, by taking into consideration a sustainable, CO2-free heating supply.

The participating companies in this voluntary labelling scheme want to strengthen the positioning of solar thermal collectors as clean, serious and advanced technologies. Solar thermal can optimize the energy balance of a house. Though, home owners can significantly save costs and even get a solar-based heat supply. The collector label could also be used as a basis for a fair grant systems based on energy output.

Even when the identity of the collector label is similar to the well-known principle of the EU efficiency label, the scale is different: it shows energy output classes which relate to the annual efficiency and not energy efficiency classes which relate to energy use. The scale is green since solar thermal collectors are sustainable energy suppliers and no energy consumers. For this reason practically there are no CO2 emissions. The energy output of the collectors is taken from the Solar Keymark data sheets, which are officially issued by DIN CERTCO. The corresponding energy output potential by location is represented on the label as well. An additional advantage is that collectors can be compared to each other by the heat they generate and regardless of its construction (vacuum tubes or flat plate).

The reason is that collector modules from different manufacturers and different collector types might have the same size but can have different energy output. Subventions which are based on the size on m² of the collector field do not take into consideration how powerful the individual collectors are. Therefore, manufacturers supporting this initiative have chosen the specific energy output per gross collector area as reference to compare.

On the one hand, a more detailed classification allows differentiating between the different technological stages which a product could go through. On the other hand, the potential customer can quickly notice that the range of collectors available in the market is big and that it is worth it to have a closer look into the market. This differentiation makes the technological status of the individual products evident and together with the corresponding price a comparison is possible for the consumer to determine the economic benefit. The initiators of the collector label want to show with the additional classes AA and AAA the potential solar thermal has. It is expected that manufacturers will exploit this potential in the upcoming years. Reaching these classes could become a good incentive for manufacturers for product improvement. Not only consumers would profit from this, but it also contributes to achieve the „Energiewende“.

The energy output class A- is necessary as a boundary line. It includes collectors, which are on the edge of current subventions scheme. It includes for instance low-cost import tube collectors with big space between the tubes. Even though they can comply with the minimum requirements to get access to subventions, which usually refer to the effective tube area and not to the relevant gross area, they get a lower ranking according to their energy output by collector module.

The initiators want to provide a clear and meaningful classification of the products with the division into seven energy output classes. They take the criticism of consumer organizations seriously, who claim the EU efficiency label is too rough and thus revealing little. The differentiated scale prevents that higher energy output collectors are treated equal to those with low energy output. Thanks to the different energy output classes, the potential buyer quickly recognizes which product best suits his needs, because he may compare different technologies (collectors) and price ranges. In this way, the market will also be effectively protected against low-output and cheap products.

Output classes Technological level

AAA/AA In order to reach the classes AA and AAA it is necessary to have additional AA features such as double glazing, vacuum isolation or reflectors.

A+++ Flat plate collectors of the “premium” class and vacuum tube collectors with little distance between the tubes and without reflector

A++ Flat plate collectors of the “comfort” class and vacuum tube collectors with bigger space between the tubes

A Simple collectors and vacuum tube collectors with considerable big space between the tubes or weak technical heat properties

A– Very simple flat plate collectors which comply with the minimum requirements

for getting grants, as well as vacuum tube collectors with extreme space between the tubes and non-selective flat plate collectors