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Scope 1  ·  2.2.5

Solar Thermal

Using solar collectors to capture heat from sunlight and use it directly for domestic hot water, space heating, or low-temperature industrial process heat — reducing reliance on fossil fuels (Scope 1) and grid electricity (Scope 2). Solar thermal is often more space-efficient than PV for heat-dominant loads and pairs well with heat pump systems.

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Self-Assessment

Select where your organization currently operates and where you want to get to. There is no obligation to reach "Leading Org." — choose the target that is right for your business context and investment capacity.

📍 Current Level
🎯 Target Level
Select your current and target levels above to map your assessment on this initiative.
Fundamental
Market Standard
Above Average
Leading Org.

Technology

  • Flat-plate or evacuated tube solar thermal collectors for domestic hot water preheating
  • Solar thermal system with conventional gas or electric backup for full demand coverage

Process

  • Assessing annual hot water demand profile and solar resource at each facility
  • Evaluating roof space, orientation, and structural capacity for collector installation
  • Sizing system to achieve 40–60% solar fraction for hot water load

Financing

  • IRA Section 48 ITC (30%+) applied to commercial solar thermal installations
  • Utility thermal energy rebates accessed where available
  • Internal capital with 5–8 year payback depending on fuel cost offset

Technology

  • Fundamental Technologies +
  • Larger-scale solar thermal array covering majority of hot water and low-temp process heat
  • Thermal storage (stratified hot water tank) to extend solar availability into evening hours
  • Solar thermal integrated with heat pump water heater for hybrid system efficiency

Process

  • Integrating solar thermal into building decarbonization plan alongside HVAC electrification
  • Monitoring system performance (solar fraction, energy yield) via building energy management system
  • Evaluating drainback or glycol freeze protection system design for climate resilience

Financing

  • Third-party solar thermal service agreements eliminating upfront CAPEX
  • Combined solar thermal and HPWH incentive stacking under IRA and utility programs

Technology

  • Market Standard Technologies +
  • Concentrating solar thermal for medium-temperature process heat (up to 250°C)
  • Solar thermal district heating serving multiple buildings from centralized collector array
  • Integration with seasonal thermal energy storage (STES) for multi-month storage

Process

  • Mapping all thermal loads by temperature to identify optimal solar thermal vs. heat pump allocation
  • Connecting solar thermal output to building digital twin for continuous performance optimization
  • Pursuing LEED or BREEAM credits for renewable thermal energy contribution

Financing

  • Project finance for larger industrial solar thermal systems with long-term thermal supply contract
  • DOE Solar Energy Technologies Office grants for advanced solar thermal applications

Technology

  • Above Average Technologies +
  • Fully integrated solar thermal and PV system optimizing both electricity and heat generation
  • High-temperature solar thermal (CSP) enabling solar-driven industrial processes
  • Solar thermal coupled with thermochemical storage for dispatchable zero-carbon heat

Process

  • Achieving zero fossil fuel use for thermal loads via combined solar thermal and electrification
  • Publishing verified renewable heat fraction in sustainability reporting
  • Sharing solar thermal performance data with utility for distributed energy resource planning

Financing

  • Bundled financing across solar thermal, PV, storage, and HVAC electrification
  • Renewable heat certificates (RECs equivalent for thermal) monetized where markets exist

Related Pathways

← All Pathways 1.3.1 HVAC 1.3.3 Water Heating 2.1.1 Onsite Generation