(openPR) - 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 $29.2million, 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.

Matrix Energy Inc. has been providing solar air heating solutions since 1990.
To date we have supplied over 450,000 square feet of collector area for solar air heating projects in Canada, the United States and Europe supplying near 3,000,000 CFM of pre-heated ventilation air.

We offer three solar air heating systems under the MatrixAir™ name including two façade-mounted absorber systems using transpired or backpass solar technology to achieve practical low cost solar air heating solutions for industrial, institutional, commercial or agricultural applications.

Our roof mounted MatrixAir™ Delta module operates at up to 89% efficiency to deliver volumes of preheated air to roof top HVAC units, an ideal solution where façade mounted systems are impractical due to obstructions, existing HVAC configurations or building code requirements.

Matrix Energy Inc

296 Labrosse Avenue
Pointe-Claire, H9R 5L8
Toll free: 1 866 630-5630
Tel: (514) 630-5630
Fax: (514) 426-9123