Canadian Solar Thermal Market

The Survey of Active Solar Thermal Collectors, Industry and Markets in Canada report provides a summary of a survey of the Canadian solar thermal industry conducted in the period February to April 2009, covering the 2008 calendar year. Thus this survey is the most recent in a series that goes back to 2002.

The survey results show continued growth in the Canadian solar thermal industry, with 2008 total revenue (domestic plus export) of $18.8 million, and increase of 44% over the $13.1 million reported in 2007. Of the five solar collector types included in the survey, four showed that domestic sales at least doubled from 2007 (by collector area). The fifth type - liquid evacuated - reported a 55% decline in domestic installations.

Some key findings of the survey:

  • One a per capita basis, industry revenue from solar thermal heating systems increased from $0.22 in 2007 to $0.38 in 2008 (73%).
  • Total domestic sales of solar thermal collectors in 2008 was 139,159 m2, more than twice the highest value previously reported in this series of surveys.
  • Canada continues to export considerable volumes of solar collectors: over 45,000 m2 worth $5.7 million in 2008. The bulk of exports are to the United States, although exports to Europe are increasing.
  • 2008 was the first time that Canadian vendors clearly reported export sales of all five types of solar thermal collectors.
  • In 2008, survey respondents were very optimistic about future sales, predicted that short term revenue growth would increase by 84% per annum. (This compares to the 2007 survey, when respondents predicted a 38% growth rate for 2008, and achieved 52%, according to this survey.)
  • In 2008, solar thermal systems operating in Canada caused 49,854 tonnes fewer of greenhouse gasses to be emitted into the atmosphere.
  • Solar thermal collectors sold by the Canadian industry in 2008 are expected to result in  GHG emission reductions of 330,000 tonnes over their operating life: 252,000 tonnes in Canada, and an additional 78,000 tonnes due to export sales.


Click here to download the full “Survey of Active Solar Thermal Collectors, Industry and Market (2008), Natural Resources Canada.”

Past studies are provided below:

Survey of Active Solar Thermal Collectors, Industry and Markets in Canada (2007), Natural Resources Canada

Survey of Active Solar Thermal Collectors, Industry and Markets in Canada (2005), Natural Resources Canada”