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112 A COMPrEHEnSIvE GUIdE TO SOlAr EnErGy SySTEMS
FIGURE 6.1 Total installed capacity of glazed and unglazed water and air collectors shared by economic regions [1].
FIGURE 6.2 Annual installed capacity of glazed water collectors from 2000 to 2014 [1].
6.1.2 Driving Forces for the Expansion of the Global Solar Thermal
Market
The global solar thermal market is driven by several factors, for example, low costs, fi-
nancial incentives, regulatory instruments, education, and environmental and local visual
impacts.
Solar heating costs vary considerably as a result of weather conditions, the complex-
ity of solar thermal installation, the application of solar thermal system, and the costs of
labor and materials [2–4]. Compared to the energy price for heat supplied by conventional
