Hydro received delivery orders from Solarbayer GmbH in Germany and the Polish company Hewalex, who ordered round tube solutions for their respective thermal solar systems. These pipes are generally used in flat-plate collectors on roofs, for residential buildings and for industrial use.

Hydro manufactures the aluminum tubes in its own precision tube plant in Denmark.

Flat plate collectors are mainly used in thermal solar systems in Europe. While aluminum is already replacing copper as the preferred material for absorber plates, the first absorbers made with aluminum tubes are now coming onto the market.

"We offer aluminum alloys that are corrosion resistant throughout the life of the system," said Salvador Biosca, head of Hydro's Precision Tubing sector.

In December, the results of studies on high-temperature corrosion were available that Hydro carried out in Switzerland together with the Institute for Solar Technology Testing Research (SPF). The tests simulated usage over 20 years and confirmed that aluminum tubes with the HyLife ™ Solar alloy from Hydro are suitable for use in thermal solar systems. That is twice as long as the 10-year standard warranty of the industry.

Focus on applications and development

Biosca added that the aluminum alloy is only part of what Hydro has to offer the thermal solar industry. "We operate worldwide and focus on applications and development," he said.

The company Solarbayer GmbH manufactures renewable energy systems for residential buildings and large industrial plants, mainly in Germany, the company's home market. The product range includes a high-performance flat-plate collector, which is considered one of the most efficient collectors on the market. "We work with customers and potential customers with products and solutions that can be considered innovative and that customers find attractive. We hope that the solar thermal industry will take more account of the potential of aluminum after these orders. ”

The main product of the Polish company Hewalex is the KS2000 solar collector. Several European institutes, including & nbsp; SPF in Switzerland, have repeatedly tested the efficiency and energy performance of the collector and demonstrated good results.