The Public Health Agency’s solar thermal facility in Peracamps is unique in that it not only includes three very different types of consumption—DHW, heating and cooling—but also features advanced technology for coupling solar systems, such as an absorption machine.

Real-life experience has shown that a rather large number of much smaller solar thermal systems do not work properly. This is typically due to poor design but also is sometimes due to a lack of monitoring and maintenance. It is important to differentiate “maintenance,” which can be performed by the installer, from “monitoring,” which should be performed technicians possessing specific and advanced knowledge of the desired behavior, using a range of tools to assess deviations from this behavior. Proper operation of the facility depends on maintenance and active and effective monitoring rooted in the collection, processing and interpretation of data and, where appropriate, proposed preventive actions aimed at optimizing its management.

To this end, the Barcelona Energy Agency and AIGUASOL carried out a joint effort, which resulted in:

• An online broadcast showing the facility’s operations to the public.
• Considerably higher energy production than that achieved under conventional maintenance.
• A reduction in the cost of the maintenance contract, as the most specialized portion was already covered.
• Use of the infrastructure and experience acquired from monitoring other unique facilities, such as the Picornell Pools (Barcelona).