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Professor Dr F. Mahdjuri (see adjacent photo) was the founder, chairman
and managing director of the Thermomax Group from 1980 to 1999.
The company is a world leader in the manufacturing and development
of hi-tech vacuum tube solar collectors, electronic dataloggers, refrigeration
controllers and solar and heating controllers.
The 54 year old doctor, physicist and innovator was educated at
the Technical University of Berlin, where he became Professor of
Science and Physics in 1974. |
| Professor Mahdjuri was well known throughout the world for his commitment,
dedication and knowledge in the field of solar energy. His achievements
were recognized by the academic world, in particular by the German
Physics Society who presented Dr. Mahdjuri with the 1974 Karl Scheel
Prize awarded to exceptional German physicists. His legacy to Thermomax,
and to the world, is an extremely sophisticated, hi-tech vacuum tube
collector. The Thermomax product range has won 10 major awards, based
on the technology developed and patented by Prof. Dr Mahdjuri. Today,
Thermomax aims to play a part in the creation of an environmentally
friendly world to offer an ecological solution to global energy requirements.
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"The oil shock of the late 1970's created global concerns.
The shortage of oil and the consequent increase in energy prices affected
everyone almost everywhere. Most nations introduced legislation and
incentives to encourage the rational use of energy and the search
for new forms of energy. This interest was focused on renewable energy
and in particular solar energy. A lot of hope was placed on a source
of energy, which was almost unlimited - Solar Energy. The task now
was how to make use of this endless energy source. Fear of a shortage
of future energy supplies, added to the increasing price of oil and
other energy sources resulted in a panic-type boom in the newly rediscovered
solar energy field.
Thousands of small companies mushroomed almost overnight during
the solar boom. Many of these applied an unprofessional marketing
approach to products, which were not properly developed, in order
to benefit from the confusion and panic situation. This resulted in
hundreds of thousands of solar installations, which did not perform
as promised. In turn, this created anger among the solar victims (unsatisfied
solar customers).
In addition to the high degree of dissatisfaction in the market in
the early 1980's, as the world's economy weakened, more rational energy
conservation reduced demand, rich new gas and oil fields were discovered
and enormous reserves of coal were reactivated. All at once the world
was saved and there was no longer any apparent shortage of energy.
Energy supply once more surpassed demand and consequently energy prices
fell drastically, much below the level prior to the energy crisis.
Solar Energy was no longer able to compete with the cost of undervalued
oil or subsidised electrical power generated by coal. Solar Energy
was completely forgotten and was no longer on the agenda. Most Governments
dropped their supportive legislation and major companies pulled out
of the once so promising solar energy market. |
Small firms were faced with liquidation and it seemed like the end
of the solar business worldwide, particularly in the more industrialised
countries. It was not only the drop in the price of fossil fuel which
brought the solar business to the ground, but also the numerous small
firms which jumped on to the solar bandwagon without having the necessary
experience or knowledge of solar technology.
During this difficult period, only a few firms managed to survive
by the continuous development of new products as well as a new market
approach. A new marketing strategy had to be developed and implemented,
together with innovative products, to reactivate the market. Only
more sophisticated markets such as Germany reacted to this new approach
initially.
The adverse environmental effect that the burning of fossil fuels
has on our planet demands a dramatic change in our way of living and
a new look at domestic and commercial energy requirements.
One
environmental issue of worldwide importance, which is having an
increasing effect on clean energy, is the implication of global
warming, commonly referred to as the Greenhouse Effect. This is
caused primarily by the increasing build-up of gases such as carbon
dioxide in the atmosphere. The razing and burning of the tropical
rain forests, which had a compensatory effect on the carbon dioxide,
is accelerating the Greenhouse Effect. It is anticipated that all
this will result in global climatic changes.
The real costs of these ecological changes are as yet unknown and
unaccountable. Carbon dioxide will be produced even when using the
most safe and clean ways of burning fossil or artificial fuel (such
as landfill gas). There are no known filters or catalytic converters,
which can prevent the formation of carbon dioxide during the burning
process. The only way to reduce the risk of a worsening Greenhouse
Effect would be a restriction in the use of these fuels and the preservation
of the valuable and natural fossil fuels for technical application
such as petrochemical use for generations to come.
For example, in private households where almost half-prime energy
is consumed, some 90% of this energy is consumed in the form of low
grade heat for space heating and hot water supply. The commercial
energy consumption is not much different from that in private households.
Altogether, the demand for low-grade heat exceeds 40% of the total
prime energy requirements worldwide. Technically speaking, an impressive
portion of these low-grade heat requirements can be produced by solar
energy. Solar Energy could contribute over 50% of energy needs for
domestic hot water in Northern European countries and more than 90%
in Southern European countries per annum. In the space-heating sector,
a contribution of between 10 - 50% is not unrealistic. The same percentage
would again not be unrealistic for industrial hot water requirements.
Although it is technically possible to substitute the traditional
energy sources for low grade heat to a large extent by the use of
solar energy, it is not always economically feasible. Only in exceptional
cases can one see a justified return on investment based on strict
calculation.
This is the reason why the introduction of solar energy based on economic
factors is difficult and not very successful." |
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1980 |
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1990 |
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2000 |
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- New Oil & Coal
fields
- Falling energy prices
- No concerns
- No government support
- Disappointment in solar energy
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- Environmental
Concern.
Greenhouse effect etc.
- Stabilisation of energy prices
- Limited government support
- Satisfaction with the generation of new
solar systems
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- Environmental al issues
- Government support
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| General. Thermomax may revise these Terms at any time by
updating this posting. You should visit this page from time to time
to review the then-current Terms because they are binding on you.
Certain provisions of these Terms may be superseded by expressly designated
legal notices or terms located on particular pages at this Site. |
The evironmental drive of Solar Energy
"From a long-term global perspective there is no doubt that
mankind has a vital need far solar energy.
The adverse environmental effects that the burning of fossil fuels
has on our planet demands a dramatic change in our way of living and
a new look at domestic and commercial energy requirements.
A decade ago, the only motivation to use alternative energy was the
fear of a shortage of traditional energy supplies as
well as the expected increase in its cost. Today, however, these
factors are no longer an issue.
The artificial and unhealthy boom in alternative energy (particularly
solar energy) is therefore now over.
It is the duty of the media and the responsibility of organisations
and authorities to make the public aware of the real cost of our careless
pollution-causing and destructive attitude towards our environment.
Limited financial incentives (such as fiscal depreciation or an especially
low added value tax) should help to encourage more people to go for
solar energy. New building legislation
relating to certain sizes and types of house (initially large
houses) and certain areas, would force environment-friendly alternative
energy to the fore. Today there are a large number of regulations,
which add substantially to the cost of building. The use of solar
energy should be gradually included on this list.
Taking for example an average house fitted and furnished, the solar
hot water supply would amount to around 1% of the total cost which
is without doubt, affordable even without any major incentives from
the government.
During the last few years, thanks to the Green movement and general
awareness of the ecological consequences of the burning of fossil
fuels, more and more people are now considering solar energy on its
clean merits alone. This sense of responsibility and concern, for
environmental issues through the voluntary contributions of individuals
is visible in Middle Europe. As long as there is no encouragement
for solar energy by the authorities, either directly or indirectly,
the number of interested individuals will remain small. However,
there are signs that interest is growing and as a consequence a growth
in the European solar industry is visible. It is now the responsibility
and duty of the industry to provide high quality products and services
to help this trend and to make this new start an everlasting
and growing business, which as consequence will contribute towards
the preservation of our world." |
Prof. Dr. F. Mahdjuri |
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