Use of solar thermal for low temperature commercial and industrial heating or drying can contribute significantly to decarbonization.

While normal solar water heaters or solar dryers typically produce temperatures less than 100OC, innovations can enable these solar thermal systems to provide heat beyond 100OC without having to include expensive and more complex concentrator systems.

Even at sub 100OC temperatures, low temperature solar thermal can be used for a variety of heating applications in the form of a pre-heating system, thus at least partially cutting down the use of fossil fuels for heating or drying.

As the capital expenses of low temperature solar thermal systems are quite moderate and their running costs are quite low, there is significant potential for quick industry adoption worldwide, thus presenting a sizable decarbonization potential in the short or medium term.