the solar thermal market in austria 1 present situation last two decades showed wide variations for which is mainly a of water heaters domestic hot and plastic absorber systems heating swimming pools following first boom years after oil crisis 1973 stagnated at beginning eighties has been marked by boosting demand during five it had started to grow modestly from 1987 on this development was heavily influenced non conventional technology transfer process diffusion took place self construction groups they developed building collector built up society renewable energy arge erneuerbare energien supplies know how organising group offers training seminars lends tools collectors seventies caused consciousness about limitedness natural resources dependence imports expectations alternative sources were correspondingly high an ambitious research program launched