Solar Collector Tube Market - Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, Segmented, By Type (U-shaped, Heat Pipe, Evacuated Tubes, Flat Plate, Air Collectors, Others), By End-User (Residential, Commercial, Industrial, Others), By System Type (Thermosiphon, Pumped, Passive, Tracking, ICS, Evacuated Tube Collectors), By Region, By Competition, 2021-2031F

Forecast Period	2027-2031
Market Size (2025)	USD 11.87 Billion
CAGR (2026-2031)	9.21%
Fastest Growing Segment	Heat Pipe
Largest Market	North America
Market Size (2031)	USD 20.14 Billion

Market Overview

The Global Solar Collector Tube Market will grow from USD 11.87 Billion in 2025 to USD 20.14 Billion by 2031 at a 9.21% CAGR. Solar collector tubes are specialized receiver components designed to absorb solar irradiance and convert it into thermal energy, serving as the core technology for evacuated tube collectors and concentrated solar power systems. The market is primarily driven by the escalating global demand for decarbonized industrial heat and the strategic expansion of green district heating networks, which require efficient and high-temperature thermal solutions distinct from electricity generation.

According to the IEA Solar Heating and Cooling Programme, in 2024, the global industry installed 17.8 GW of new solar thermal capacity. Despite this continued deployment, a significant challenge impeding broader market expansion is the falling cost of solar photovoltaic panels paired with electric heat pumps. This technological shift creates intense competitive pressure by offering a versatile electrification pathway for heating that frequently diverts capital investment away from direct solar thermal collector infrastructure.

Key Market Drivers

The Rising Global Demand for Industrial Process Heat Applications is significantly propelling the solar collector tube market, as manufacturers seek reliable decarbonization solutions for high-temperature operations. Unlike standard photovoltaic systems, concentrated solar thermal installations utilize advanced vacuum receiver tubes to generate the industrial steam and process heat required by sectors such as mining, chemicals, and food processing. This specialized demand for high-efficiency thermal output is evident in recent deployment figures, which highlight a shift toward concentrating technologies. According to the IEA Solar Heating and Cooling Programme, in July 2024, the industry reported that 11 solar systems for industrial process heat utilizing concentrating collectors were installed between January 2023 and March 2024, contributing a total of 120 MWth in capacity.

Concurrent with industrial applications, the Expansion of Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) and Hybrid Projects serves as a critical driver, particularly for parabolic trough and linear Fresnel technologies that rely heavily on receiver tubes. These utility-scale projects are increasingly valued for their ability to provide dispatchable power through thermal energy storage, effectively stabilizing grids against renewable intermittency. China is currently spearheading this intensive infrastructure development, creating a massive pipeline for receiver tube procurement. According to the China Solar Thermal Alliance, in February 2025, there were 34 CSP projects actively under construction domestically, representing a total installed capacity of 3,300 MW. The momentum of this technology is further underscored globally; according to REN21, in 2024, a total of 350 MW of new CSP generation capacity was connected to the grid worldwide.

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Key Market Challenges

The rapid cost reduction of solar photovoltaic (PV) modules combined with the high efficiency of modern electric heat pumps presents a formidable economic barrier to the solar collector tube market. This technological convergence offers a highly versatile energy solution, allowing end-users to generate electricity for multiple applications—including heating, cooling, and appliances—rather than investing in single-purpose thermal infrastructure. Consequently, residential and commercial capital is increasingly diverted toward full electrification strategies, viewing the hydraulic complexity and singular utility of solar thermal installations as less financially attractive in the current low-cost PV environment.

This competitive displacement is quantified by recent industry performance metrics. According to the German Solar Association (BSW-Solar), in March 2025, the sector recorded a newly installed solar thermal capacity of approximately 141 MW for the year 2024. This figure represents a continued downward trend in a traditionally strong market, highlighting how the preference for photovoltaic-driven heating solutions is directly eroding the market share of traditional collector tube technologies.

Key Market Trends

The Emergence of Hybrid PV-Thermal (PVT) System Integration is fundamentally reshaping the market by combining electricity and thermal energy generation into a single collector unit, effectively addressing the competitive pressure from standalone photovoltaic panels. This trend allows end-users to maximize energy yield from limited roof space, offering a dual-output solution that competes more effectively with the electrification pathway than traditional thermal-only collectors. By co-generating power and heat, these advanced systems are gaining traction in residential and commercial sectors where surface area is a premium constraint. According to the IEA Solar Heating and Cooling Programme, June 2025, in the 'Solar Heat Worldwide 2025' report, the global industry installed 37.5 MW of new thermal capacity in hybrid PVT systems during 2024, reflecting a 13% increase in thermal output compared to the previous year.

The Adoption in Centralized Solar District Heating Networks is simultaneously accelerating as municipalities transition from fossil-fuel-based grids to renewable utility-scale thermal arrays. This trend represents a structural shift toward large-scale collector fields that supply consistent thermal energy to entire urban areas, moving the market focus beyond individual building installations. These networks increasingly incorporate seasonal storage capabilities to manage intermittency and decarbonize city-wide heating infrastructures. According to Solarthermalworld.org, June 2025, in the article 'Solar heat faces setbacks in buildings but industrial use and district heating expand', ten new large-scale solar district heating systems with a combined capacity of 74 MW were commissioned globally in 2024.

Segmental Insights

The Heat Pipe segment is identified as the fastest-growing category within the Global Solar Collector Tube Market, driven by its enhanced thermal conductivity and operational reliability. This technology utilizes a phase-change mechanism that facilitates rapid heat transfer and provides essential freeze protection, making it highly effective in regions with variable climates. Furthermore, the dry connection design allows for the replacement of individual tubes without draining the entire system, thereby reducing maintenance complexity and downtime. These technical advantages drive increasing adoption across residential and commercial sectors, aligning with broader industry shifts toward durable renewable heating infrastructure.

Regional Insights

North America commands the leading position in the Global Solar Collector Tube Market, underpinned by favorable government frameworks and robust investment in renewable infrastructure. The region’s dominance is fueled by the widespread integration of solar thermal systems for efficient water and space heating in the United States and Canada. Crucially, institutions like the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) actively propel market expansion through financial incentives and research initiatives aimed at decarbonization. This consistent regulatory encouragement, paired with a mature industrial base, sustains the region’s primary status in the global sector.

Recent Developments

• In February 2025, Vast Renewables announced the successful launch and completion of its proprietary concentrated solar thermal power receiver tower. Designed and manufactured in Australia, this component represented the final element of the company’s next-generation technology to be verified at operational scale. The receiver tower, which utilizes a modular design to capture and store solar energy as heat, was developed for deployment at the Port Augusta Green Energy Hub to support the production of green fuels. This product launch marked a significant milestone for the company’s utility-scale reference project, confirming the readiness of its specialized solar collector equipment for commercial application.
• In November 2024, GlassPoint signed a strategic collaboration agreement with Cox, a Spanish water and energy utility, to advance the deployment of industrial solar steam solutions. The partnership established the utility as a technological partner for the Ma’aden Technology Showcase in Saudi Arabia, which serves as the initial phase of a large-scale solar thermal initiative. Under this agreement, the companies committed to jointly executing the engineering and construction of the facility, which employs enclosed trough collectors to generate steam for decarbonizing aluminum production. The alliance also encompassed a shared pipeline of future projects, aiming to accelerate the adoption of solar thermal energy in hard-to-abate industrial sectors.
• In November 2024, Rioglass Solar achieved a research breakthrough when its absorber pipes were successfully validated for high-temperature operations as part of the SITEF project at the Plataforma Solar de Almería. The demonstration confirmed that the company's receiver tubes, operating in conjunction with a newly developed silicone-based heat transfer fluid, could function effectively at temperatures of up to 425 degrees Celsius. This validation proved that the components could withstand elevated thermal loads, enabling higher efficiencies and reduced electricity production costs in parabolic trough power plants. The successful pilot operation demonstrated the viability of these receiver tubes for permanent commercial use in advanced solar thermal applications.
• In November 2024, Absolicon Solar Collector commissioned a new solar thermal installation in Kenya designed to provide renewable heat for industrial operations. The project was implemented to help a local facility reduce its dependence on fossil fuels and wood for heating processes, thereby curbing carbon emissions and mitigating deforestation. The system featured the company's concentrating solar collectors, which utilize receiver tubes to generate high-temperature heat. This commissioning highlighted the company's expansion into the African market and demonstrated the effectiveness of its solar collector technology in addressing regional challenges related to energy costs and environmental sustainability.

Key Market Players

• Schott AG
• Apex Solar
• Sinosun Solar Energy Co., Ltd.
• Neo Solar Power Corp.
• SOLIMPEKS Solar Energy Corp.
• Hubei SunWonder New Energy Technology Co., Ltd.
• Jiangsu Sunrain Solar Energy Co., Ltd.
• SolarWinds Corporation US
• Alternate Energy Technologies
• Sunmaxx PVT GmbH

By Type	By End-User	By System Type	By Region
U-shaped Heat Pipe Evacuated Tubes Flat Plate Air Collectors Others	Residential Commercial Industrial Others	Thermosiphon Pumped Passive Tracking ICS Evacuated Tube Collectors	North America Europe Asia Pacific South America Middle East & Africa

Report Scope:

In this report, the Global Solar Collector Tube Market has been segmented into the following categories, in addition to the industry trends which have also been detailed below:

• Solar Collector Tube Market, By Type:

• U-shaped
• Heat Pipe
• Evacuated Tubes
• Flat Plate
• Air Collectors
• Others

• Solar Collector Tube Market, By End-User:

• Residential
• Commercial
• Industrial
• Others

• Solar Collector Tube Market, By System Type:

• Thermosiphon
• Pumped
• Passive
• Tracking
• ICS
• Evacuated Tube Collectors

• Solar Collector Tube Market, By Region:

• North America
• United States
• Canada
• Mexico
• Europe
• France
• United Kingdom
• Italy
• Germany
• Spain
• Asia Pacific
• China
• India
• Japan
• Australia
• South Korea
• South America
• Brazil
• Argentina
• Colombia
• Middle East & Africa
• South Africa
• Saudi Arabia
• UAE