Ukrainian worker assembles a home made solar collector in Pogrebyshche village, about 200 km on Western-South of capital Kiev, 23 December 2011. Solar collectors consist of a dark flat-plate absorber of solar energy, a transparent cover that allows solar energy to pass through but reduces heat losses, a heat-transport fluid (air, antifreeze or water) to remove heat from the absorber, and a heat insulating backing. The absorber consists of a thin absorber sheet (of thermally stable polymers, aluminum, steel or copper, to which a matte black or selective coating is applied) often backed by a grid or coil of fluid tubing placed in an insulated casing with a glass or polycarbonate cover. In water heat panels, fluid is usually circulated through tubing to transfer heat from the absorber to an insulated water tank. PHOTO EPA ©EU/NEIGHBOURHOOD INFO CENTRE

Ukrainian worker assembles a home made solar collector in Pogrebyshche village, about 200 km on Western-South of capital Kiev, 23 December 2011. Solar collectors consist of a dark flat-plate absorber of solar energy, a transparent cover that allows solar energy to pass through but reduces heat losses, a heat-transport fluid (air, antifreeze or water) to remove heat from the absorber, and a heat insulating backing. The absorber consists of a thin absorber sheet (of thermally stable polymers, aluminum, steel or copper, to which a matte black or selective coating is applied) often backed by a grid or coil of fluid tubing placed in an insulated casing with a glass or polycarbonate cover. In water heat panels, fluid is usually circulated through tubing to transfer heat from the absorber to an insulated water tank. PHOTO EPA ©EU/NEIGHBOURHOOD INFO CENTRE

Ukrainian workers assemble the home made solar collector in Pogrebyshche village, about 200 km on Western-South of capital Kiev, 23 December 2011. Solar collectors consist of a dark flat-plate absorber of solar energy, a transparent cover that allows solar energy to pass through but reduces heat losses, a heat-transport fluid (air, antifreeze or water) to remove heat from the absorber, and a heat insulating backing. The absorber consists of a thin absorber sheet (of thermally stable polymers, aluminum, steel or copper, to which a matte black or selective coating is applied) often backed by a grid or coil of fluid tubing placed in an insulated casing with a glass or polycarbonate cover. In water heat panels, fluid is usually circulated through tubing to transfer heat from the absorber to an insulated water tank. PHOTO EPA ©EU/NEIGHBOURHOOD INFO CENTRE

Ukrainian worker assembles a home made solar collector in Pogrebyshche village, about 200 km on Western-South of capital Kiev, 23 December 2011. Solar collectors consist of a dark flat-plate absorber of solar energy, a transparent cover that allows solar energy to pass through but reduces heat losses, a heat-transport fluid (air, antifreeze or water) to remove heat from the absorber, and a heat insulating backing. The absorber consists of a thin absorber sheet (of thermally stable polymers, aluminum, steel or copper, to which a matte black or selective coating is applied) often backed by a grid or coil of fluid tubing placed in an insulated casing with a glass or polycarbonate cover. In water heat panels, fluid is usually circulated through tubing to transfer heat from the absorber to an insulated water tank. PHOTO EPA ©EU/NEIGHBOURHOOD INFO CENTRE

Ukrainian workers assemble a home made solar collector in Pogrebyshche village, about 200 km on Western-South of capital Kiev, 23 December 2011. Solar collectors consist of a dark flat-plate absorber of solar energy, a transparent cover that allows solar energy to pass through but reduces heat losses, a heat-transport fluid (air, antifreeze or water) to remove heat from the absorber, and a heat insulating backing. The absorber consists of a thin absorber sheet (of thermally stable polymers, aluminum, steel or copper, to which a matte black or selective coating is applied) often backed by a grid or coil of fluid tubing placed in an insulated casing with a glass or polycarbonate cover. In water heat panels, fluid is usually circulated through tubing to transfer heat from the absorber to an insulated water tank. PHOTO EPA ©EU/NEIGHBOURHOOD INFO CENTRE

Ukrainian workers assemble a home made solar collector in Pogrebyshche village, about 200 km on Western-South of capital Kiev, 23 December 2011. Solar collectors consist of a dark flat-plate absorber of solar energy, a transparent cover that allows solar energy to pass through but reduces heat losses, a heat-transport fluid (air, antifreeze or water) to remove heat from the absorber, and a heat insulating backing. The absorber consists of a thin absorber sheet (of thermally stable polymers, aluminum, steel or copper, to which a matte black or selective coating is applied) often backed by a grid or coil of fluid tubing placed in an insulated casing with a glass or polycarbonate cover. In water heat panels, fluid is usually circulated through tubing to transfer heat from the absorber to an insulated water tank. PHOTO EPA ©EU/NEIGHBOURHOOD INFO CENTRE

General view of the home made solar collector in Pogrebyshche village, about 200 km on Western-South of capital Kiev, 23 December 2011. Solar collectors consist of a dark flat-plate absorber of solar energy, a transparent cover that allows solar energy to pass through but reduces heat losses, a heat-transport fluid (air, antifreeze or water) to remove heat from the absorber, and a heat insulating backing. The absorber consists of a thin absorber sheet (of thermally stable polymers, aluminum, steel or copper, to which a matte black or selective coating is applied) often backed by a grid or coil of fluid tubing placed in an insulated casing with a glass or polycarbonate cover. In water heat panels, fluid is usually circulated through tubing to transfer heat from the absorber to an insulated water tank. PHOTO EPA ©EU/NEIGHBOURHOOD INFO CENTRE

Ukrainian workers assemble a home made solar collector in Pogrebyshche village, about 200 km on Western-South of capital Kiev, 23 December 2011. Solar collectors consist of a dark flat-plate absorber of solar energy, a transparent cover that allows solar energy to pass through but reduces heat losses, a heat-transport fluid (air, antifreeze or water) to remove heat from the absorber, and a heat insulating backing. The absorber consists of a thin absorber sheet (of thermally stable polymers, aluminum, steel or copper, to which a matte black or selective coating is applied) often backed by a grid or coil of fluid tubing placed in an insulated casing with a glass or polycarbonate cover. In water heat panels, fluid is usually circulated through tubing to transfer heat from the absorber to an insulated water tank. PHOTO EPA ©EU/NEIGHBOURHOOD INFO CENTRE

Ukrainian worker assembles a home made solar collector in Pogrebyshche village, about 200 km on Western-South of capital Kiev, 23 December 2011. Solar collectors consist of a dark flat-plate absorber of solar energy, a transparent cover that allows solar energy to pass through but reduces heat losses, a heat-transport fluid (air, antifreeze or water) to remove heat from the absorber, and a heat insulating backing. The absorber consists of a thin absorber sheet (of thermally stable polymers, aluminum, steel or copper, to which a matte black or selective coating is applied) often backed by a grid or coil of fluid tubing placed in an insulated casing with a glass or polycarbonate cover. In water heat panels, fluid is usually circulated through tubing to transfer heat from the absorber to an insulated water tank. PHOTO EPA ©EU/NEIGHBOURHOOD INFO CENTRE

Ukrainian workers mount the home made solar collector in Pogrebyshche village, about 200 km on Western-South of capital Kiev, 23 December 2011. Solar collectors consist of a dark flat-plate absorber of solar energy, a transparent cover that allows solar energy to pass through but reduces heat losses, a heat-transport fluid (air, antifreeze or water) to remove heat from the absorber, and a heat insulating backing. The absorber consists of a thin absorber sheet (of thermally stable polymers, aluminum, steel or copper, to which a matte black or selective coating is applied) often backed by a grid or coil of fluid tubing placed in an insulated casing with a glass or polycarbonate cover. In water heat panels, fluid is usually circulated through tubing to transfer heat from the absorber to an insulated water tank. PHOTO EPA ©EU/NEIGHBOURHOOD INFO CENTRE

Ukrainian workers assemble a home made solar collector in Pogrebyshche village, about 200 km on Western-South of capital Kiev, 23 December 2011. Solar collectors consist of a dark flat-plate absorber of solar energy, a transparent cover that allows solar energy to pass through but reduces heat losses, a heat-transport fluid (air, antifreeze or water) to remove heat from the absorber, and a heat insulating backing. The absorber consists of a thin absorber sheet (of thermally stable polymers, aluminum, steel or copper, to which a matte black or selective coating is applied) often backed by a grid or coil of fluid tubing placed in an insulated casing with a glass or polycarbonate cover. In water heat panels, fluid is usually circulated through tubing to transfer heat from the absorber to an insulated water tank. PHOTO EPA © EU/NEIGHBOURHOOD INFO CENTRE