ECREEE, as a member of the International Energy Agency (IEA) Solar Heating and Cooling (SHC) Programme, was invited to participate in the International Conference on Solar Heating and Cooling for Buildings and Industry (SHC 2012), and the 71^st Executive Committee Meeting of the IEA SHC Programme, which took place from 9–11 July and 12–13 July 2012 respectively.

The SHC Programme is one of the first collaborative research and development (R&D) programmes established by the IEA. Since 1977, its participants have conducted 49 joint projects in active and passive solar energy systems, for the building sector and for industry. The SHC Programme is the pre-eminent international collaborative programme in solar heating and cooling technologies and designs, with members from across the world representing 20 countries and the European Commission. ECREEE joined the programme as a member in 2012.

It is envisaged that ECREEE and the IEA SHC will cooperate in the area of knowledge sharing and strengthening awareness on the benefits of solar thermal systems for heating and cooling. ECREEE will be responsible for disseminating the latest knowledge in the region and providing useful country data to the IEA. It was agreed that West Africa would be included in the annual Global Solar Thermal Reports.

SHC 2012 is the first in a new series of annual scientific conferences to be organized by the IEA SHC Programme that specifically addresses solar thermal topics. Besides the presentation of results of on-going projects, the conference provided an opportunity for the international solar thermal community to highlight their various activities and accomplishments.

Taking part in these events provided an opportunity for ECREEE to promote its initiatives and share its programmes (including its planned programme on solar thermal), and targets with other institutions specialized in renewable energy and energy efficiency. The ECOWAS Renewable Energy Policy includes targets for the dissemination of solar thermal water heating systems, particularly in the tourism sector and industry.