Technology Status - NET Nowak Energie & Technologie AG

This is seen most often in Japan, although it is now entering the US and
European markets. Significant programmes to encourage BiPV include
the 100,000 Roofs Programme and favourable feed-in tariff rates in
Germany; the 70,000 Roofs Programme in Japan; and the One Million Solar
Roofs Initiative in the US. One of the most successful policy supports has
been the establishment of “net metering” rules in the US, where PV on
rooftops can feed into, or draw out of, the utility distribution network for
the same cost. Thus cost competitiveness of PV can be measured on the
basis of the retail cost of electricity, instead of the wholesale cost of
electricity.
The advantages of BiPV are: a) the built environment can be used in a
multifunctional way, b) distribution losses are reduced because the system is
installed at the point of use, c) no extra land is required for the PV system, d)
installation costs can be reduced if the system is incorporated within the
structure, e) energy storage is not required and f) BiPV building materials can
already compete with costly façade materials like marble.
Stand-alone PV systems (mainly industrial) are also becoming more
versatile. They can supply energy competitively for a great variety of remote
applications as well as for modern infrastructure-related applications, such
as telecommunications. Developing countries also offer many opportunities
for PV in rural areas – for example, applications for water pumping,
communications, solar home systems and micro-grids.
Consumer applications from calculators to mobile telephones can be solarpowered,
as PV for this use remains the practical and low-cost option. A
profitable market for the industry already exists.
Most experience curves for PV tend to have progress ratios around 80 - 82%,
which translates to a learning rate of 18 - 20% for each doubling of volume.
It can be anticipated that PV continues to show a relatively high learning rate
thanks to its technological potential with respect to further enhancing
materials, system design and manufacturing processes. As with other
industries, this rate may decrease in the future as volumes increase and
technologies mature.
Experience curve analysis shows that a large cost reduction opportunity, in
relative terms, exists. Compared to wholesale electricity, however, PV power
will remain comparatively expensive over the next two decades except where
the solar resource is particularly strong.
3
SOLAR PHOTOVOLTAIC POWER
69