Technology Status - NET Nowak Energie & Technologie AG

chemistry. Such developments – ultimately aimed at imitating
photosynthesis artificially – are likely to be characterized by ever closer
relationships among different scientific disciplines (e.g. physics, chemistry,
etc.). The challenge will be to develop such devices with high conversion
efficiencies and long-term stability in order to match the expected life-time of
25 years and more.
● Non-technical Issues
A number of non-technical issues can greatly affect the potential cost
reduction and market growth of PV. For example, through partnerships and
networking, synergies could be developed to bring different skills together
for R&D, manufacturing and marketing. Mainstream industries such as glass,
display manufacturing, and the building and electronics sectors have
complementary skills from which PV can benefit. These synergies would
become more important as market volume increases.
PV offers many environmental benefits, but some consider that PV inherits
emissions from its consumption of grid electricity generated by fossil-fuels.
This drawback can be reduced by using less energy in the manufacturing
process. A key future goal should be to decrease the energy payback time, in
order to reduce the pollution from fossil plants providing the electricity for
cell and module production.
Standards and codes help create confidence and better handling of PV
products. Quality assurance is important and continued market observations
as well as professional education are needed. Planning and connection
restrictions should be avoided and regulations should favour the integration
of PV in the built environment.
There is still a lack of information and understanding of PV technology in
electric utilities, the building industry and finance sector. Best practices
should be communicated, appropriate applications should be promoted and
sector-specific marketing strategies developed. PV should be an integral part
of the energy portfolio and building and urban planning. Dissemination
activities should convey the added values of PV and the specific issues to be
addressed.
As with any other relatively new technology, and particularly for applications
that require sizeable early investment, appropriate financing solutions need
to be developed. Confidence-building in the finance sector is crucial to
increase investment volumes.
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