Promoting renewable energies - RETS Project

Solar Photovoltaic Technology
Introduction
Photovoltaic (PV) systems are silicon-based, solar
energy to electricity converters. Overall performance
depends on many factors including latitude, angle of
collector, time of day and month, shading, climatic
conditions and system conversion efficiency. The device
produces direct current (DC) and electronic conversion to
alternating current (AC) is facilitated by a device known
as an inverter.
Employment, market development and generating
capacity
The total cumulative installed capacity to date (2010)
across Europe was reported as being in excess of 29,000
MW peak with capacity leaders being Germany, Spain and
Italy. The market development of this technology has
been very much linked with the adoption of national
renewable energy feed-in tariffs.
It is estimated that employment linked with the
manufacture and deployment of this technology across
the EU is in excess of 268,000. In general countries at
the top of the installed capacity league
table have mirrored the technological
roll-out with jobs.
The market is valued at approximately
€45,500 million.
PV panels in Weinbourg, France
EU resource assessment
The potential for energy capture varies with latitude
across the EU. For most countries with northerly
latitudes, 1 kW peak of installed PV will produce around
740 kWhe per year whilst for countries with more
southern latitudes this could increase to over 1,400 kWh e
per year.
The EU commission’s forecast suggests that PV could
provide 12% of European electricity demand by 2020.
European countries with high solar irradiation and high
electricity prices e.g. Spain, Italy are expected to have
PV cost of electricity production at ‘grid parity’ by 2012
and most other EU countries by 2020.
Research, development and demonstration in the EU
The key areas for PV research are:
Improvements in efficiency and material
intensities in current crystalline PV technologies;
Improvements in efficiency and lifespan of thin
film PV technologies;
Development of third generation ultra-high
efficiency, low cost novel technologies;
New methods of grid management e.g. advanced
communications and condition monitoring, to
allow high levels of PV power in the system;
Reducing ‘balance of system’ i.e. inverter,
controller, isolator etc. costs.
RETS Compendium – © 2012 RETS Consortium
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