webinar renewable energy session 3
DESCRIPTION
Topic: Solar PV (Photovoltaics)TRANSCRIPT
1© 2010 Macademia
Session # 3 – October 28, 2010
TODAY’S TOPIC:
Solar PV (Photovoltaics)
Concept and Contents Copyright Macademia 2010; Copyright on pictures as indicated; no unauthorized use or publication
Picture Copyright to Thermovolt France S.A.S., no further use allowed without permission
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What we will cover (in a nutshell)
• How PV developed
• The big issues in Photovoltaics
• Our expert’s view on the technology
• Your own experience with PV
Picture Copyright to Thermovolt France S.A.S., no further use allowed without permission
Session # 3 – October 28, 2010
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Your visiting scholar today:
Georg Reinartz M.A., Thermovolt, France
Picture Copyright to Thermovolt France S.A.S., no further use allowed without permission
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• History
• How the industry has developed
• Where are we now?
11 The background to PV
Our Schedule for Today
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• Silicon-based or Thin-Film
• Cost development
• Political Support / Solar Gold Rush
• Environmental aspects
212 The big topics in PV
Our Schedule for Today
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• Discussion with Georg Reinartz, Thermovolt
3 Ask the expert
4 What you should focus on
Our Schedule for Today
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Why Solar PV next? The European view
Source: German Ministry of the Environment, Erneuerbare Energien in Zahlen, June 2010
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The background to Wind Power
• History
- The relation between sunlight and electricity
- Bell Laboratories in the 1960s
- Origin in remote locations (extraterrestrial, off-
grid)
- The step towards on-grid solutions
11 The background to Solar PV
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Important steps in Solar PV technology
Becquerel Transistors
Diodes Bell Labs Silicon Cell
Timeline1839 1938 1948 1955
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Type of application depending on peak-capacity
Capacity Applications suitable
< 10 Watt
< 100 Watt
< 1 KW
> 100 KW
Calculators, Battery Chargers, Electrical Fences
Pumping systems (irrigation); desalination
Large Grid-connected systems
Traffic lights, parking meters
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Basic Facts on Solar PV
Topic Facts
Type of Cell
Efficiency
Location
Life span
Silicon-based and Thin-Film
Rooftop/ Building-integrated or Greenfield
25-30 yrs.; certain components less
Varying between 6 % - 35 %
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• How the industry developed
- Niche applications in the early days
- Important incentive programmes over several
decades
- The step to the retail markets
11 The background to Solar PV
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• How the industry developed
- Installed capacities depending on national
funding scheme
- Problematic relation between electricity
harvested per KW installed and installed capacity
(e.g. Germany vs. Spain)
11 The background to Solar PV
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• Where are we now?
• Very diverse picture across the world
• Boom in Spain until 2008 – when funding was reduced
• Largest capacity installed in Germany (9.7 GWp –
2009)
• Large potential for countries with high direct insulation
11 The background to Solar PV
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Example for a large-scale Solar PV installation
Merida, Spain
Thermovolt
31 MW installation
Completed 2008
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Typical Components of a Solar PV system
Project Components
Engineering / Development Costs
Inverter System
Cabling & Installation
PV Modules
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• Participant experience with Solar PV
– What have been positive or negative experiences with PV?
– How is the public perception of Photovoltaics in
your country/region?
– Are there current projects under development?
11 The background to Solar PV
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• Silicon-based or Thin-Film
- Required Space
- Cost of Components
- Waste
- Competition between the industries
212 The big topics in Solar PV
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• Pushing the costs downwards
- Downward trend continues:
1995 to 2010
- The influence of raw material costs (e.g. silicon)
212 The big topics in Solar PV
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• How solar irradiation level influences
competitiveness
- Northern Germany vs. Southern California
- 900 KWh per sqm/year vs. 1900 KWh per sqm/year
- Other factors: operating temperature, reflectivity,
share of diffuse light
2 The big topics in Solar PV
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Location and irradiation level crucial to economics
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• Cost competitiveness
- Best ratio if high solar irradiation combined with
daily peak power demand
- In addition to cell efficiency and material costs: BOS
- Inverters and Batteries with potential for
improvement
2 The big topics in Solar PV
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• Environmental aspects
- Energy payback time- The manufacturing process- Land use
2 The big topics in Solar PV
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The particular chance of building-integrated PV
Picture Copyright to Thermovolt France S.A.S., no further use allowed without permission
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• Future alliances
- Construction companies and PV producers- Producers of Cladding materials / PV industry- System synergies between utilities sector,
communication sector (smart grids), car companies
(e-mobility), et cetera
2 The big topics in Solar PV
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• Discussion with Georg Reinartz, Thermovolt
3213 Ask the expert
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• Main Developments in Funding Schemes
• Companies positioning thin-film v. silicon-
based
• Desertec-Initiative
214 What you should focus on
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4214 Results in a nutshell
• The advantages
– Decentralized solution– No operative emissions / noiseless– Especially interesting when compared with
retail electricity prices instead of stock market
electricity price
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4214 Results in a nutshell
• The disadvantages
- Cost: in most cases very expensive- Long energy payback time- Volatile on raw material prices (silicon)- Especially Thin-Film technologies with
recycling issue
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• Discuss Solar PV and its perspectives in the Forum
• Sketch the potential of Solar PV in your country/region
• Have a look at Renewables Funding Schemes in your
country – is there a controversy?
...and for next week, please:
Session # 3 – October 28, 2010