General Framework
The reduction of emissions of greenhouse gases is an important target of all environmental policies in Germany. It is expected that photovoltaic (PV) may contribute to this target in the long term. Therefore, research, development and demonstration in the field of PV are supported from several sides, especially the Federal Government, the Federal States, local authorities and utilities.
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National Programme
Within the Federal Government the responsibility for applied energy research as well as the market introduction is with the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology (BMWi). Basis for the German PV Research, Development and Demonstration (R,D&D) is the 4th Programme on Energy Research and Energy Technology. Important parts of this programme, namely the development of techniques for an efficient use of energy and renewable energies are conducted by the Project Management Organisation PTJ.
In 2000 the support for R&D on PV amounted to about 37 MEUR shared by 108 projects in total. The distribution of the budget to the various sectors of R&D shows that public funding will be more concentrated on the long-term options and activities to create a technological basis for small and medium enterprises whereas industrial R&D is directed to shorter term achievements.
In January 1999 the so-called 100 000 Rooftops Solar Power Programme came into force. It is expected that with support of this programme approx. 300 MW will be installed until the end of 2003. In addition to this programme the new Renewable Energy Law guaranteeing a feed in tariff of 99 DPf/kWh (0,56 EUR/kWh) for PV works.
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Research and Development, Demonstration
With a time horizon of ten years a so-called Way Paving Programme Photovoltaic 2005 has been formulated in the 4th energy R,D&D Programme with three main goals:
- Cost reduction for PV-cells and modules by decreasing production costs and by increasing cell and module efficiencies.
- Cost reduction, technical optimization and removal of other obstacles preventing the use of PV in different types of buildings.
- PV for decentralized, grid-independent electricity supply.
Today PV plays an important role in the manufacture of high technology products where either the costs of producing electricity are negligible or where a grid-independent source of power results in major advantages. While these are still niche markets at present, a growing number of small and medium enterprises are active in this field. Funding is available in this area under the concept "PV for Devices and Small-scale Systems".
Following, selected topics of important R&D-activities in Germany are described.
- Crystalline Silicon
Crystalline silicon is still the most important material for manufacturing solar cells. After supporting the pilot production plants of ASE GmbH, Alzenau, and Shell Solar GmbH, Gelsenkirchen, now the emphasis is put onto efficient manufacturing techniques. In 2000 new R&D activities are focused on:
- solar grade silicon,
- an improved crystal growth concept for multi crystalline silicon and
- an innovative transport system for solar cell production lines.
The aim is to strengthen technological oriented small and medium sized companies and by this to create a productive supply industry.
- Thin Film Technologies
Thin Film Technologies have the potential to combine low material and energy consumption with simple process technologies resulting in a cost-effective large area production. Today, several materials are used and a lot of cell concepts with different maturity are existing (see Table 1).
- System Technology
Beside the ongoing development of PV powered devices and small-scale systems like a Solar Home System tester or a LED lightning system the evaluation of PV-systems is a topic of interest. The corresponding activities to the latter are partly carried out under Task 2 of the IEA PVPS Programme.
- Demonstration
Today, the Renewable Energy Law together with the 100 000 Rooftops Solar Power Programme is the driving force for the development of the German PV market. Consequently demonstration projects play a minor role within the current R,D&D-programme.
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Table 1. PV cell technologies and R&D activities with federal support
| Technology |
New R&D activities with federal support |
| Currently amorphous Silicon (a-Si) has the highest technological maturity. In Putzbrunn the company ASE GmbH is running a small production line of a-Si |
TCO layers (transparent conducting oxide) |
| Thin Film Solar Cells on basis of CuInSe2 (CIS) have been developed in Germany for 20 years. Based on the work of the University of Stuttgart and the Zentrum für Sonnenenergie und Wasserstoff-Forschung (ZSW). Würth Solar GmbH&Co. KG is now building a first pilot production line |
Development of efficient deposition techniques |
| Antec Solar is constructing a Cadmium Telluride (CdTe) pilot plant in Rudisleben, State of Thuringia |
Support of a further improvement of the production process |
| A very promising technique seems to be the crystalline Si thin film cell |
Joint R&D project to develop efficient deposition techniques on large substrates |
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Implementation
In the last years Germany has executed important programmes in the field of PV which have triggered remarkable results in market development and technology progress. Complementary to the R,D&D- programme new PV-funding sources with growing importance mainly in the area of market introduction have been established recently:
- The "Electricity Feed Law" introduced in 1991 was substituted by the "Renewable Energy Law" in April 2000. The new law rules the input and favourable payment of electricity from renewable energies by the utilities. For PV systems built before the end of 2001 a feed in tariff of 99 DPf/kWh (0,56 EUR/kWh) will be paid.
- In January 1999 the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology (BMWi) started the "100 000 Rooftops Solar Power Programme". Until December 2000 almost 18 000 applications were received and a PV capacity of 49,1 MWp was granted (see Figure 1). The programme is a soft loan programme (current rate of interest 1,9% per year) and will last until 2003. Applications can be filed by small and medium enterprises as well as by individuals. The BMWi offered a budget of approx. 460 MEUR for the whole period of this programme.
- Moreover, the BMWi supports the application of renewable energies (solar-thermal, geothermal, biomass etc.) with soft loans or subsidies. The PV initiative "Sun at School" is part of this programme.
- The Federal States (Länder) have defined their own programmes, mainly to support the application of renewable energy and energy conservation.
- The Federal German Environmental Foundation (DBU, established in 1990) supports development and demonstration in the field of renewable energy sources and energy conservation.
- A number of utilities have launched initiatives to build PV-demonstration and pilot systems or to provide advice and information. In a growing number of cases, financial support for the rational use of energy and for renewable energies is provided.
- Cost-effective payments for every kilowatt-hour of energy fed into the public grid from PV and other renewable energy systems is offered by some utilities belonging to cities and communities.
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Industry Status
During the last years a certain industrial infrastructure has been created with the main focus on crystalline Silicon technologies. But like everywhere the PV market still strongly depends on governmental support.
The main focus of future activities is to achieve a closer collaboration between research institutes, PV-industry and new industrial partners, especially small and medium enterprises.
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Market Development Incentives
The programmes described above have accelerated the installation of PV-systems in Germany significantly (Figure 2). Following a first estimate there could be roughly 100 MWp on the grid at the end of 2000. Moreover, it is expected that this capacity will increase steadily within the next years due to the 100 000 Rooftops Solar Power Programme together with the Renewable Energy Law.
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Future Outlook
Following the guidelines of the 100 000 Rooftops Solar Power Programme for the coming years the installed grid-connected PV capacity is expected to increase notably (see Figure 1):
- 2001 +65 MWp
- 2002 +80 MWp
- 2003 +95 MWp
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Further reading about Germany
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