|
Denmark PV technology status and prospects Flemming Kristensen, Energimidt, Denmark Peter Ahm, PA-Energy A/S, Denmark |
home
> annual reports
> annual report
2002 > |
Renewable energy technologies have high priority in the national Danish energy
plan, Energy 21. The goal is partly to reduce the emission of CO2 by 20 % before
year 2005 and partly to diversify the energy sector now being based on fossil
fuels. At present, about 12 % of the gross national energy consumption originates
from renewable energy sources; wind energy provides about 12 % of the national
electricity consumption. Energy 21 and its follow-up papers outline scenarios,
where i. a. photovoltaics (PV) may contribute to about 7-10 % of the national
electricity consumption of Denmark in year 2030. However, no specific goals for
PV deployment have yet been set, but this can be expected to change in the near
future, as public perception of building integrated PVs constantly increases.
It is expected that the preparatory work for a national PV strategy will be completed
mid 2003.
A special support programme for PV applications in the commercial sector, funded by the CO2 tax on electricity, was set up early 1998. The support includes a subsidy of up to 40 % for the turn-key costs. The calculation of the actual subsidy will be in favor of high yield installations. This programme has so far not been very successful, as the commercial sector seems to regard an incentive of 40 % as inadequate, and during 2002, no projects have been implemented using this support mechanism.
Net-metering for privately owned PV systems was established mid 1998 at the time, for a pilot-period of four years. Work is ongoing to make this system more permanent. In late 2002, the net-metering scheme was extended another four years until 2006. A small project has been launched to identify the best possible institutional arrangements around PV systems on multi-family buildings and housing. However, uncertainty about the net-metering scheme has delayed this project; it is now expected to be completed mid 2003.
In late 1999, the parliament allocated 30 MDKK for a new three-year programme, 2000 – 2002, to promote building integrated PVs in apartment buildings and institutions. The programme includes both development of new integration methods, new components and demonstrations. A small PV cell R&D activity is included as well, targeting PEC technology. By the end of 2001 six calls for proposals have been carried out resulting in 52 proposals of which 23 have received support corresponding to about 14 MDKK. The programme has created interest for PVs in Danish building industry, but programme funding was stopped primo 2002.
Efforts to establish a unified PV programme as a replacement for
the so far fragmented approach with separate, consecutive narrow-focused
programmes have been started, but no immediate results are expected.
[ Top ]
R&D on PV cell manufacturing (mono-X Si) has taken place at the Technical University of Denmark for about two decades. This R&D effort led to the establishment of the first Danish PV cell/module manufacturer in 1992. The company folded mid 1996 after a period in receivership, and is now reconstructed as a module assembling plant. R&D activities into PEC cells (Grätzel type cells) are ongoing at the Danish Institute of Technology. In 2002, this activity has been supported by the Public Service Obligation (PSO) of the Danish utilities.
At the Risoe National Laboratory, basic research into polymer based PV cells is ongoing, albeit on relative low funding.
In Mid-1995, the Photovoltaic System Laboratory (PVSyslab) was established in collaboration between Risoe National Laboratory and the Danish Institute of Technology. The main function of PVSyslab is to certify the quality of PV systems and to help industry develop better products, systems and recommended practices for design and installations. The PVSyslab, which is now integrated into the Solar Energy Centre Denmark, is active as group leader in the CENELEC & IEC TC 82 work and participates in the GAP initiative. The Solar Energy Centre Denmark has ongoing activities the field of technology cooperation with developing countries and is presently engaged in Nepal in setting up a local quality assurance scheme and laboratory.
Inverter technologies are being R&D' for both fuel cell and PV applications. Efficiencies of up to 98 % have been reported using transformer-less, highly integrated designs, and efforts to develop smaller units, about 2 kW and smaller, are ongoing.
Stimulated by the above mentioned three-year programme 2000-2002, which supports up to 40 % of R&D costs, Danish building industry has exhibited increasing interest in the integration of PV’s in existing and new building components, and a few new products have emerged.
[ Top ]
The SOL 1000 programme intends to demonstrate low cost and architecturally acceptable integration of PV technology primarily on existing single family houses and to increase end-user payment, this way preparing the introduction of a more commercial market. A secondary objective has been to disseminate information and experience on PV roof-top deployment to the Danish distribution utilities.
Several projects for building integrated PV systems including
commercial buildings, apartment buildings and schools have been
implemented, typically in the range of 2-15 kWp.
[ Top ]
The company Topsil, which uses a float-zone technique produces high purity Si
ingots for the semiconductor industry, announced in 2002 their intention of developing
a low-cost float-zone manufacturing technology. That would enable the company
to offer high purity Si to the PV industry. Initial efforts indicate that +20
% efficient cells based on the float zone Si may be competitive in the near future.
PV cell production stopped in Denmark in 1996. A single Danish module manufacturer (Gaia Solar) with an annual capacity of about 1 MWp per shift has existed since 1996. A few other companies producing tailor-made modules such as window-integrated PV cells can be found.
Some medium to large scale industrial corporations long established in the building industry, such as Velux Industries and Dansk Eternit, continue their R&D into how to integrate PVs in their main stream products. The products are currently under field tests in the context of demonstration projects. New companies are also exhibiting interest in this field.
There is no PV relevant battery manufacturing in Denmark at present.
A few companies develop and produce power electronics for PVs, mainly for stand-alone systems for the remote-professional market sector.
A number of companies are acting as PV system integrators, designing and supplying PV systems to the already competitive international market sector of remote stand-alone applications.
Consultant engineering companies specializing in PV application in developing countries report a slowly growing business area.
Total PV business volume is estimated to be about 10 MUSD in 2002 a reduction compared to 2001, mainly because of the Sol-300 project having finished and the SOL 1000 project having in reality only stated up ultimo 2002.
[ Top ]
Utility PSO (Public Service Obligation) support for PVs was first used in the Sol-300 project. The frame for PSO funding for PVs was about 10 MDKK in 2002.
The cumulative installed PV capacity in Denmark (including Greenland) was, by year end 2002, estimated to be about 1,5 MWp; in reality remaining unchanged when compared to 2001.
[ Top ]
The new government funds (110 MDKK) allocated to R&D into renewables are expected
to give a boost to the PV sector, as well.
The SOL 1000 project targeting building integrated PVs mainly on single family houses, but also addressing apartment houses and institutions is expected to lead to ongoing availability of government funds for PVs. Without funding and a clear public support to PVs, the sector will quickly diminish.
However, a demonstrated constant development towards commercial sustainability for PVs is seen as critical for continued support from the government and the utilities. Danish efforts to promote PVs have so far been rather fragmented, and there is now an understanding of the need to establish a more concerted effort in order to underpin and consolidate the growing but still very weak commercial PV sector. Preparatory efforts to establish a national strategy for PVs have been started early 2003.
[ Top ]