General Framework

The new organization called ENOVA is responsible for financing and demonstrating how renewables can take part in the energy picture in Norway. ENOVA does not set PV (the sun) as an important energy source and the financial support is still negligible.

“PV Nord” is an EU project. Its objective is to demonstrate and evaluate PVIB (PV In Buildings) in northern countries (Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland) So far 8 projects in total are launched. At least one reference project will be built in Norway (possibly 2-3). The first building picked out is a psychiatric hospital in Vest Agder (Southern part of Norway) The PV installation is typically 5 kW. The project started in 2002 and will continue until 2004. Results will be ready for harvesting in 2003. The Norwegian consulting company, KanEnergi (www.kanenergi.no), is responsible for the work on financing and ownership. Reference: www.pvnord.org
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National Programme

The programme called “From Sand to Solar Cells” is coming to term but will be prolonged by a new programme co-financed by industry and the Research Council, hopefully involving more players.
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Research and Development

• NTNU (Norwegian University of Science and Technology) Trondheim: 3 PhD studies. Focusing on silicon feedstock, refining and crystallisation. Supporting Scan Wafer and Elkem Building Integrated PV (BIPV) supporting Norwegian Research Council, EU, Hydro, British Petroleum and SollEnergy;
• Agder College: 2 PhD on silicon in co-operation with Oslo University supporting Elkem;
• IFE (Institute of Energy Technology): pilot line for sales cells recently acquired and installed. Supporting industry (Scan Cell and others) 3 PhD students working on solar cell processing.

IFE is involved in a project called: ”Market Potential Analysis for the Introduction of Hydrogen Energy Systems in Stand Alone Power Systems". The project is working to establish realistic market development projections for hydrogen and fuel cell technologies in small to medium sized remote power applications.

A large number of stand alone power systems (SAPS) is installed throughout Europe. These systems provide power to technical installations and communities in areas, which are not connected to the regional or national power grid. An increasing number of SAPSs include renewable energy technologies, i.e. solar or wind power, most often in combination with diesel generators and/or batteries for backup power, but the majority of larger SAPS are still based on fossil fuel power generation. Replacing diesel generators and batteries in SAPS by fuel cells running on locally produced hydrogen would diminish fossil fuel dependence, improve environmental standards, and possibly reduce operation and maintenance costs. The fuel cell technology is developing fast and the SAPS market is believed to be a market segment where this new technology can be competitive in the near future.

The project will first of all establish a broad understanding of the technical and economical market potential for hydrogen SAPS based on local renewable energy sources. This will be a base for industry and governments for promoting new technologies in the existing SAPS market. Secondly, one will identify and quantify the technological and practical issues relevant for the HSAPS market and draw the attention of related industry towards solving problems related to component integration and the needs of the user market. Thirdly, the project will identify the legal, regulatory and administrative hurdles for the HSAPS market development and draw the attention of authorities towards amending such problems. Finally, the project will propose a demo-project plan for H-SAPS installations based on the scientific results obtained during the project. References are available at: http://hsaps.ife.no/
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Implementation

• Prototype Solar Façade – The Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
  A prototype solar façade system has been constructed on an existing building at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Trondheim, Norway. This type of façade produces both electricity and heat and is suitable for existing and new buildings. This 5 MNOK project with SINTEF and NTNU was started in 1997 to develop novel use of BP Solar technology in a building application. The 455 m double façade has a 16 kW integrated PV system for heat and electricity.

  The system is based on a combination of a double skin façade and building integrated PV façade cladding, where the PV cells are integrated in the outer glass skin. The cells are laminated in glass, and placed in façade sections that are not in front of the ordinary windows. The performance characteristics of the two combined façade concepts are complementary; the systems help each other if controlled properly.

  The prototype façade has been financed mainly by BP Norway and developed in cooperation with BP Solar. It has been monitored for a year with satisfactory results. The PV system generated 6 600 kWh this year, and the heating demand for the building behind the new façade was reduced by 7-8 %. The offices on the top floor of the building experienced summer periods of overheating, but a revision of the control strategy for the double façade cavity venting is expected to reduce this problem. References are available at: annegrete.hestnes@ark.ntnu.no

• Demonstration of PV cells on Kvernhuset Junior High School in Fredrikstad, Norway
  Kvernhuset Junior High School, completed in January 2003, places special emphasis on using the building as an active element in learning. The school is divided into 3 thematic sections; a “green” section that demonstrates ecological issues such as growth; trees, plants and recycling of materials, a “blue” section that demonstrates the water cycle; use of water, and so on, and a “yellow” section that demonstrates the sun and solar energy. The PV system is placed on the south façade of the yellow section, see illustration.

  The PV system consists of 6 glass modules from Saint-Gobain Glass Solar with crystalline cells from Kyocera. Each module has a peak power of 120 Wp. The glass modules consist of a 6 mm glass, 2 mm cell gap, another 6 mm glass, a 12 mm argon filled space and a 10 mm low-e coated glass.

  The PV system will be used by the students when learning about solar energy. The system will be connected to a monitoring system as well as PC-based calculation programs, which the students will use in their work.

Industry Status and Competence

• Scan Wafer is building plant nr. 3 in south of Norway (Porsgrunn), with a 60-70 MW capacity. The plan goes according to schedule. Commissioning and up-start are planned for the second quarter of 2003.

• Scan Cell has started production of solar cells based on multicrystalline silicon wafers in November 2002. Location: Narvik. Capacity 6-8 MW for the first line.

• Silicon carbide (SiC), abrasive used for wire-sawing wafers is mass-produced at 3 plants in Norway (Orkla Exolon, Saint-Gobain Ceramics at Lillesand and Arendal).

• Elkem is making progress on its silicon feedstock. (for more information, contact Elkem ASA Solar).

• Renewable Energy Corporation AS has finalized a joint venture agreement with Komatsu (Japan) and ASiMI (a US Komatsu’s subsidiary) to produce and develop silicon feedstock to the solar cells industry. See the press release at: www.komatsu.com or www.asimi.com or www.rec-pv.com

Target audience and communication strategy

The National Target Audience is comprised of:

• Utility Companies
• System Retailers
• Industry
• R&D Sector
• Engineering and Consultant Companies
• NGO, Political Sectors

The first Annual Seminar was held on 31 January 2002 and was attended by approximately 30 participants (on invitation only). Mr Stefan Nowak, IEA  PVPS Chairman, opened the workshop with a presentation on the IEA  PVPS programme. The National Team will follow up on the recommendations presented by the National Target Audience.
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Further reading about Norway

• Norway - Country information