Finland
Photovoltaic technology status and prospects
Leena Grandell, Motiva Oy 		home > annual reports > annual report 2003 >
Last updated: 30 May 2004

General Framework

Fig. 1 - In 2003 a new office of Solpros, a consultant company working in the field of solar energy and environment, was opened. The building is a low energy house utilizing photovoltaic power and passive solar energy. The estimated need for purchased energy is 50 kWh/m2 annually. Photo Solpros, 2003 The photovoltaic sector in Finland is still fairly small, providing work to approximately less than 100 employees. The main actors consist of several companies (importers, retailers and consultant companies), a number of research institutes and two associations.

Within the government, the Ministry of Trade and Industry has the main responsibility for enhancing renewable energy sources, including photovoltaics. During 2001, a network called FSI, Finnish Solar Industries, was established consisting of companies and other entities. The purpose of the network is to enhance the opening of the PV markets through collaboration.

The Ministry of Trade and Industry launched an Action Plan for Renewable Energy Sources in 1999, in which focus is set on the domestic market development. The Action Plan is one crucial part of the National Climate Strategy, which has been formulated to achieve the goals of greenhouse gas reductions set for Finland by the Kyoto Protocol. During 2002, the Action Plan has been evaluated and revized.
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National Programme

The Action Plan for Renewable Energy Sources sets objectives for the volume of energy generated by renewable sources in the year 2010, and in addition, a prognosis on the development until 2025, is included. Even though the main emphasis of the Action Plan clearly lies on bioenergy, very ambitious goals are also set for solar energy, including photovoltaics. The objective for installed photovoltaic capacity in 2010 is 40 MWp; meaning a 20-fold increase when compared with the 1998 situation. The prognosis for 2025 is 500 MWp. Thus, the main emphasis in the coming decade is in creating the needed infrastructure (awareness, information dissemination, export, industrial activities) whereas volume effects are sought for later. The impact of photovoltaics on the total environmental effects of the Action Plan is assessed to be less than 1 % in 2010.

Examples of concrete actions during the coming years include, among others, a comprehensive information dissemination plan, changing of building requirements to account for solar energy, or various actions to help small scale electricity producers to enter the grid.
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Research and Development

A few institutes and companies are actively working on research and development of photovoltaics. The most important ones are the Helsinki University of Technology, Jyväskylä University and Fortum Ltd. Also, the Technical Research Centre of Finland and Rautaruukki Ltd. are active in the field.

Tekes, Technology Development Centre, administrates the public funds for photovoltaics. During 2003, funding was given mainly for the development of new materials, initiatives related to manufacturing technology, as well as performance optimization.

The Helsinki University of Technology and Jyväskylä University focus on dye sensitized solar cells. Here, the goal is to concentrate on manufacturing technology aspects with the aim of understanding factors critical to the performance of the cell and development of new manufacturing methods applicable to large scale production. Additionally, the Helsinki University of Technology is working on the ageing phenomenon of thin film solar cells (CdTe and CIS).
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Initiatives from government and utilities

Investment subsidies are granted for solar energy systems for up to 40 % of the expenses. The subsidies are given only to companies, organisations, enterprises, etc., and not to private individuals. Since 2003, subsidies for renovation sites are more focused on the energy system of the site, also including the change of the energy source towards renewable energies.

Various eco-labelling systems for energy exist on the market at the moment. Finland takes part in the European Renewable Energy Certificate System (RECS). Over ten utilities and other energy companies provide green electricity on the market, which is certified according to the RECS system.

Norppa eco-label is monitored by the Finnish Association for Nature Conservation. The utility can apply for the Norppa eco-label, if the electricity generation fullfills the needed criteria.

Helsinki Energy provides electricity generated by wind and old hydropower. The customer pays monthly, "ympäristöpenni," a so called environmental cent, for receiving green electricity. The funds are used for new projects enhancing green electricity generation.
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Industry Status

The Finnish PV market is characterised by some 10 importing companies with retailers. No domestic PV cell production exists but on the other hand, a number of companies are active in technology development of components and on system level. Thus, several innovations of Finnish companies are on the market.
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Market Development

The photovoltaic markets consist of three main segments:

The domestic markets are dominated by small solar home systems for vacation houses; representing approximately 90 % of annual sales. Building integrated applications is an increasing market segment. The most important demonstration installations over the last couple of years have been building integrated systems. Telecommunications base stations, weather stations or the some 20 larger stand alone hybrid systems operated by the Finnish Coast Guard, are examples of applications in remote areas.
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Further reading about Finland

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