United Kingdom, Photovoltaic technology status and prospects - Contribution to the Annual report 2004

United Kingdom
Photovoltaic technology status and prospects
Kathryn Newell
Emerging energy technologies Team, Department of Trade and Industry

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General Framework

Fig. 1 - 51 KW installation at Cotswold Water Park (photo BP Solar).

The Department of Trade & Industry is the lead Department on matters of UK energy policy. To ensure that energy policy is coordinated with other Departmental interests such as climate change, transport and planning, the implementation of UK energy policy is delivered by a Sustainable Energy Policy Network which includes representatives from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and the Department of Transport.

The Government published an Energy White Paper in February 2003 “Our energy future - creating a low carbon economy.” The White Paper sets out the long term strategy for the UK's energy policy based on the four pillars of the environment, energy reliability, and affordable energy for the poorest and competitive markets for businesses.

The Renewables Obligation (RO) forms the main element of the Government's strategy for renewables deployment. It was designed to enable the UK to make progress towards its target of generating 10 % of its electricity from renewable energy sources covered by the Obligation by 2010. The Government also has an aspiration to reach 20 % of electricity from renewables in the UK by 2020. The RO began in 2002 and sets out targets for electricity suppliers to source an increasing amount of their electricity from renewable resources. Renewables Obligation Certificates, or ROCs, are awarded to suppliers using renewable sources. ROCs can be traded between suppliers to make up any shortfall.

A review of the Renewables Obligation will take place in 2005, with the aim of strengthening the development of electricity generation capacity using renewable energy sources. Consultation prior to this review took place in 2004 and measures to be introduced by the review were published in November 2004. The main measures outlined are to:

Extend the level of the Renewables Obligation beyond 2010/11 to 2015/16;
Allow tradeability between Northern Ireland Renewables Obligation Certificates (NIROCs) and Great Britain ROCs;
Introduce measures that will further secure the buy-out fund in the event of a shortfall occurring;
Introduce more flexibility for small generators.

Other initiatives which supplement the RO are described below. The Renewables Innovation Review was published in February 2004 and identified:

the key renewable technologies for the delivery of the UK targets and aspirations for renewables.
the barriers to the development and deployment of the key renewable technologies;
the most cost effective Government measures to facilitate delivery of the UK targets.

The Review can be found at: http://www.dti.gov.uk/energy/renewables/policy/renewables_innovation_review.shtml.

The International Energy Strategy was launched in October 2004, and states that the UK Government will tackle climate change and curb carbon emissions and diversify the energy mix to lessen our dependence on fossil fuels.
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National Programme

Fig. 2 - Two 5 kW installations at St Mary's Island Community Centre and Doctors Surgery (photo SEI).

The UK's National Programme for photovoltaics consists of the following elements:

Research and development, under the DTI's Technology Programme and various programmes of the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)
Field trials and demonstrations, under DTI programmes
Participation in international programmes (EC and IEA)

The overall goal is to develop the capabilities of industry and to encourage sustainable growth in the market by removing barriers to the deployment of PV.

The renewables innovation review, described in the section above concluded that with current technology, solar PV installation is expensive under UK conditions. It recommended that research should focus on 3rd generation PV, and collaborative efforts with nations with complementary capabilities. Future grant funding for PV should come through a technology blind programme to support building integrated renewables and energy efficiency technologies.
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Research, Development and Demonstration

Research funded by the EPSRC may be dedicated specifically to photovoltaic research, or may support more general research which may result in advances in photovoltaics as well as in other adjacent areas. The area of research is changing. Research effort is moving slowly away from traditional silicon based materials toward new organic polymer based systems and micro/nano structured devices, as well as exotic new materials such as semiconductor quantum dots and copper indium diselenide. EPSRC supports a major strategic initiative in photovoltaics, namely Supergen - PV Materials for the 21st Century, and another consortium on next generation cell technologies.

The PV elements of the DTI R&D programme concentrate mainly on cost reduction. The main emphasis is on new, leading edge cell technology and manufacturing, and also on improving the costeffectiveness of balance of systems components. The DTI is working with a number of industrial partners to pursue these objectives. This includes basic research into low cost dye-sensitised solid state plastic encapsulated solar cells, and a project working to produce low cost thin film polysilicon solar cells.

Since 2000 there have been three PV field trial and demonstration programmes in the UK:

The Domestic Field Trial (DFT) which ran in two phases between 2000 and 2003. The DFT aimed to use the design, construction and monitoring of the installations as a learning opportunity for utilities, building developers and other key players. A total of 660 kW was installed by the end of 2003, the majority of which is on social or mixed housing. Monitoring of the systems is being carried out to assess performance over the two years following commissioning.
Large Scale Building Integrated PV Trial (LSBIPV): Since 2001 4,2 MGBP funding has been made available for 18 projects totalling almost 1,15 MW on public buildings across the UK. The objectives of the programme include raising awareness of the technology and of creating confidence in the application of PV as well as increasing UK capabilities in the application of PV. All the designs are for true building integrated systems. 8 of the 18 projects were completed by the end of 2003.
The PV Major Demonstration Programme (MDP): In 2002 20 MGBP was made available for the three-year programme. A further 11 MGBP additional funding was announced during 2004 to enable the scheme to run until 2006. The scheme, administered on DTI's behalf by the Energy Savings Trust, comprises two application streams:
- Stream One - individual or small-scale applications (systems from 500 W to 5 kW) are dealt with on a rolling basis.
- Stream Two - medium or large-scale company or group applications of between 5 kW and 100 kW are dealt with quarterly by a competitive call process.
Grants are available for both on and off-grid applications (since June 2003) and are eligible for modules, inverters and installation but not batteries or complex charge controllers. Subsidy levels are on average 50 % and for small scale applications are subject to a maximum amount per kW. All grant applications require the use of approved products and accredited installers and designers.

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Implementation

Fig. 3 - PV installer training as part of the nationally recognized course (photo IT Power).

The three UK funding programmes described above accounted for approximately 66 % of the total installations (in kW) during 2003. The majority of this came under the MDP which during 2003 funded 172 small scale (<5kW) projects totalling 337 kW and 16 large scale projects (>5 kW) totalling 503 kW. The total figures for 2004 are expected to be much higher following the approval of 261 small scale and 67 large scale applications during 2003.

The MDP has put in place an installer accreditation scheme to ensure the quality of installations which are receiving grant funding. The first nationally recognized course to train practising electricians to install PV has now been successfully piloted in four colleges across the UK. Course 2372 'Certificate in Installation and Testing of Domestic Photovoltaic Systems', developed by IT Power, in association with CREST (University of Loughborough), TNEI and ISPQ Europe, gained City & Guilds accreditation in February 2004. The course is recognized by the Solar PV Grants Scheme and is part of a new route to becoming an accredited installer under the grants Scheme.

The process for obtaining network connection for small PV systems has been simplified and improved. Network connection guidelines (G83/1) have been put in place following consultation involving the PV industry and utilities, and DNOs do not now require prior inspection of network connections for systems less than 3,7 kW. Planning Policy Statement 22 replaced Planning Policy Guidance note (PPG)22 in 2004 and sets out the Government's planning policies for renewable energy in England, which planning authorities should have regard to when preparing local development documents and when taking planning decisions. A companion guide, which is still to be published, will include technical guidance on PV.
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Industry Status

Fig. 4 - 85 kW CIS 'solar wall' in Denbighshire, North Wales -the world's largest single CIS PV installation (photo EETS).

ICP Solar Technologies UK Ltd (ICP UK), which manufactures thin-film amorphous silicon cells and modules at its factory in South Wales, increased its annual production capacity from 3,0 MW in 2002 to 3,5 MW in 2003. Currently 95 % of the company's production is exported, 65 % of which to North America, 25 % to Europe and 10 % to Africa. The UK's largest employer in the PV sector is Crystallox which produces multi-crystalline silicon ingots saw continued growth in its total annual production capacity. July 2004 saw the opening of Sharp's new 20 MW capacity PV module manufacturing facility in Wrexham (which already has plans to expand to 40MW) and Romag, a specialist glass manufacturer started production at its new 6 MW lamination facility in Consett, County Durham. It facility uses BP Solar PV cells in the manufacture of semi transparent crystalline PV laminate
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Market Development

The cumulative installed PV generation capacity increased by 43 % during 2003 to reach 5,9 MW. Much of this increase is due to the rapid expansion of the grid-connected market, accounting for 92 % of the 2003 installations.
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Future Outlook

Fig. 5 - Cumulative Installed PV Power in the United Kingdom
(1992-2003).

Further installations under the Major Demonstration Programme will facilitate a continued healthy rate of grid-connected PV installation until 2007. The proposed technology-blind building integrated renewables capital grants scheme will continue to provide opportunities for support for the PV sector. In particular, it may continue to stimulate Building Integrated PV, which seems to offer somewhat better prospects than bolt-on solar PV technology for long-term UK benefit.

The future development of the sector is also dependent upon the performance of existing manufacturers, installers and suppliers. Current programmes are addressing the need for well-qualified technicians and the participation of players from the building and planning sectors so it is important that the UK PV industry delivers quality products and services when required.
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