7th BMBF Forum for Sustainability

Research for Sustainability - International
2 - 4 November 2010, axica, Berlin

Session

B Energy and Climate

B5 Photovoltaics - Abundant Electricity from the Sun

got to Session Results

Date: 03/11/2010
Time: 16:30 - 18:00
Location: Auditorium

Language: English

The session will provide a comprehensive overview of current developments in photovoltaics (PV), the conversion of sunlight directly into electricity In the first block “Can photovoltaics fulfil its promises?” (the answer is “yes”!), experts will present the existing technologies and their respective advantages and disadvantages. The technologies introduced are crystalline silicon and thin-film PV. After these more technical aspects of how PV works, the second block “Setting the agenda for solar power” will look into questions regarding market and energy politics. Does Germany have a future as a production site? Do research & development play a large enough role? What is needed from politics? These are only some of the questions that we will talk about. In the final, third block “Politics and market”, experts from science, industry and politics will discuss the issues which have come up in blocks one and two. Participants can ask questions and take part in this final discussion.

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Session Moderation

Hoehner , Markus A.W.
EuPD Research, Germany

Presentations

Silicon wafer based technology: An efficient and reliable concept with high potential for further improvement
Aulich , Hubert
Solarvalley, Germany

Market and Technology Potential for Thin-Film Solar Energy
Schlatmann, Rutger
PVcomB, Helmholtz Centre Berlin , Germany

SET for 2020 - Implementation of Photovoltaics into a future European concept for electricity supply
Jäger-Waldau, Arnulf
EC DG JRC, Germany

Solar electricity for the power grid – Assignments for politics and industry
Ernst, Willi
Centrosolar Group, Germany

Session Results

Research priority areas for the foreseeable future

• Photovoltaics can´t be seen detached from the implementation of the other renewable resources, there is a need for complementary enforcement of the different energies and a holistic approach in general
• Existing technologies need to be implemented in production with further improvements in competitiveness and marketability
• Improving the multifunctionality of photovoltaic technology, f.e. BIPV with the potential functions: weather, shadowing, insulation, light, heating, electricity, aesthetic; thus BIPV can help the solar and the construction sector as well

Necessary framework conditions to foster international cooperation for sustainable development

• Faster implementation and solar electricity into the grid with a pan-European and holistic approach – challenge for policy and industry
• Strict directives for the energy industry and promotion of all renewable energies and the transfer towards decarburized energy industry
• Bureaucratic obstacles have to be removed, stable and constant rules for the support of renewable energies have to be be forced instead

Other important issues or topics discussed during the session

• Energy generation & consumption have to be harmonised
• Supply-oriented consumption control and load transfer
• Solar mobility as part of smart grids
• Smart power grids (also in the building-management), reduce storage costs, and corresponding switching of the devices
• More understanding of the mode of action of the different renewable energies and their feedbacks, that means an integrated energy concept
• Transition scenario of the existing “classical” feeding with consideration of the grid parities, building efficiency and the carbon footprint discussion
• Open the grids for renewable energies, decentral power generation also rests the grid expansion
• Power-feed and consumption are fluctuating, this is a starting point for the coupling  of yet existing elements, interconnecting the different producers and network stabilizing energies
• Tasks for the solar energy sector: cost reduction & efficiency, bringing more functions to PV, concepts & products for BIPV, solar mobility and intelligent grids

Organisation

Christian Schalldach
Solar Valley GmbH Marketing & Kommunikation
Konrad-Zuse-Str. 14
99099 Erfurt
0361-42768-48
ch.schalldach@solarvalley.org

Erik Zürn
Helmoltz Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie GmbH PVcomB
Schwarzschildstr. 3
12489 Berlin
030-6392-5677
Erik.zuern@helmholtz-berlin.de