IEA INTERNATIONAL ENERGY AGENCY PHOTOVOLTAIC POWER SYSTEMS PROGRAMME annual report 2008 IMPLEMENTING AGREEMENT ON PHOTOVOLTAIC POWER SYSTEMS PVPS P HOTOVOLTAIC P OWER S YSTEMS P ROGRAMME ANNUAL REPORT 2008 PREFACE 3 CHAIRMAN'S MESSAGE Welcome to the 2008 Annual Report of the IEA Photovoltaic Power Systems Programme. 2008 has been another remarkable year for photovoltaics. The awareness about the potential role of photovoltaics in the future energy supply has clearly increased among various public and private organisations. A landmark in this direction has been the publication of the IEA Energy Technology Perspectives (ETP) in June 2008. The message from ETP 2008 is very clear: What is needed in order to meet the challenges the world is facing is nothing less than a global revolution in ways that energy is supplied and used. ETP 2008 provides an analysis of different scenarios how the energy sector will need to be transformed over the next decades. According to the most advanced (BLUE Map) scenario which corresponds to IPCC emission reduction targets, renewable energy, by 2050, will account for 46 % of the global power. Among the renewable energy technologies underlying this scenario, photovoltaics will play a major role. In the context of the 2020 renewable energy targets of the European Union and triggered by the expected grid parity costs of photovoltaics, the European Photovoltaic Industry Association (EPIA) recently estimated the possible contribution of photovoltaics up to 12 % of the electricity supply by 2020. Such figures are indeed impressive but their realisation requires rapid, strong and ongoing developments in research, technology, manufacturing and deployment as well as a dedicated cooperation among various sectors and countries. As in all sectors, the difficult situation of the world economy has not made life easier for the photovoltaic industry. Nevertheless, and characterised by its long term and sustainable investment nature, photovoltaics is one of those promising sectors which can help to overcome the present crisis. Photovoltaics is therefore often part of the various economy recovery plans throughout the world. As a leading international network of expertise, IEA PVPS has the mission and privilege to cooperate on a global level in this rapidly expanding technology area. IEA PVPS undertakes key collaborative projects related to technology progress, cost reduction and rapid deployment of photovoltaics in various applications. Providing objective and neutral high-quality information about relevant developments in the photovoltaic sector remains our highest priority. Due to the increasing recognition of photovoltaics as an important future energy technology, the interest in the work performed within IEA PVPS is continuously expanding. Outreach for new membership within IEA PVPS continued in 2008. Malaysia joined the PVPS Programme as the 23rd member during the year. I welcome Malaysia as the most recent IEA PVPS member and look forward to a long and fruitful cooperation. China has joined one of our Executive Committee meetings as an observer. Contacts have been ongoing with South Africa, India, New Zealand, Thailand and Singapore. On the Task level, the interest for a follow-up activity to the PVPS Task 2 on Performance, Reliability and Analysis of Photovoltaic Systems has remained high and ways are being sought to establish a new Task 13 on Performance and Reliability of Photovoltaic Systems. Grid integration, high penetration of photovoltaic systems in electric grids and the relationship with the topic of smart grids have been discussed as themes for future cooperation. The overall communication efforts were continued through systematic distribution of PVPS products at conferences, workshops and by means of direct mailings. Communication was further supported by the PVPS website www.iea-pvps.org. Moreover, booths at the industry exhibition of the 23rd European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference in Valencia and Solar Power International in San Diego attracted a large number of visitors and provided an excellent forum for dissemination purposes. 2008 was another productive year for PVPS with many new results from the various ongoing projects. The detailed results are given in the Task reports of this annual report and all publications can be found at the PVPS website. I would like to congratulate all Tasks on their progress and achievements. The current status of photovoltaics in the PVPS member countries is described within the country section of this annual report. A number of Executive Committee members have left us during the year, heading for new responsibilities or horizons. I would like to thank them for their strong support and valuable contributions. With this, I take the opportunity to thank all Executive Committee members, Operating Agents and Task Experts, who by their dedicated efforts, contribute to the collaborative work and success of PVPS. Stefan Nowak Chairman TABLE OF CONTENTS 5 TABLE OF CONTENTS Chairman’s Message 3 Photovoltaic Power Systems Programme 7 TASK STATUS REPORTS Task 1 - Exchange and Dissemination of Information on Photovoltaic Power Systems 11 Task 8 - Study on Very Large Scale Photovoltaic Power Generation System 15 Task 9 - Photovoltaic Services for Developing Countries 18 Task 10 - Urban Scale PV Applications 22 Task 11 - Hybrid Systems within Mini-Grids 28 Task 12 - PV Environmental Health & Safety Activities 32 PHOTOVOLTAIC STATUS AND PROSPECTS IN PARTICIPATING COUNTRIES AND ORGANISATIONS AUSTRALIA 36 AUSTRIA 39 CANADA 43 DENMARK 48 EUROPEAN COMMISSION 52 EPIA 54 FRANCE 56 GERMANY 59 ISRAEL 63 ITALY 66 JAPAN 68 KOREA 77 MALAYSIA 80 MEXICO 83 THE NETHERLANDS 85 NORWAY 88 PORTUGAL 91 SPAIN 94 SWEDEN 96 SWITZERLAND 99 TURKEY 103 UNITED KINGDOM 106 UNITED STATES 110 COMPLETED TASKS Task 2 - Performance, Reliability and Analysis of Photovoltaic Systems 115 Task 3 - Use of Photovoltaic Power Systems in Stand-Alone and Island Applications 117 Task 5 - Grid Interconnection of Building Integrated and Other Dispersed Photovoltaic Power Systems 119 Task 6 - Design and Operation of Modular Photovoltaic Plants for Large Scale Power Generation 120 Task 7 - Photovoltaic Power Systems in the Built Environment 121 ANNEXES A - IEA-PVPS Executive Committee Members 123 B - IEA-PVPS Operating Agents 127 PHOTOVOLTAIC POWER SYSTEMS PROGRAMME 7 PHOTOVOLTAIC POWER SYSTEMS PROGRAMME IEA and design guidelines, planning methods, financing, etc. to be The International Energy Agency (IEA), founded in November 1974, shared with the various actors. is an autonomous body within the framework of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), which carries IEA-PVPS OBJECTIVES out a comprehensive programme of energy co-operation among its The IEA-PVPS programme aims to realise the above mission by member countries. The European Union also participates in the work adopting the following objectives related to reliable PV power system of the IEA. applications for the target groups: governments, utilities, energy service providers and other public and private users: Collaboration in research, development and demonstration of new technologies has been an important part of the Agency’s Programme. 1. To stimulate activities that will facilitate a cost reduction The IEA R&D activities are headed by the Committee on Energy of PV power systems applications. Research and Technology (CERT), supported by a small secretariat National RD&D programmes, industrial R&D and expansion of staff, with headquarters in Paris. In addition, four Working Parties on PV manufacturing capacity as well as utility investments in PV End Use, Renewable Energy, Fossil Fuels and Fusion, are charged with projects are examples of activities with a direct effect on the cost monitoring the various collaborative energy R, D & D agreements, of PV systems and their application. International co-operation identifying new areas for co-operation and advising the CERT on within IEA PVPS can indirectly contribute to cost reduction by policy matters. The Renewable Energy Working Party (REWP), chaired undertaking or supporting activities such as: sharing the activities by the first PVPS chairman, Mr. Roberto Vigotti, oversees the work of and results of national RD&D programmes, objective information ten renewable energy agreements and is supported by a Renewable and operational experience, creating and facilitating networks as Energy Unit at the IEA secretariat in Paris. well as providing guidelines. IEA-PVPS 2. To increase the awareness of their potential and value and The IEA Photovoltaic Power Systems Programme (PVPS) is one thereby provide advice to decision makers from government, of the collaborative R&D Agreements established within the IEA, utilities and international organisations. and since its establishment in 1993, the PVPS participants have Key issues for the awareness of the potential and value of PV power been conducting a variety of joint projects in the application of systems among target groups are: cost/performance indicators, photovoltaic conversion of solar energy into electricity. The overall market developments, innovations and breakthroughs, new applications programme is headed by an Executive Committee composed of and services, national and international programmes and initiatives, representatives from each participating country, while the management policy and financing schemes, developments and standards. of individual research projects (Tasks) is the responsibility of Operating Agents. By mid 2007,