Photovoltaics Market BeNeLux On the move After the recent discontinuation of the renewable energy premium, the Netherlands has had a rocky start into the new year 2011. Luxembourg keeps up a modest but stable market. And the most attractive conditions for PV companies are still found in .

owever, even the solar sector in Belgium has Nevertheless, the industry representatives are felt the blow. In December, the government of expecting that the market will continue to open fur- HFlanders had decided to introduce serious cut- ther opportunities even beyond July 1st. “The installa- backs in the feed-in tariff for large-scale solar plants tion of new PV systems will keep growing at a moder- with a capacity of more than 1 MW by July this year. ate but steady rate”, expects Dennis Steegman, Com- Since the vast majority of PV systems in the country mercial Director of the Belgian component parts man- are installed in Flanders – which offers by far the high- ufacturer Nestinox. However, the success of 2009 will est PV feed-in tariff – the cuts leave no corner of the be unmatched, adds Steegman. In that year, solar Belgian sector unaffected. “There will now be a run on plants with a capacity of 412.7 MW were connected PV as everybody will try to connect their large-scale to the grid. “The feed-in tariff of € 0.45 per kWh had Solar roof on the high-speed projects before July 1st”, says Line Reynaert, Commu- been the main motivation for the dramatic increase of railway line tunnel in Bras- nication Manager of Enfinity, the largest solar devel­ new installations.” In 2010, the feed-in tariff was schaat, Belgium. The panels opment company in the country. “After that deadline, then slashed by € 0.10, which cooled down the mar- alongside the E19 motorway the realisation of large-scale PV projects will no long­ ket and reduced the newly installed capacities to deliver solar electricity, which is er be an issue in Belgium. Of course, this is bad news 100 MW. Experts believe that the new installations inducted into the train net. for the sector.” Green electricity certificates for 1 MWh will follow a similar trend in 2011. Photo: EPA/Dirk Waem Belgium Out generated from solar power systems with a nominal “The Belgian PV market is largely dominated by capacity of more than 1 MW will then de­crease in foreign market participants”, says Delphine Martens ­value from € 330 to 240. of Delfico, the organizer of the trade fair Inter­Solution. “Only two Belgium-based companies are currently active in the manufacturing of PV products.” One of

144 Sun & Wind Energy 3/2011 Patrick Naze, Sales & Marketing Manager at Photo- voltech, Belgium’s largest solar cell manufacturer, expects that “the market will get going most notably in the segment for rooftop PV systems on industrial halls.” Photos (2): Photovoltech them is Issol, which is headquartered in Verviers and has been producing modules for the domestic and export markets since the year 2006. The other one is Photovoltech, a company that has been based in the Flamish Tienen since 2003 and produces solar cells. Photovoltech is owned by Total and GDF Suez (through Electrabel) in equal shares and was able to expand its capacities several times over the past years. “The next step is already in the pipeline”, says Patrick Naze, Sales & Marketing Manager of Photovoltech. “We are planning to set up a new hall in Tienen for the establishment of a third production line.” The expan- sion would boost the company’s annual solar cell production capacity from currently 88 up to 155 MW. “The new site will provide enough space to allow for an upgrade to 500 MW in the short term”, says Naze. Photovoltech also ­benefits from two long-term supply contracts, explains Naze. One of the customers is the module manufacturer ­Issol, the other one Soltech, a

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Firing of cells at Photo­ company that has been active in Tienen for 20 years liberal Peoples Party for Freedom and Democracy voltech manufacturing and specializes in ­building-integrated photovoltaics. (VVD) took seats in the government and formed its plant in Tienen, Belgium ­coalition with the Christian Democratic Appeal Netherlands slashes solar (CDA). premium Previously, the country had offered a feed-in tar- iff in two separate categories set out in the “Subsidy The new year did not have good news coming for the for Sustainable Energy” (SDE) regulation. In the first Dutch solar sector: starting with January 1st, the feed- category for small-scale PV systems with a capacity in tariff for PV was practically abolished. Insiders see of between 0.6 and 15 kW, the scheme offered a the reason for the decision in the mounting pressure ­basic feed-in tariff of 0.47 € /kWh. In the second cat- to hold down costs after the financial crisis and the egory for larger PV systems with a capacity of be- recent change of government. In October 2010, the tween 15 and 100 kW, the tariff reached a price of 0.43 €/kWh. Both tariffs were guaranteed over a pe- riod of 15 years. Apart from that, the government had imposed a cap of 20 MW for systems with up to 15 kW and a limit of 5 MW for large-scale systems. New installations are now no longer eligible for sub- sidies, leaving the future course unclear. However, drafts for a new policy were recently published in a statement by ­Maxime Verhagen, Minister of Econom- ic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation. The law will be called “SDE plus” and is expected to provide a more cost-efficient solution before the end of the year. Op- erators of PV systems falling into the so-called “open category” will then be eligible for a maximum tariff of only 0.15 €/kWh. These cuts are no easy fare. Scheuten Solar, a company based in Venlo in the Netherlands, still keeps up an optimistic attitude. “Such turn­arounds are nothing new. In 2003, the feed-in tariffs had ­already once been discontinued in the Nether- lands, before a new policy followed in the year 2008”, ­comments Rob Beckers, Sales Manager Netherlands at Scheuten Solar. As for now, the Dutch solar sector continues to install solar plants under the SDE regulation. Investors interested in installing a solar plant had been requested to pre- register. Applicants that obtained a license were then given one and a half years’ time for the reali- zation of their projects. Until the summer, the BATTERY SUPPLIES NV/SA Dutch solar installers should ­therefore have their IZ Snepbeek 5A | Lindestraat 89a | 8790 Waregem - BELGIUM | Tel. +32 (0)56 61 79 77 order books filled with the ­systems approved in Fax +32 (0)56 61 79 55 | [email protected] | www.batterysupplies.be 2010. However, the demand had been much higher.

146 Sun & Wind Energy 3/2011 advertisement Solar cells made in Belgium Photovoltech is developer and manufacturer of high quality multicrystalline solar cells made in Belgium. The spin-off of the Belgian research centre IMEC has built up a strong reputation in the field of photovoltaic solar cells and has a variety of innovative technologies at its disposal. Photovoltech has the backing of its reliable shareholders TOTAL and GDF SUEZ.

Company Photovoltech CEO Johan Nijs Turnover 2010 € 105 million Number of employees 280 Local Year of beginning PV business 2001 presence is Daniel Freudiger Sectors of activity Production of multicrystalline solar cells an advantage Production capacity 150 MW/p.a. by the end of 2010, 500 MW perspectively is the General Manager of S&WE: Mr. Freudiger, Sputnik Engineering Interna- Important markets , and

Sputnik Engineering AG tional, one of Sputnik’s sub- Company’s history 2003: start of first production line (capacity 13 MW) has come to the trade sidiaries. Since April 2010, 2007: second production line (total capacity 80 MW) fair InterSolution for the the Swiss manufacturer of PV 2010: third production line (total capacity 150 MW) first time this year. The inverters has a branch fair puts its focus on the office for the Benelux in Photovoltech NV-SA Benelux countries. What . Photo: Sputnik Industrial Area West Grijpen has led your company Grijpenlaan 18 to the decision to be- 3300 Tienen Belgium come active on these Phone: +32 16 805 850 markets? Fax: +32 16 805 905 [email protected] Daniel Freudiger: We have held an interest in the PV modules made out of Photovoltech cells www.photovoltech.com Benelux countries for quite some time now and have closely followed the trends and the growing impor- tance of this PV market. This is why we decided­ to strengthen our pre­sence here in 2010 and to estab- advertisement lish a local branch office. It provides us with closer proximity to our customers and a way of reacting Smart PV Solutions more flexibly. The brand awareness of our product is raised as well. Martifer Solar is the solar energy division of Martifer Group. Founded in 1990, Martifer Group has nearly 4,000 emplo- S&WE: Flanders is the key market in the Benelux yees and a presence in over 18 countries around the world. region and offers the highest feed-in tariffs in Bel- So far, the group’s solar division installed more than 130 MW gium. What do you think about the decision by the of PV systems worldwide. Flemish government to drastically cut the incentive Company Martifer Solar NV, Belgium for large-scale systems with a capacity of over 1 MW? Manager for Europe Ricardo Meireles Freudiger: One of the consequences of the new Turnover 2009 € 13 Mio. ­regulation is that the feed-in tariffs will be massively Number of employees 17 Year of beginning cut in the next two years and that it will take longer PV business 2008 for an investment to amortise. Installing a system Sectors of activity EPC for Solar PV Systems; Distribution of Solar Modules, with a capacity exceeding 1 MW will not be as attrac- Inverters and PV Components tive as it used to be. This is particularly unfortunate Capacity 8 MW/year of PV projects for the development of rooftop systems. Customer groups Solar developers, rooftop owners, banks, investment funds, solar installers, distributors

S&WE: Do you sometimes regret having set up the Service portfolio EPC, installing, integration, development, financial Brussels office, now that the incentive has been cut? advice, operation & maintenance, distribution Freudiger: The decision to establish a subsidiary in Brussels has definitely been the right one. The office allows us to offer our local customers fast and com- Breestraat 25 8540 Deerlijk petent services. That flexibility is important: being Belgium able to provide customers with direct services and Phone: +32 56782030 Fax: +32 56782039 to maintain personal contact is an enormous advan- www.martifersolar.be tage – especially in a market situation that has be- [email protected] Aerial view of Martifer Solar’s SmartPark come more complicated. The interview was conducted by Markus Grunwald.

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Modules Nederland, which was founded in 2009 and has its head office in Kerkrade, plans to double its present annual capacity of 25 MW by the end of the year and even expand to 200 MW by the year 2012. Luxembourg’s steady course

With Saint-Gobain, Luxemburg, too, is home to a module manufacturer that recently expanded its pro- duction capacities. In the last year, the France-based company acquired the former SolarWood Technolo- 600 solar modules cover the gies based in Foetz. Subsequently, Saint-Gobain es- rooftop of these apartments in “The applications for large-scale systems that were tablished a second production line that raised the Driebergen, Netherlands. filed in the last year exceeded the limit by 350 times. company’s annual capacity up to 24 MW. “Most of our Photo: Scheuten In less than two days, the capacities had been fully customers are owners of single-family homes and exploited,” says Beckers. But chances are that the de- looking for a small-scale PV rooftop system with a ca- mand will continue to be stable throughout the com- pacity of around 5 kW. But we have lately also started ing years. Some regions such as Friesland and Lim- collaborating with architectural firms in order to real- burg already make attractive incentives available on ize more building-integrated PV projects”, explains the provincial level. Limburg is ambitious to install a Véronique Merten of Saint-Gobain Solar in Foetz. notable 50 MW of solar power by the year 2015 and However, when it comes to large-scale systems, the is in the process of adjusting its promotion laws. licensing procedures are complicated. Many PV companies expect that the provinces will fur- While other countries find themselves on a politi- ther strengthen their efforts. Some are already in- cal rollercoaster, Luxembourg has been following a stalling solar systems exclusively on the basis of sub- steady course. Since 2008, the country has been of- sidies on the provincial level, i.e. without benefit of fering two distinct feed-in tariffs, one for systems with federal incentives. In 2009, the total installed capac- a capacity of up to 30 kW and one for systems be- ities reached 10.5 MW and similar amounts are now tween 30 kW and 1 MW. There are also grants avail­ expected for 2010. able for private investors looking to install a system of R&D has created a hot buzz in the Netherlands. up to 30 kW on their homes. They can apply for subsi- According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), dies covering up to 30 % of the initial costs with a about 10 % of all EU research and development maximum of € 1,650 per kW. Smaller and mid-sized projects in the area of PV are today coordinated by enterprises can apply for grants through the “Régime the Netherlands – a surprising percentage taking in- d’aides en faveur du secteur des classes moyennes”. to account that the country makes up only 3.3 % of The size of the subsidies is regulated in the so-called the total population in the European Union. The Neth- “Law on the establishment of an aid scheme in favour erlands is also an important manufacturing location: of enterprises of the sector of the middle classes, Mastervolt, Nedap and Exendis are domestic inverter 30th June 2004” (Loi du 30 juin 2004 portant création manufacturers. Solland Solar, a cell manufacturer d’un cadre général des régimes d’aides en faveur du with international operations, runs three production secteur des classes moyennes ). Applications must be lines in the Netherlands that reach a total annual filed with the Ministry for the Middle Class, Tourism ­production of 170 MW. Another company, Nuon and Housing (Ministère des Classes moyennes, du ­Helianthos owns a pilot plant for solar cell foil made Tourisme et du Logement) prior to the beginning of Large-scale systems such as from flexible amorphous thin-film cells in Arnheim. the construction. Important to note though: The go­v­ the one shown in the picture Scheuten Solar, which has its main production loca- ernment has meanwhile introduced further cuts to the are a rare sight not only in tion in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, maintains a solar budget. It is therefore expected that the licenses will Belgium but also in the two factory in Venlo where the company produces special be limited should the demand keep growing. Benelux neighbour countries. modules for building-integrated PV. Finally, Solar Luxembourg continues to be a market of rather Photo: Bisol

148 Sun & Wind Energy 3/2011 advertisement Empowering solar efficiency As part of Asahi Glass, the world leader in glass production, AGC Solar develops the latest glass technologies to empower solar efficiency.

Company AGC Solar Manager for Europe Guibert de Bonhome Turnover 2009 216 Million € (worldwide) Number of employees > 1000 people (worldwide) Year of beginning PV business 1970ies Sectors of activity Solar glass for PV (crystalline and thin film), thermal collectors and CSP applications, Building Integrated Photovoltaic (BIPV) modules

Production sites Roux, Moustier, Mol and Zeebrugge (Belgium); USA, Japan, , Philippines and Thailand

A surface of 402 m² on this processing plant based in Important markets PV, thermal collector, CSP, BIPV Den Hoorn in the Netherlands is covered with solar modules that produce a total output of 48.2 kW. Service portfolio Solar glass: sales and after-sales services (incl. VMI), co-development; BIPV : from system design Source: Scheuten Solar to system components (glass and electrical parts) modest size. “This has led to high levels of competi- tion and increasing cost pressure in the country. We are also active inside the region, but our main focus AGC Solar is still on Belgium and the Netherlands”, explains Chaussée de La Hulpe, 166 1170 Brussels Michiel van Schalkwijk, Managing Director of Centro- Belgium solar Benelux, a company based in Tiel, Netherlands, Phone: +32 2 674 34 01 with a staff of seven employees. Nevertheless, van Fax: +32 2 674 31 22 AGC Solite patterned glass on [email protected] Schalkwijk has been observing an increasing activity polycrystalline module www.agc-solar.com on the PV market of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg over the last few months. He expects that particular- ly Germany-based companies are looking to ramp up advertisement their operations in the region after the feed-in tariffs were recently slashed in the Benelux’s top PV market. Reliable partner in PV projects It can therefore be expected that Luxembourg will be- come interesting as a small niche market. Detandt Simon – DS Solar – A reliable partner for all your Rebecca Raspe/Markus Grunwald photovoltaic projects: complete product range, constant availability and custom-made services Further information: Company Detandt Simon www.centrosolar.com CEO Jean-Pol Simon www.enfinity.be Turnover 2010 € 24 million www.mastervolt.com Number of employees 70 www.nedap.com Year of beginning www.nestinox.com PV business 2008 www.photovoltech.be Sectors of activity DS Solar modules supplier and engineering office www.saint-gobain.com www.scheuten.com Important markets PV in Belgium, France, Italy, and Germany Intellisol (installer/developer): www.intellisol.be

PV association: www.belpv.be Service portfolio PV modules quality control; logistic management; free Renewables associations: www.apere.org; www.ode.be support in your projects by our engineers

Company’s history 1988: foundation – Belgium leader in chimney and ventilation; 2008: launch of DS Solar PV modules; 2010: subsidiary in Tunisia; September 2011: subsidiary in China; November 2011: new complete range of thermal energy storage solutions

Detandt Simon 37 Rue d’Herchies 7011 Ghlin Belgium www.detandt.com Jean-Michel Scheuren International Sales [email protected] DS Solar PV modules +32 65 39 49 06

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