Annual Report 2006
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IEA INTERNATIONAL ENERGY AGENCY PHOTOVOLTAIC POWER SYSTEMS PROGRAMME annual report 2006 IMPLEMENTING AGREEMENT ON PHOTOVOLTAIC POWER SYSTEMS PVPS P HOTOVOLTAIC P OWER S YSTEMS P ROGRAMME ANNUAL REPORT 2006 PREFACE 3 CHAIRMAN'S MESSAGE I am pleased to present the annual report of the IEA Photovoltaic Power Systems Programme covering the year 2006. Interest in PVPS activities and results has once again increased with the outcome of further outreach towards new countries, networks and stakeholders. The network was systematically extended towards new target groups, new members as well as new work items and accompanied by increased communication efforts; both on the Executive Committee level as well as on the Task level. As the topic of energy in general and renewable energy in particular is gaining worldwide momentum, PVPS and its members have had stronger interaction with other renewable energy areas and their organisations. The G8 Gleneagles Plan of Action of the IEA has placed additional emphasis on the technology networks and their outreach activities through the NEET initiative (Networks of Expertise in Energy Technology) in which PVPS participates. The European Photovoltaic Industry Association (EPIA) continued its membership in the PVPS Programme as a sponsor. PVPS is open to further industry associations from other regions in order to intensify our relationships and co-operation with this sector. In 2006, contacts for potential country participation in IEA PVPS have taken place particularly with Turkey, Greece, Poland and Malaysia. With the support from EPIA and the United States, a new Task 12 on “Environmental Aspects of Photovoltaics” was established during 2006. The work of this new Task, which is covering an increasingly important topic, will commence in 2007. The overall communication efforts were continued through systematic distribution of PVPS products (flyer, newsletter, annual report and topical reports) at conferences, workshops and by means of direct mailings. In particular, the buildings community, media and finance sectors have been in the focus of our broader communication efforts through dedicated workshops. Communication was further supported by the PVPS website www.iea-pvps.org. Moreover, a booth at the industry exhibition of the 21st European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference in Dresden, again attracted a large number of visitors and provided an excellent forum for dissemination purposes. With many new results from the various ongoing projects, 2006 was another productive year for PVPS. 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. To my great regret, our Executive Committee member Michel Viaud, representing EPIA, passed away at the end of 2006. Michel has been a strong supporter for the case of photovoltaics and IEA PVPS and we have lost a dear friend to whom we remain most grateful for his contributions and his dedication. 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 2 - Performance, Reliability and Analysis of Photovoltaic Systems 14 Task 8 - Study on Very Large Scale Photovoltaic Power Generation System 18 Task 9 - Photovoltaic Services for Developing Countries 21 Task 10 - Urban Scale PV Applications 26 Task 11 - Hybrid Systems within Mini-Grids 32 PHOTOVOLTAIC STATUS AND PROSPECTS IN PARTICIPATING COUNTRIES AND ORGANISATIONS AUSTRALIA 35 AUSTRIA 39 CANADA 43 DENMARK 47 EUROPEAN COMMISSION 51 EPIA 54 FRANCE 56 GERMANY 60 ISRAEL 64 ITALY 66 JAPAN 68 KOREA 75 MEXICO 78 THE NETHERLANDS 79 NORWAY 81 PORTUGAL 84 SPAIN 87 SWEDEN 89 SWITZERLAND 92 UNITED KINGDOM 97 UNITED STATES 99 COMPLETED TASKS Task 3 - Use of Photovoltaic Power Systems in Stand-Alone and Island Applications 108 Task 5 - Grid Interconnection of Building Integrated and Other Dispersed Photovoltaic Power Systems 110 Task 6 - Design and Operation of Modular Photovoltaic Plants for Large Scale Power Generation 111 Task 7 - Photovotlaic Power Systems in the Built Environment 112 ANNEXES A - IEA-PVPS Executive Committee Members 114 B - IEA-PVPS Operating Agents 118 PHOTOVOLTAIC POWER SYSTEMS PROGRAMME 7 PHOTOVOLTAIC POWER SYSTEMS PROGRAMME IEA The International Energy Agency (IEA), founded in November 1974, The underlying assumption is that the market for PV systems is is an autonomous body within the framework of the Organisation for gradually expanding from the present niche markets of remote Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), which carries out applications and consumer products, to the rapidly growing markets a comprehensive programme of energy co-operation among its for building-integrated and other diffused and centralised PV member countries. The European Union also participates in the work generation systems. of the IEA. This market expansion requires the availability of and access to Collaboration in research, development and demonstration of new reliable information on the performance of PV systems, technical and technologies has been an important part of the Agency’s Programme. design guidelines, planning methods, financing, etc. to be shared with The IEA R&D activities are headed by the Committee on Research and the various actors. Technology (CERT), supported by a small secretariat staff, with headquarters in Paris. In addition, four Working Parties on End Use, IEA-PVPS OBJECTIVES Renewable Energy, Fossil Fuels and Fusion, are charged with The IEA-PVPS programme aims to realise the above mission by monitoring the various collaborative energy agreements, identifying adopting the following objectives related to reliable PV power system new areas for co-operation and advising the CERT on policy matters. applications for the target groups: governments, utilities, energy The Renewable Energy Working Party (REWP), chaired by service providers and other public and private users: the first PVPS chairman, Mr. Roberto Vigotti, oversees the work of ten renewable energy agreementsand is supported by a Renewable 1. To stimulate activities that will lead to a cost reduction of PV Energy Unit at the IEA secretariat in Paris. power systems applications National RD&D programmes, industrial R&D and expansion of PV IEA-PVPS manufacturing capacity as well as utility investments in PV projects The IEA Photovoltaic Power Systems Programme (PVPS) is one of are examples of activities with a direct effect on the cost of the collaborative R&D Agreements established within the IEA, and PV systems and their application. International co-operation within since its establishment in 1993, the PVPS participants have been IEA PVPS can indirectly contribute to cost reduction by undertaking conducting a variety of joint projects in the application of or supporting activities such as: sharing the activities and results photovoltaic conversion of solar energy into electricity. of national RD&D programmes, objective information and operational experience, creating and facilitating networks as well as providing The overall programme is headed by an Executive Committee guidelines. composed of representatives from each participating country, while the management of individual research projects (Tasks) is the 2. To increase the awareness of their potential and value and responsibility of Operating Agents. By the end of 2006, twelve thereby provide advice to decision makers from government, Tasks were established within the PVPS programme, of which one utilities and international organisations was completed in 1997 (Task 6), two were completed in 2001 Key issues for the awareness of the potential and value of PV (Task 5 and Task 7), one was completed in 2004 (Task 3) and one power systems among target groups are: cost/performance indicators, is not operational (Task 4). A new task began in 2006 (Task 11) on market developments, innovations and breakthroughs, new PV Hybrid Systems within Mini-Grids, which is a follow up to Task 3. applications and services, national and international programmes The draft Workplan for a new task was approved in 2006 (Task 12). and initiatives, policy and financing schemes, developments and standards. The twenty-one PVPS members are: Australia, Austria, Canada, Denmark, EPIA, European Union, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, 3. To foster the removal of technical and non-technical barriers Japan, Korea, Mexico, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, of PV power systems for the emerging applications in OECD Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom and the United States. Turkey countries has shown an interest to revive its membership. The European Over time, photovoltaic-based electricity supply can play a key role Photovoltaic Industry Association (EPIA) joined PVPS in 2005. in urban-scale developments. Such developments should follow a holistic approach to maximise society’s