PHOTOVOLTAICS MADE IN AUSTRIA PREFACE The supply of primary energy is becoming the main issue of the 21st century. Pho- tovoltaics (PV) and the related innovations offer great potential for tapping into the sun’s energy, and there are technological breakthroughs occurring around the world. More and more people are coming to realise that an energy system based on fossil fuels and nuclear power will not be sustainable over the long term. The process of switching to renewable energy sources will certainly take some time, © Gottwald but our goal is to do as much as possible to accelerate this important step for the world’s population. Only non-commodifiable primary energy sources, such as the Georg Napetschnig sun, can guarantee supply security and price stability in the long run. The use of President various forms of solar energy is gaining dramatically in significance, especially in light of the historic events in Japan and the development of the primary energy market. Innovations in a growth sector result in a competitive advantage, create new jobs and secure them well into the future. In Austria, some companies with a strong pioneering spirit are already active in the photovoltaic industry, and with a large export share, they are enjoying great success. © Wilke The members of the Austrian photovoltaic industry have joined together to create a technical platform, the Austrian Photovoltaic Technology Platform (tppv), in Hans Kronberger order to coordinate and optimise research and development in the PV sector. Vice President Our aim is also to make our voices heard in the government and to demand an energy strategy that takes into account the use of solar energy and its potential in connection with photovoltaics to secure the energy supply and jobs. Austria’s PV market aims to make a high-quality contribution to the global expansion of photovoltaics. In conclusion, we would like to thank the Federal Ministry of Transport, Innova- tion and Technology, our industry partners, institutions and research institutes for their active support in making the technology platform a successful partnership. © Walter Henisch Hubert Fechner Georg Napetschnig Hans Kronberger Hubert Fechner Secretary-General President Vice President Secretary-General 2 PHOTOVOLTAICS MADE IN AUSTRIA AUSTRIAN PHOTOVOLTAIC TECHNOLOGY PLATFORM In order to maintain the high level of attractiveness and competitiveness that Austrian industry enjoys on the global market, we need to implement timely, intelligent measures for this purpose. The goal of the Austrian Photovoltaic Technology Platform is to help ensure that the Austrian photovoltaic industry’s market shares continue to grow by boos- ting research and development, forming clusters of innovative companies, im- proving public funding conditions in the photovoltaic sector and implementing other measures. The technology platform has also set itself the task of creating and promoting a detailed concept for a national photo- voltaic research strategy, and another of its aims is to raise public awareness of photovoltaic technology. www.tppv.at PHOTOVOLTAICS MADE IN AUSTRIA 3 A SUNNY FUTURE The sun is a virtually inexhaustible, free source of energy. Within 20 minutes, it provides the same amount of energy that is consumed by the world’s entire pop- ulation in a year. Photovoltaics convert sunlight directly into electricity – silently and without creating exhaust, noise pollution or odour emissions. A brief history of solar electricity The photoelectric effect was discovered and researched by Alexandre Edmond Becquerel 170 years ago. In 1883, the New Yorker Charles Fritts built the first photovol- taic cell using selenium. The efficiency of his devices was limited to 2 per cent, and their manufacture was a very elaborate process. However, his invention sparked great interest among researchers. In 1905, Albert Ein- stein put forth the theory that light can be seen not only as waves but also as a flow of tiny packets of energy. Einstein received the Nobel Prize in 1921 for his “light quanta hypothesis”. A few years later, the term “pho- ton” was coined to describe these light particles. © Ertex Solar Finally, in 1954, Gerald Pearson, Calvin Fuller and Daryl Chaplin presented the first silicon solar cell. This laid the groundwork for an innovative, sustainable energy supply. Further developments followed in quick succession: Just four years later, 108 silicon cells were used to supply the American Vanguard 1 satellite with electricity. The installation of the first grid-connected system in 1978 led to the development of photovoltaics as a source of electricity on Earth. Global boom The manufacture of photovoltaic modules increased steadily until the end of the 20th century. In 1995, the annual installed capacity was at nearly 100 megawatts- peak (MWp). Since then, the global photovoltaic market has grown by an average of over 30 per cent a year, and a genuine boom began on the global market in 2003. In 2010, the global annual production output already exceeded 15,000 MWp. The amount of photovoltaic modules currently sold on the global market each year generates as much electricity as the average nuclear power plant. 4 PHOTOVOLTAICS MADE IN AUSTRIA TURNING LIGHT INTO ELECTRICITY A photovoltaic plant converts the sunlight that hits it directly into electricity. This high-quality form of energy can be transformed to serve any number of purposes: for mechanical work, elec- tromobility, to power motors, to generate heat or to generate light again. A solar cell is made up of semiconductors that are also used in countless modern everyday de- vices, including computers, digital cameras and mobile phones. Photovoltaic cells are made of silicon, and a complex procedure is used to treat the surfaces of the cells. Silicon nitride ensures © BSW-Solar Sunways that as much sunlight as possible is absorbed and gives the grey silicon its characteristic dark blue sheen. For the photovoltaic effect, a thickness of just a few thousandths of a millimetre is required: When a light particle (photon) hits the cell, an electron is emitted from the atomic lattice of the silicon and travels to the surface. If many electrons collect on the surface of the cell, this results in a difference in electrical charge between the surface and the back side of the cell. This results in voltage that can then be tapped into. A contact to the surface picks up the electrons – and electricity flows. A single cell in full sun generates roughly 0.5 volts. And when many small cells are connected to each other in a standard PV module, for example, the result is around 45 volts and 200 watts of output. The cells in a PV module are usually protected by special glass and are welded into airtight layers of protective film. The modules can be combined to create sys- tems of any size. The general rule of thumb is: A 4-kW system currently requires 30 to 35 square metres of space and provides roughly 4,000 kWh of solar electri- city a year in Austria – in other words, the amount of electricity that an average household requires annually. PHOTOVOLTAICS MADE IN AUSTRIA 5 THE GREAT ADVANTAGES OF PHOTOVOLTAICS Emissions: Photovoltaics function without moveable parts and are free of noise pollution, exhaust and odour emissions. Sunlight is a permanent, free source of energy. Base material: Over 90 per cent of today’s photovoltaic cells are made of sili- con. After oxygen, silicon is the second most abundant element on Earth and is available in sufficient quantities. The technology for photovoltaic systems has been tested and has a track record of reliability stretching back for decades. These systems have a service life of around 30 years and are virtually maintenance-free. Functionality: Photovoltaics do not just make sense for countries in the south. The German state of Bavaria already generates roughly 5 per cent of its electri- city using photovoltaics (and Austria, 0.15 per cent). In addition, the technology works better at low temperatures. Price: The producer price for one kilowatt hour of solar electricity is currently still between 20 and 38 cents. However, PV electricity is peak current that is generated mainly in the middle of the day. At this time, “normal” electricity can cost EUR 1.50 or more on the market. In addition, solar electricity is getting more affordable by the year. Energy balance: It only takes one to three years for a photovoltaic system to generate the same amount of energy that is needed to produce and dispose of it. Power supply: Photovoltaics are the only power supply technology that does not have a problem with primary energy. There is 10,000 times more sunlight available than is needed to generate energy for the entire population. This supply of free energy can be seen as guaranteed for the next five billion years. In the EU, it is assumed that under optimal conditions, up to 12 per cent of the electricity demand will be covered by solar energy by 2020. Landscape planning: Photovoltaic power plants do not require the construction of new buildings. They can be integrated into all kinds of existing buildings and everyday objects. For example, the surface of every rooftop and facade facing south can be replaced by a photovoltaic system. Austria has over 140 square kilometres of suitable rooftop surfaces plus another 50 square kilometres of south-facing facades. To cover 20 per cent of Austria’s electricity demand with photovoltaics, around 60 per cent of the suitable rooftop and facade surfaces would suffice. 6 PHOTOVOLTAICS MADE IN AUSTRIA Disposal: Modern photovoltaic systems are fully recyclable and do not produce any hazardous waste. In the future, solar modules will be constructed to allow for complete recycling of all materials. PV Cycle is a European recycling system that started to take back and recycle photovoltaic modules in 2010.