Page 51 - European Energy Innovation - autumn 2017 publication

Autumn 2017 European Energy Innovation 51

PHOTOVOLTAICS

on the trajectory for the needed GHG For over 50 years, scientist, engineers
reductions by 2050. The consequences and industry have worked hard
for renewable electricity would be that to decrease the hardware costs
an additional 200 to 250 TWh, mainly of photovoltaic solar electricity
from solar and wind power are needed generation systems. In 2017, the
to reach this goal. Taking these costs of direct current (DC) electricity
developments into consideration, it in central Europe at the PV module
is clear that Europe has a need for level have dropped to less than
additional policies to increase solar 0.02 EUR/kWh and shows that it is the
photovoltaic power and especially technology with the lowest cost for
rooftop installations to 350 to 400 electricity generation. Even if the low
GW by 2030. In order to achieve this DC generation cost is only a part of
goal, the annual market has to grow to the total, as there is an additional cost
over three times the European market component to provide the electricity
volume in 2016 [6, 7]. to the customer where and when it is
needed, photovoltaic solar electricity
Where could this capacity be installed? is one of the lowest cost options to de-
Besides the large potential of rooftops, carbonise our electricity supply.
where even the conservative IEA
predictions in the Energy technology If Europe wants to fill the Paris
Perspectives 2016 show a technical Agreement with life and make sure
potential of 470 GW of PV system that our children and grandchildren
capacity on rooftops in cities of the will find a liveable planet, it has to
European Union by 2030 [8], the dual embrace photovoltaics now with a
use of traffic or water infrastructure [9, massive increase of its own market
10] as well as closed landfills [11] and the volume and help less electrified
re-naturalisation of mining sites offer countries to build up a sustainable
potentials, often in the perimeter of electricity supply based on solar
existing electricity infrastructure. power. l

[1] Watson R, Carraro C, Canziani P, Nakicenovic N, McCarthy JJ, Goldemberg J and Hisas L. The Truth Contact details:
About Climate Change, September 2016, ISBN 978-0-9831909-1-2 Arnulf Jäger-Waldau
[2] International Energy Agency, 2016, Key World Energy Statistics 2016 European Commission, Joint
[3] International Energy Agency, Emissions per kWh of electricity and heat output (Edition 2016)”, IEA CO2 Research Centre
Emissions from Fuel Combustion Statistics (database). Directorate C: Energy, Transport
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1787/3cfe0c04-en; and Climate, Renewables and
[4] International Energy Agency, World Energy Outlook 2016, ISBN 978-92-64-26495-3 Energy Efficiency Unit
[5] Commission Staff Working Document, SWD(2016) 410 final, 30 November 2016, Impact Assessment Via E. Fermi 2749, TP 450, I-21027
- Accompanying the documents, Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council Ispra (VA), Italy
on common rules for the internal market in electricity (recast), Proposal for a Regulation of the European
Parliament and of the Council on the electricity market (recast), Proposal for a Regulation of the European
Parliament and of the Council establishing a European Union Agency for the Cooperation of Energy
Regulators (recast), Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on risk,
preparedness in the electricity sector, {COM(2016) 861 final} {SWD(2016) 411 final} {SWD(2016) 412 final}
{SWD(2016) 413 final}
[6] A. Jäger-Waldau, PV Status Report 2016, October 2016, European Commission,
ISBN 978-92-79-63055-2
[7] A. Jäger-Waldau, Snapshot on Photovoltaics – March 2017, Sustainability 9(5) May 2017
[8] International Energy Agency, Energy Technology Perspectives 2016, ISBN PRINT 978-92-64-25234-9 /
PDF 978-92-64-25233-2
[9] I. Kougias, K. Bódis, A. Jäger-Waldau, F. Monforti- Ferrario, S., Szabó,. Exploiting existing dams for solar
pv system installations. Progr Photovolt: Res Appl. 2016;24(2):229–39
10] I. Kougias, K. Bódis, A. Jäger-Waldau, M. Moner-Girona, F. Monforti-Ferrario, H. Ossenbrink, et al., The
potential of water infrastructure to accommodate solar pv systems in mediterranean islands. Sol Energy
2016; 136:174–82
[11] S. Szabo, K. Bódis, I. Kougias, M. Moner-Girona, A. Jäger-Waldau, G. Barton, L. Szabó, A methodology
for maximizing the benefits of solar landfills on closed sites, Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews 76
(2017) 1291–1300

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