Renewable Energy
Connecting the Sun A
By: Reinhold Buttgereit Secretary General of the European Photovoltaic Industry Association (EPIA)
ll across Europe and around the world, people want solar power. Even in tough economic times the global market for solar photo- voltaic (PV) technology has continued to grow, breaking records year after year. PV is no longer a niche product. It is an increasingly important source of electricity generation, on its way to be- coming mainstream. This means we have to start thinking differently about it. For Europe’s electricity system, the coming decades will bring a whole new world. Achiev- ing Europe’s ambitious climate goals will re- quire an almost complete decarbonisation of the energy sector by 2050. This will have important
mix, the future European electricity system will have to be more in- terconnected, more flexible and more decentralised. EPIA’s new report, “Con-
necting the Sun: Solar photo- voltaics on the road to large-scale grid integration”, is all about taking the next step in the PV industry’s evolution. Yes, this will require some changes from grid operators, from policy- makers and from the PV industry itself. But the challenges are not insurmount- able. Solutions to enable a high penetra-
all about taking the next step in the PV industry’s evolution.
“Connecting the Sun: Solar photovoltaics on the road to large-scale grid integration”, is
EPIA’s new report,
implications for the continent’s power system. The rise of variable renewable energy sources, including PV, requires a new perspective on managing the electricity grid. However, in many ways, PV is already providing solutions – meet- ing a growing share of electricity demand at in- creasingly competitive cost without creating a strain on the European power system. Under all scenarios envisioned for the coming decades, PV will play a key role in Eu- rope’s electricity mix – covering about 15% (or, under a paradigm shift scenario, up to 25%) of demand in Europe by 2030. With a more diver- sified, variable and electricity-intensive energy
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tion of PV are achievable and, in many cases, already exist.
“Connecting the Sun” takes a close and un-
compromising look at the issues raised by the increasing importance of PV in Europe’s elec- tricity system. Producing it involved interview- ing several network operators, both at transmission and distribution level, to identify best practices and build recommendations based on real-world experience. The challenges have been answered with existing or potential solu- tions, making the best use of PV systems capa- bilities, which are today vastly underestimated. PV electricity is decentralised and can be
mand side management.
Europe’s electricity demand is increasing. In the context of Europe’s decarbonisation goals, this power will have to come from more vari- able sources. As European policymakers con- sider their options for investing in new and more efficient grid infrastructure, they should take into account the benefits that PV is already produc- ing and, more importantly, plan for the greater benefits it is capable of producing in the future. Solar PV has come a long way in a relatively short time. But now we must consider the steps that will allow us to take full advantage of its enormous potential. With so many stakeholders involved – the PV industry, grid operators, util- ities, policymakers and, let’s not forget, electric- ity customers – the discussion in the coming years will not always be easy. But by making the right choices now, PV can deliver on its promise as a major contribu- tor to meeting Europe’s energy, environmental and economic goals for the coming decades. Reinhold Buttgereit is the Secretary General of the European Photovoltaic Industry Association (EPIA)
New European Economy
produced close to where it is consumed. Furthermore, it has a strong seasonal match with wind; these two energy sources together can provide up to 45% of Europe’s electricity needs in 2030. When viewed together (and when considered from a Europe-wide perspective rather than a local or national one), they provide realistic so- lutions to integrating this large share of renewable electricity. These solutions are achievable, especially when combined with tools to increase the flexibility of the electricity system – such as storage and de-
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