PV Sunrise
Strengthening the European Photovoltaic sector by cooperating with important stakeholders
After 30 months of intensive work the SUNRISE project has finally come to an end in November 2009. The partners of the project progressed in setting the stage for Photovoltaics (PV) in becoming a mainstream energy source in the future energy mix of Europe.
The project focused on strengthening the cooperation between the PV industry and other important sectors such as architects, constructors and installers on the one hand and utilities and network operators on the other. The SUNRISE project, which is seen as key to the future of PV development, has provided a platform for discussion between these stakeholders. During the last two years a series of workshops and conferences were held in the framework of this project. Representatives of each sector presented their viewpoints on the potentials and added value of PV, its limitations, the current market situation and barriers, either in the building environment or in the electricity grid, that prevent a wider PV diffusion. Most importantly however; the parties contributed possible solutions that would optimise PV use in Europe and would trigger growth.
Based on the feedback from the workshops and the interaction with the industry, the project consortium released a its Final Report on PV Barriers. This document analyses the current barriers of PV deployment and provides recommendations and solutions to overcome them.
In the area of building integration, much of the work targeted the attention of architects. Such is the brochure of "Building Integrated Photovoltaics - A New Design Opportunity for Architects” and the toolbox for calculating PV electricity production based on the system area (m²) and not on the system power (Wp). The latter of which proves to be more convenient for the construction sector. The report “Barriers for the Introduction of Photovoltaics in the Building Sector” presents existing difficulties and potential solutions. More information on the report is available here.
In the area of grid integration, the added value of PV to reduce peak power demand was analysed and presented in the report “Study on Peak Power Supply by Solar Electricity”. The report presents recommendations for unified technical regulations for grid-connected PV systems as well as the present situation of PV grid connection in Europe. It also presents national grid codes and European initiatives to harmonise them. More information on the report is available here.
All the documents and software developed by the SUNRISE Project are available for free here.
Project partners: EPIA (project coordinator), UIA-ARES (International Union of Architects), AIE (Association of Electrical Contractors), FIEC (European Construction Industry Federation), WIP and EDF.
Project website: www.pvsunrise.eu
If you want to know more about the project, please contact:
Daniel Fraile Montoro, EPIA
Phone : +32 2 400 10 62
Email: d.fraile(at)epia.org
