Mainstream and Maturing: Challenges and Opportunities for the PV Industry as it Moves towards High Penetration
Tuesday 25 September 2012, 13:30–18:00 - Frankfurt Messe, Germany
Open to all registered participants of the 27th EU PVSEC
Solar power is at the crossroads. Photovoltaic markets saw record growth in 2011 and, with approximately 70 GW of cumulative capacity installed globally, PV is now, after hydro and wind power, the third most important renewable energy source. Even though the industry faces short-term challenges and is weathering a period of uncertainty, over the medium- and long-terms the prospects for continued robust growth are good. Under the right policy conditions, the technology can continue its progress towards competitiveness in key electricity markets and become a mainstream energy source.
In fact, PV is already a significant part of Europe’s electricity mix, producing 2% of the demand in the EU and roughly 4% of peak demand. But what are the prospects for 2020 and 2030? What penetration will PV reach by the end of this decade and during the next one?
PV’s growth will require a paradigm shift in the way electricity is produced, sold, transported and distributed. The high penetration of photovoltaics into the electricity grid raises challenges and presents opportunities. How should the PV industry address them? And what will be the major implications of changes in the electricity markets?
The approaching competitiveness of PV, which will occur progressively by the end of this decade in most European markets, will drive PV markets on the road to sustainable development. How will the industry evolve under new market conditions? What new business models could appear and how will they shape the evolution of PV?
These are the main topics to be explored by policy makers, industry players from the PV sector and neighboring industries, and all actors from the electricity value chain at this year’s European PV Industry Summit. The Summit will also present the main conclusions of EPIA’s new report ‘Solar Photovoltaics Competing in the Energy Sector – On the road to large scale PV integration’.
As an official event of the 27th EU PVSEC, the European PV Industry Summit is jointly organised by EPIA and the EU PVSEC.
Programme Outline
13:30 – 14:00
Opening Speech, Winfried Hoffmann, EPIA President
14:00 – 15:00
PV Target for 2030: General Vision for the Sector
15:00 – 16:00
PV Integration into the Electricity Grid
16:00 – 16:30
Coffee Break
16:30 – 17:50
Industry Innovation and New Business Models
17:50 – 18:00
Concluding Remarks: Winfried Hoffmann, EPIA President
