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Photovoltaics: Mid-Term Results for the European Research Project "Solar Bankability"

Posted by TUV Rheinland on May 3, 2016 10:00:00 AM
TUV Rheinland

The two-year European research project “Solar Bankability” involving TÜV Rheinland as the leading test institute for the solar industry worldwide has reached its half-way point. The aim is to further reduce the technical and financial risks associated with investments in PV installations for the generation of PV electricity. The project is coordinated by EURAC Research. Besides TÜV Rheinland, other partners in this research consortium are 3E, ACCELIOS Solar, and the European Photovoltaic Industry Association SolarPowerEurope.

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As a partial result, a study has been released. Ulrike Jahn, project leader at TÜV Rheinland, explains that: “For the first time we have been able to record and assess all economic risks concerning PV plant components over the total lifetime of PV plants”. The study addresses all phases in the lifecycle of a PV plant, from the development of parts and products and the planning of the plant to transport, installation and finally to operation and decommissioning. Jahn stresses that “what is special about this project, is the economic evaluation of the individual risks. The quantitative cost for each failure type has been specified.” Thus, it is possible to calculate the financial losses caused by the various risks in Euro per watt. These results will be discussed with experts in a public workshop, which takes place in Cologne on May 9-10, 2016.

You can access the study here.

The next goal is to develop and evaluate measures for minimizing these risks. Within the scope of the Horizon 2020 programme, the research project is funded under project reference number 649997.

Further information on the project can be found at our website or you can contact us to speak to our experts.

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Topics: photovoltaics, solar