Get double the value with solar panels
Together with Swissolar, we organised the forum "Simply solar – energy from photovoltaics" at the Olma in St. Gallen. Various experts provided the participants with exciting insights into the world of solar energy.
Industry overview
The Forum Day kicked off with a presentation by Fabio Giddey of Swissolar on the topic of industry overview. Photovoltaics is on the upswing. In the period from 2019 to 2021 a doubling of photovoltaic expansion could be recorded in Switzerland. Fabio Giddey shows the current status as well as the future plans of the Swiss PV industry. He provides insights into the achievable self-consumption shares using the example of a single-family home and the subsidy system for PV systems in Switzerland.
Agri Photovoltaics with Berries and Fruit
The potential of photovoltaics (PV) in agriculture is considerable. Thomas Keel from Laveba, for example, explained how agri photovoltaics can create a double benefit for berry and fruit crops. Agri-PV refers to the combined use of an area of land for agricultural production and for electricity generation with photovoltaics. In other words, a double crop that is both efficient and sustainable.
Solar roof for hay drying in combination with photovoltaics
Christof Baumgartner from Arenenberg explained how photovoltaic systems can be efficiently combined with hay drying. This type of heat utilisation lends itself due to the heating of the solar cells. This is because a photovoltaic installation on a solar roof can optimise the operating temperature of the PV modules and at the same time use the waste heat to dry the hay.
Photovoltaic expansion in the canton of St. Gallen
PV technology is becoming an important pillar of future electricity production. In the canton of St. Gallen, the St. Gallen Energy Agency is promoting the expansion of PV. Managing Director, Philipp Egger, explained in his presentation how the Energy Agency has successfully built the bridge between PV partner companies and owners of single-family homes. Over 1000 PV systems have been installed in the last four years.
Best Practice from Agrola & Astra and ReUse Platform SecondSol
Using the example of "Sonnenhof A6 Bern", Fabio Giddey from Swissolar showed on behalf of Agrola how ASTRA's outdated photovoltaic system was replaced. The system had reached the end of its life after 21 years and was equipped with new PV modules. Thanks to the great technological progress, 3.5 times the previous yield will be generated in the future, with almost the same number of PV modules.
In the second part of the presentation, Fabio Giddey provides insights into the SecondSol reuse platform.
For specialist installers and system operators, the search for replacement modules is sometimes difficult. Modules installed years ago cannot simply be replaced by new modules due to rapid technical progress. The international platform SecondSol offers a remedy. On the online marketplace, specific PV panels can be searched for or functioning modules can be sold.
Life cycle of photovoltaic modules
A PV module has a life cycle of about 25 years and loses only about 0.5% power per year. Ässia Boukhatmi and Roger Nyffenegger from the Bern University of Applied Sciences give further insights into the life cycle of a photovoltaic system in their presentation. They show what the three life stages of production, use and end-of-life of a PV module look like and which new, sustainable solutions, such as rental and contracting options, can be realised.
Recycling of photovoltaic modules
The method of generating electricity through photovoltaics is sustainable as well as environmentally friendly and resource-saving. But what happens to a PV module when it reaches the end of its life? What materials are contained in a photovoltaic panel and what challenges must be overcome in recycling? Roman Eppenberger from SENS eRecycling explains the recycling process.
The event was moderated by Natascha Verardo, TVO.
Thanks
A big thank you to all those involved in making the Forum Day "Simply solar – energy from photovoltaics" possible:
Fabio Giddey, Swissolar
Thomas Keel, Laveba
Philipp Egger, Energy Agency St. Gallen
Ässia Boukhatmi & Roger Nyffenegger, Bern University of Applied Sciences
Roman Eppenberger, SENS eRecycling
Christof Baumgartner, Arenenberg
Natascha Verardo, TVO
Agrola and ASTRA
Olma Messen St. Gallen
