The document discusses 7 myths about solar energy and provides facts to counter each myth. The myths are that solar energy is only for niches, only viable in sunbelt countries, will never be competitive, is a pain for urban planning, is intermittent, is not sustainable, and it is better to wait to adopt it. The facts provided show solar energy has huge potential, can be used in many countries, is already competitive in some places and will reach grid parity in more places, can enhance buildings, can be reliable when combined with storage and smart grids, has short energy payback times, and needs to be adopted more quickly given the urgency of climate change.

1. From consumer to producer Solar energy innovations in the built environment Wim C. Sinke ECN Solar Energy, Utrecht University & EU PV Technology Platform

2. Or: 7 myths about solar energy

3. The many faces of (photovoltaic) solar energy

6. oil coal gas nuclear power hydroelectricity biomass (traditional) biomass (advanced) solar power (photovoltaics (PV) & solar thermal generation (CSP) solar thermal (heat only) other renewables geothermal wind energy Source: German Advisory Council on Global Change, 2003, www.wbgu.de (example scenario) EJ/a Solar energy in the energy transition PV & CSP year 2000 2020 2040 200 600 1000 1400 2100

7. 2500 TWh ~1% of primary energy 1500 ~ 2000 GWp

12. Solar resource solar irradiation in kWh/m 2. day (source: ABB, 1998)

15. Grid parity in Europe – 2007 (lines to guide the eye) insolation map : Šúri M., Huld T.A., Dunlop E.D. Ossenbrink H.A., 2007. Potential of solar electricity generation in the European Union member states and candidate countries. Solar Energy (in press), http://re.jrc.ec.europa.eu/pvgis/

16. Grid parity in Europe – 2010 (lines to guide the eye)

17. Grid parity in Europe – 2015 (lines to guide the eye)

18. Grid parity in Europe – 2020 (lines to guide the eye)

19. Grid parity in Europe – 2030 (lines to guide the eye)

20. Fingerprints of PV technology 0.25 0.5 1 2 >10 Typical system energy pay-back time Southern Europe (yrs) up to 60% up to 40% Up to 30% up to 25% (  10%) Typical commercial concentrator module efficiencies up to 40% up to 25% Up to 20% up to 15% up to 8% Typical commercial flat-plate module efficiencies (total area) 0.03 0.06 (competitive with wholesale electricity) 0.15 / 0.12 (competitive with retail electricity) 0.30 >2 Typical electricity generation costs S Europe (2007 €/kWh) 0.5 1 2.5 / 2.0 5 (range 4 ~8) >30 Typical turn-key system price (2007 €/Wp, excl. VAT) Long term potential 2030 2015 / 2020 Today 1980 Rounded figures

21. Fingerprints of PV technology 0.25 0.5 1 2 >10 Typical system energy pay-back time Southern Europe (yrs) up to 60% up to 40% Up to 30% up to 25% (  10%) Typical commercial concentrator module efficiencies up to 40% up to 25% Up to 20% up to 15% up to 8% Typical commercial flat-plate module efficiencies (total area) 0.03 0.06 (competitive with wholesale electricity) 0.15 / 0.12 (competitive with retail electricity) 0.30 >2 Typical electricity generation costs S Europe (2007 €/kWh) 0.5 1 2.5 / 2.0 5 (range 4 ~8) >30 Typical turn-key system price (2007 €/Wp, excl. VAT) Long term potential 2030 2015 / 2020 Today 1980 Rounded figures

24. Solar resource NL: freedom in design for “sun-friendly” urban planning and architecture Source: Holland Solar orientation and tilt dependence of yearly irradiance (NL) < 10% loss

25. Solar resource NL: freedom in design for “sun-friendly” urban planning and architecture Source: Holland Solar orientation and tilt dependence of yearly irradiance (NL) < 20% loss

26. Mayersloot (architect Tjerk Reijenga)

27. City of the Sun, courtesy: Municipality of Heerhugowaard

28. Derbisolar W ü rth Solar

29. Office building ECN (architect Tjerk Reijenga)

30. W ürth S olar

31. Ohta city, Japan Photo courtesy SunConnex Berlin, DE Sunderland, UK

32. United Solar

35. Ken Zweibel, James Mason and Vasilis Fthenakis

36. Europe - Middle East & North Africa (EU-MENA) grid Source: DLR (DE) / Stichting GEZEN (NL) Press release 26 Nov 2007: Clean Power from Deserts for Europe, the Middle East and North Africa Prince Hassan bin Talal of Jordan presents White Paper to EU Parliament

37. PV grid integration Source: M. Braun, ISET, DE

40. Energy pay-back time (NL) : status and near-future development Alsema, de Wild-Scholten and Fthenakis, Proc. EUPVSEC21 (2006)

44. Installed power per application area Source: Paul Maycock & Travis Bradford, Renewable Energy World (July/Aug 2007)

45. Solar Europe Initiative

46. thank you for your attention! © Greenpeace