The drastic price reduction of solar cells saves 8 per cent on the cost price of the electricity producing greenhouse (Elkas). This is what Piet Sonneveld, project leader of Elkas and connected to Wageningen UR Greenhouse Horticulture, says. And this also shortens the pay back period during exploitation. Sonneveld estimates that the costs of solar cells, the so-called PV cells, amount to 25 per cent of the total cost price. "This means that a 30 per cent price reduction of solar cells would save some 8 per cent on the total cost price", figures the researcher.
At the moment the price reduction has little consequences for research. "My supplier now provides made-to-measure concentrated solar cells that collect 50 per cent more sun than a normal cell. Scaling up of the Elkas project will result in my supplier increasing production. And he will then follow the market price. This means that the cells will become cheaper."
The Elkas project has been completed after three years. In September Sonneveld will submit an application for follow-up research into the further development of the greenhouse. The amount involved is 800 000 euro, which would have to be provided by the Product Board for Horticulture and the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality. "I think there is a good chance that the project can be scaled up. The pay back time and feasibility of the research are now also more favourable."
The price drop of solar cells is caused by overcapacity. Companies have for years been investing in the development of solar cells, anticipating a high demand. This did not materialise as result of the crisis. And at the same time European companies have to compete with cheaper Chinese products.
Source: www.agd.nl