Solar PV in Finland Jero Ahola, 7.4.2019 email: jero.ahola@lut.fi - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Solar PV in Finland

Jero Ahola, 7.4.2019 email: jero.ahola@lut.fi Twitter: @JeroAhola

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Source: European Union, Joint Research Centre, (http://re.jrc.ec.europa.e u/pvgis/cmaps/eur.htm)

Finland:

• Location: between

latitudes of 60°−70°

• Area: 338 435 km2
• Population: 5.5 M
• 19 M people live

totally above parallel latitudes of 60° from that in Finland 28%.

Finland and Lappeenranta

April 7, 2019

Status of solar PV in Finland (end 2018)

• Estimate ~50-60 MW new grid-connected solar PV capacity installed in 2018 . Official

numbers will be provided Energy Authority in June 2019

• In total (end of 2018) ~130 MW cumulative grid-connected capacity.
• The number of PV plants is probably 10 000 – 15 000
• No big PV utility-scale plants yet, currently the largest one 4,4 MW in Nurmo (will be 6 MW)
• All installations are practically for self-consumption. However solar PV is in Finland the

second least cost option for new power generation after wind power

• Economically profitable without subsidies for retail stores, public buildings, etc. However, the

maximum plant size is limited to around 900 kW due to electricity tax regulation.

• Subsidies:
• For companies and organisations it is possible to apply for 20% investment subsidy for total costs of

PV systems from Ministry of Employment and the Economy

• For agricultural use it is possible to apply for 40% investment subsidy for PV systems from Agency of

Rural Affairs

• Individuals are eligible to get a tax credit (50% of the total work costs, maximum 2400 €/a/person) for

the installation work of the PV system (installations to existing buildings only). For residential PV systems this corresponds to ~10-15% investment subsidy

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Development of PV capacity in Finland

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20 40 60 80 100 120 140 2006200720082009201020112012201320142015201620172018

Cumulative capacity MWp

Year

Finland

* 2018 numbers are based on estimates ** includes ~10 MW of off-grid capacity mainly located at summer cottages

April 7, 2019 Jero Ahola

Typical PV system turnkey prices in Finland in late 2018 (VAT 0%)

5 Ca Cate tego gory/Size Typical applica cati tions and b brief d details Cu Current p prices [€/W] V VAT 0% OFF-GRID Up to 1 kW (SHS) Typically, PV systems that are installed in boats, caravans, summer cottages and include lead-acid batteries. 5 OFF-GRID > 10 MW scale No 10 MW-scale off-grid plants in Finland. No plants Grid-connected Rooftop up to 5-10 kW (residential BAPV) Systems installed in grid-connected houses for self-consumption. These plants are typically roof- mounted. 1.05-1.9 Grid-connected Rooftop from 10 to 250 kW (commercial BAPV) Systems installed to produce electricity for the self-consumption of commercial buildings, offices and public buildings. 0.75-1.05 Grid-connected Rooftop above 250 kW (industrial BAPV) Systems installed to produce electricity for self- consumption in industrial sites or large commercial buildings. 0.65-0.75 Grid-connected Ground- mounted above 10 MW Utility-scale PV plants that generate electricity to be sold in electricity markets. No > 10 MW plants installed in Finland yet. The numbers represent the estimated price window. 0.55-0.65 April 7, 2019 Jero Ahola

Nurmon Aurinko, 6 MW solar PV plant in Nurmo

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• Located at Atria Oy company

production site in Nurmo

• Different installations, however, the

majority of modules are as a ground- installation

• More information:

https://www.nurmonaurinko.fi/english

April 7, 2019 Jero Ahola

Porin Puuvilla, 601 kW solar PV in Pori

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• Rooftop installation at

retail shopping center in Pori

• Capacity 601 kW

Photo from NAPS Solar Systems Oy April 7, 2019 Jero Ahola

Summary

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• Solar PV growing in Finland with very mild economic subsidies
• Based on estimates in 2018 50-60 MW of new capacity installed, leading to cumulative capacity of ~130 MW in 2018.
• Solar PV is the second least cost new power source after the wind power in Finland.
• Significant progress since 2012
• Grid connection of micro-generation straightforward (50 <kVA)
• Practically all energy companies buying micro-generated electricity (at wholesale market price)
• No electricity tax for self-consumption PV plants, if SN < 100 kVA or Ea < 800 MWh/a
• No building permits for rooftops required in several cities
• Public awareness of solar PV has increased significantly.
• PV capacity is build for self-consumption
• Companies, farms, public organisations, etc. Economically profitable even without subsidies
• Are able to use all electricity and eligible to apply investment subsidy (~20-40 % of total costs)
• Household PV in Finland:
• Problems still with the current electricity metering: Due to measurement principle prosumer typically both sells and

buys electricity within the same hour. Price of sold electricity 1/3 of the cost of purchase electricity.

• The self-consumption of majority of produced electricity may be difficult due to mismatch of production and

consumption

• However, the decision of an individual to buy a solar PV system is usually not done based on other reasons than

economic ones.

April 7, 2019 Jero Ahola