Solar energy in Finland

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Solar panels in Helsinki

Solar energy in Finland is used primarily for water heating and by the use of photovoltaics to generate electricity. As a northern country, summer days are long and winter days are short. Above the Arctic Circle, the sun does not rise some days in winter, and does not set some days in the summer. Due to the low sun angle, it is more common to place solar panels on the south side of buildings instead of on the roof. Mounting them vertically reduces the average output by 22% from mounting at a 60° angle.

Photovoltaics[edit]

The PV capacity of Finland was (2012) 11.1 MWp. Solar power in Finland was (1993–1999) 1 GWh, (2000–2004) 2 GWh and (2005) 3 GWh.[1] There has been at least one demonstration project by the YIT Rakennus, NAPS Systems, Lumon and City of Helsinki in 2003. Finland is a member in the IEA's Photovoltaic Power Systems Programme but not in the Scandinavian Photovoltaic Industry Association, SPIA.

In 2015, the Kaleva Media printing plant in Oulu became the most powerful photovoltaic solar plant in Finland, with 1,604 solar photovoltaic (PV) units on its roof. Although the city of Oulu, located near the Arctic Circle, has only two hours of weak sunlight in December, the photovoltaic cells work almost around the clock in the summer. The cold climate means the PV panels can get up to a 25% boost per hour, as they don't overheat.[2]

Because the sun is quite low in the sky at this latitude, vertical PV installations are popular on the sides of buildings. These solar walls also capture light reflected from snow.[2]

Snow is not necessarily cleared from rooftop solar installations.[2]

Solar heating[edit]

The objective in solar heating is 163 000 m2 collector area (1995–2010).[3] In 2006 the collector area in operation was 16 493 m2.[4] Solar heat in Finland was (1997–2004) 4-5 GWh and (2005) 6 GWh.[1] Thus, Finland has installed 10% of its objective in 11 years time (1995–2010). The solar heating has not been competitive due to cheap alternatives (electricity, fuel oil and district heating) and the lack of support systems. Companies and public organizations may receive 40% investment subsidies, but private houses do not receive subsidies yet. The Finnish Solar Industries (FSI) group was established in 2001.[3] 2006/2005 the markets grew 43%. Finland's production capacity is 16 000 m2/a. New installations were: 2 380 m2 (2006), 1 668 m2 (2005) and 1 141 m2 (2004). There are growth opportunities in the solar heating. In 2018 S-Ryhmä decided to order solar panels for 40 of its commercial real estate buildings. This is the biggest solar panel project in Finnish history.[5]

Statistics[edit]

Source: NREL[6]
Finland's PV Capacity (MWp)[7][8]
Year Capacity Installed % Change
2001 2.76 n.a. n.a.
2002 3.05 0.29 10%
2003 3.40 0.35 11%
2004 3.70 0.30 9%
2005 4.00 0.30 8%
2006 4.62 0.62 16%
2007 5.10 0.48 10%
2008 5.65 0.55 11%
2009 7.65 2.00 35%
2010 9.65 2.00 26%
2011 11.17 1.52 16%
2012 11.17 0.00 0%
2013 11.17 0.00 0%
2014 11.17 0.00 0%
2015 14.7 3.53 31%

See also[edit]

References[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Solar energy in Finland.
  1. ^ a b Energy Statistics Yearbook 2006, Official Statistics of Finland (GWh)
  2. ^ a b c Hockenos, Paul (2020-02-24). "Solar Power Just Miles from the Arctic Circle? In Icy Nordic Climes, It's Become the Norm". InsideClimate News. Retrieved 2020-02-26.
  3. ^ a b ESTIF Sun in Action II – A Solar Thermal Strategy for Europe, vol. 2 The Solar Thermal Sector Country by Country, 21 National Reports, 348 s., 4/2003 Archived 2007-09-28 at the Wayback Machine
  4. ^ Solar Thermal Markets in Europe (Trends and market statistics 2006) 6/2007 Archived 2007-09-28 at the Wayback Machine
  5. ^ "Fortumille Pohjoismaiden historian suurin aurinkosähköjärjestelmätoimitus | fortum.fi". fortum.fi (in Finnish). Retrieved 2018-07-18.
  6. ^ "PV Watts". NREL. Retrieved 9 April 2013. [dead link]
  7. ^ "Euro Observer". Archived from the original on 2012-03-16. Retrieved 2012-03-16.
  8. ^ "Global Market Outlook for Photovoltaics 2014-2018" (PDF). epia.org. EPIA – European Photovoltaic Industry Association. p. 24. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 June 2014. Retrieved 23 April 2015.
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