Swiss Energy Strategy 2050: Research on photovoltaic electricity production

Research activities on electricity production from photovoltaics as carried out by the Photovoltaic Laboratory (PV LAB) at Bern University of Applied Sciences BFH, Burgdorf, Switzerland are presented. The activities are nested in one of the new Competence Centers for Energy Research set up by the Swiss Government in view of implementing the “Energy Strategy 2050”. Information on long-term energy yields is gained from measurements in a Swiss photovoltaic installation network. This unique network was started in the 1990s by the PV LAB, who today operates around 35 PV installations in Switzerland. The current research focus is on alpine sites as they produce a stable energy yield in winter. Photovoltaic-oriented buildings (PVOB) also contribute to electricity production in winter and form another research pillar of the PV LAB. In order to survey mounting work, the quality of PV modules in complex terrain or on façades of high-rising buildings, a new IR-multicopter was built.