Final Report Summary - SOLARROK (PHOTOVOLTAIC Clusters Development and Implementation Measures of a Seven Region Strategic Joint Action Plan for Knowledge-based Regional Innovation)
Executive Summary:
SOLARROK has brought together seven European PV regions and partner from 9 countries (Navarre (Spain), Rhône-Alps (France), Central Germany, Slovenia, Austria, Lithuania with a Norwegian research partner, Belgium and Netherlands (cross-border ELAt region). The consortium has carried out joint activities (12/2012 – 11/2015) to (1) improve access to international markets, to (2) support regional PV innovation systems through interregional knowledge exchange, to (3) identify approaches for long-term cluster collaboration and to (4) strengthen the competitiveness of European PV clusters.
Based on regional analyses of the PV sector environments and a study of global trends and opportunities, the consortium developed the SOLARROK RTD-Atlas (WP2). The Atlas includes results of interviews among 74 research institutes and 114 companies in all project regions which provided a detailed picture of actual research and business hot spots as well as an assessment of expected future trends. The insights from the RTD-Atlas were used to establish expert groups focusing on regional and interregional exchange processes (WP3 and WP4) around sharing RTD infrastructures, training and mobility, smart specialization and regional best practices for collaboration business models in PV.
In parallel, the SOLARROK Joint Action Plan (WP3) was developed in two steps leading to a set of actions fostering the further cooperation of the SOLARROK PV clusters with foci on training and education (incl. concept for a summer school), market support, R&D infrastructures, internationalisation, BIPV, and PV Grid integration. In addition, regional Action Plans for Smart Specialisation revealed differences in regional support measures and policies for the PV sector, demonstrated regional achievements during the project’s lifetime and gave recommendations.
The project’s internationalisation approach (WP5) responded well to the PV clusters’ needs and has created tangible benefits through cooperation. After attuning possible topics and strategies in an expert workshop on European level, major global-level PV clusters were evaluated. The selected PV clusters beyond Europe in Turkey, Egypt and Tunisia were visited by SOLARROK delegations and then invited for three consecutive match-making workshops in the project regions Rhône-Alps, Central Germany and ELAt which resulted in immediate benefits for the participating cluster members (companies & research institutes).
The project has created impact in the project regions and neighbouring PV clusters in MENA countries through dissemination activities on different levels: 7 regional workshops, 9 international workshops, participation at international fairs, presentations at multiple regional and international occasions. To conclude the project and set the scene for the future cooperation between European and neighbouring PV Clusters from MENA countries, the final conference was carried out as first EU Forum of PV Clusters during the Open Days of Regions and Cities 2015 in Brussels (14.10).
A future meta-cluster cooperation shall focus on knowledge exchange and joint internationalisation activities, making the best use of regional experiences, RTD and business capacities and established international networks.
Project Context and Objectives:
The United Nations’ Climate Change Conference held in Paris in November 2015 (to be signed by April 2016) resulted in an agreement adopted by all of the 195 UNFCCC participating member states to hold “the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2 °C above pre-industrial levels and to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5 °C above pre-industrial levels, recognizing that this would significantly reduce the risks and impacts of climate change”. The Paris Agreement calls for zero net anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions to be reached during the second half of the 21st century.
This calls for a coordinated transformation of the worlds energy systems to more and more renewable energies used in a more efficient way, while at the same time increasing energy efficiency. The grid needs to be developed and adapted to a more flexible distribution of energy. Efficient storage systems including electro-mobility have to interact with the grid to allow for reliable and efficient operation. In the future energy mix, solar energy will play a crucial role. In the last decade, funding programmes in European countries have created a market for solar energy and supported immense research and development activities creating a huge innovation boost. During the last years, European solar industry has faced a growing competition from Asian market actors which has led to a rapid and drastic decrease of prices and cost for solar energy. In 2015, installed solar power capacity worldwide was expected to hit 200 GW (http://solarlove.org/global-solar-pv-capacity-nearing-200-gw/; Zach). A study by the Fraunhofer ISE in 2015 concludes that “In a few years, solar energy plants will deliver the most inexpensive power available in many parts of the world. By 2025, the cost of producing power in central and southern Europe will have declined to between 4 and 6 cents per kilowatt hour, and by 2050 to as low as 2 to 4 cents.” (www.agora-energiewende.de/fileadmin/downloads/publikationen/Studien/PV_Cost_2050/AgoraEnergiewende_Current_and_Future_Cost_of_PV_Feb2015_web.pdf ).
The European PV industry cannot attempt to produce standard solar cells at less cost than in Asia. But a collective, coordinated research in Europe is working on a whole spectrum of new technologies and has a chance for technology leadership bringing new technologies, which allow higher efficiencies at lower production cost, quickly into the market.
In the SOLARROK “Regions of Knowledge” project, European regions have developed a collaboration approach in order to keep innovative capacities in the photovoltaics (PV) sector. PV clusters from Navarre (Spain), Rhône-Alps (France), Central Germany, Slovenia, Austria, Lithuania, Belgium and Netherlands (in their cross-border collaboration as ELAt region), and the Norwegian research institute SINTEF address the most important current challenges for the European PV sector by knowledge exchange and joint activities in European and emerging markets.
The managements of the participating clusters stand for more than 600 companies & 40 research institutes across Europe. The SOLARROK therefore puts a considerable network power in motion – facilitated by regional communication channels. Regional experts representing the entire PV value chain contribute to establishing the knowledge base.
Objectives
The SOLARROK PHOTOVOLTAIC Clusters Development and Implementation Measures of a Seven Region Strategic Joint Action Plan for Knowledge-based Regional Innovation has been based on 4 objectives, namely:
- To improve access to international markets by developing new joint business models for RTD-& business actors of the European solar sector (GO1)
- To supporting innovation system by filling RTD-gaps through interregional knowledge exchange and identifying approaches for long-term cluster collaboration and fostering creative entrepreneurship (GO2)
- To build international collaboration capacities by optimising concepts to facilitate the development of new products, services and processes in the solar sector with special regard to education and training programmes (GO3)
- To strengthen European competitiveness by joint action developing a SOLARROK Joint Action Plan at European level including advice mechanisms, regional chapters for smart specialisation and an internationalisation strategy (GO4)
GO1 – Improving Access to International Markets
Developing new joint business models and improving the access to international markets for RTD and
business actors of the European solar sector is crucial to reach sustainability of the partners’ cooperation.
Matching collaboration partnerships between research and industry or SMEs and creating platforms
for knowledge exchange would be insufficient without further support. All involved clusters have
a wealth of experience in providing services to support technology- and knowledge transfer. To learn
from each other in terms of exchanging on the different models to organise possible successful
cooperation between the RTD actors (IPR rights, examples for work flow organisation, etc) is therefore a major concern of the consortium. Consequently, and in connection with possibly emerging new business models, the project addresses the access to international markets by active promotion and matchmaking activities supported by the partner clusters’ different
established relations and “bridgeheads” in international markets.
GO2 – Supporting the Innovation Systems
Strengthening the innovation systems of the participating clusters and within the European PV sector
is the core objective of the project and is addressed by a multilevel approach. Based on the established
complementarities of the innovation systems and RTD offer and demand, the clusters strive to align their joint innovation performance with the future challenges for the PV sector and the energy systems.
Coordinated action of regional innovation actors will be carried out to address the technological and
economic challenges of the PV sector and encourage new ways to use solar energy. A multi-stakeholder exchange process is foreseen and planned in the project which will efficiently address all elements of the innovation chains: technological interdisciplinarity, new PV integration models, resource and cost efficient production, collaboration scope of the triple helix actors (regional and interregional), and innovative cluster services.
GO3 – Building International Cooperation Capacities
The SOLARROK consortium fosters international cooperation in two major parts of the project’s
working structure, addressing two aspects: cooperation within Europe and with extra-European partners.
The partners are well aware of the difficulties of such an endeavour and have dedicated a carefully
planned multi-step process to establish a successful cooperation environment on global level. A
well-matched “coopetition” process with clusters beyond Europe will help to open up collaboration
opportunities, and will additionally inform the SOLARROK partners about global trends and help
to benchmark their innovation systems, thus serving in the same time to optimise and realign regional smart specialisation strategies.
On the European level, partners will engage to utilise their complementary strengths: to share research infrastructures and activate the human potential by increasing researchers’ mobility, to organise knowledge transfer between research and industry, and facilitate access to private and public funding.
GO4 – Strengthening European Competitiveness by Joint Action
The SOLARROK consortium takes care to establish consultation activities and advice mechanisms to
set up the JAP. This process will be started by stakeholder interaction as soon as the information base is prepared (month 8-11). The Joint Action Plan is not only a core document of the project, the
process of developing concerted actions and collaboration opportunities, models and plans is the main activity throughout the whole project. Joint action will be reconsidered at the end of the project, and a plan for further cooperation within the consortium, with other European PV competence regions and on global level will be developed. By a careful assessment of technical and economical feasibility of the planned cooperation activities, the sustainability of the JAP will be supported to achieve the overall objective of improving European competitiveness. Establishing regional JAPs for smart specialisation will support the successful transfer of the JAP to the regional level.
Project Results:
As a Coordination and Support Action, SOLARROK has focused on (i) analytical and (ii) strategic investigations, (iii) the development of Joint Action Plan(s), as well as (iv) benchmarking and internationalisation activities. In the following section the project’s results are described and correlated to the sub-objectives of the respective workpackages.
RESULTS OF WORKPACKAGE 2
2.1 Task 2.1 Definition of the Analyses Methodology
Objective: To develop methodology, procedures and structures for intra- and cross-regional analyses
A methodology was developed to structure the analyses on different levels.
1. To set the scene, a study of Global trends, challenges and opportunities of the EU PV sector including a coopetition analysis of global supply chains and innovation networks and market profiles based on the cluster members’ experience was carried out, highlighting different frameworks for PV and cultural aspects (e.g. IPR protection, business practices), as well as international tenders.
2. In a next step, the report on Regional RTD Environments established RTD, economic, and policy environments and needs in the cluster regions describing key stakeholders and activities in the field of photovoltaic in the SOLARROK regions.
3. The RTD-Atlas was designed to recognize competencies of each PV cluster for better and more specific collaboration in different aspects: RTD, education, internationalization, sharing infrastructure, personal transfer, market, PV penetration into grid. The methodology comprised desk research and field research, including an overview of PV regions (policy, research, education, players in industry and research) and in-depth research along the PV value chain research needs. Based on a jointly developed PV Value Chain, a survey among relevant research institutions and producing PV industry was prepared.
Graphic: SOLARROK PV Value Chain
4. A SWOT analysis was carried out based on the following indicators: participation of
regional institutions or companies collaborative research projects, research roles, patenting focus at regional level, expected impacts, etc.
2.2 Regional RTD Environments
Objective: To analyse RTD, economic, and policy environments and needs in the cluster regions vis à vis a global background in order to improve regional smart specialisation.
Key stakeholders and activities in the field of photovoltaic in the SOLARROK PV cluster regions have been collected in this task, including all relevant actors in research & technological development, in business and industry as well as supporting regional and national authorities. The resulting regional capacity, where applicable, has been assessed in terms of size (jobs, persons, budget) or turnover. In addition to the description of single dimensions of activity (RTD, industry and governance), the internal report describes regional and national issues, like research programs, representative training and education measures, and outstanding best practices. The task prepared the interviews among PV stakeholders that have been carried out in all SOLARROK regions for the RTD-Atlas (D2.3).
2.3 Global Trends and Opportunities Study
Objective: To identify synergies and opportunities for all clusters and partners involved
The internal report on global trends and opportunities is one of the base documents for the strategic work within SOLARROK: the aggregation of the SOLARROK RTD-Atlas with Regional and Global SWOTs and preparing the internationalisation activities in WP5. Global trends, challenges and opportunities of the EU PV sector for the short and mid future have been compiled, leading to a detailed coopetition analysis of global supply chains and innovation networks.
Market profiles have been developed collecting the cluster members’ experience and focusing on
the emerging markets in Asia and the MENA countries, including specific legal frameworks for PV and cultural aspects (e.g. IPR protection, business practices). Examples for international tenders have been collected.
Starting from the status today (PV industry and system market), PV roadmaps and national/ regional targets are described world-wide and for the project regions. Global trends and opportunities are analysed with regard to general trends, upcoming challenges for the RTD sector, the global supply chain and markets.
2.4 SOLARROK RTD-Atlas
Objective: To develop SWOT Analyses and to map the SOLARROK RTD Directory
Based on the established regional RTD environments and the Global Trends and Opportunities Study, the RTD atlas was developed assessing in detail the existing resources and identifying research potentials in the different photovoltaic regions. The data used are based on a survey among relevant research institutions and producing PV industry in all SOLARROK regions (July-September 2013). In total, 74 research institutes and 115 companies were asked about key figures (turnover, employees ...) research activities and their rating importance future research areas.
Graphic: Main classes of product on a regional base, i.e. the number of companies providing a specific product in a specific region
The RTD-Atlas – accompanied by a SWOT analysis – outlines meaningful data of the SOLARROK regions. It illustrates the SOLARROK regions as having a high density of companies with a turnover under 10 Mio € and additionally a remarkable quantity of companies between 10 Mio € and 100 Mio €. The investigated companies are predominantly small and medium enterprises.
Research institutions and companies were also asked to rate the specific value chain elements in terms of their relevance in the next 5 years in the survey.
Graphic: Future Needs for Research Capacities: Research Institutes (n=32) <> Producing Companies (n=65)
Legend: Value Chain Element According to PV Value Chain (● RESEARCH/ ● COMPANIES)
The outcome gives key aspects for certain research areas in the future regarding to technological fields of the value chain (CPV, crystalline silicon, thin film PV, OPV, BOS, PV Generator) and generic activities like quality aspects, integration into grid and education. It has provided valuable information about potential for future research, in particular for setting up the SOLARROK Joint Action Plan and workshops with various European and national players of politics.
RESULTS OF WORKPACKAGE 3
3.1 Moderated Consultation Process Structuring the JAP
Objective: To consult and involve regional triple helix stakeholders for strategy development
In the SOLARROK Regions of Knowledge project, the Joint Action Plan (JAP) was developed in two steps: an intermediate JAP was produced at project mid-time and revised, adapted and complemented at the end of the project. Regional workshops where carried out in all project regions and in addition, the objectives of the project where discussed at different opportunities in regional events. Nevertheless, has the consortium made the experience, that in times of cutting down feed-in-tariff and other subsidies for PV it was in some regions difficult to even raise the issue of the European solar industry and RTD capacities. Successful engagement of regional triple helix stakeholders could be reached with specific sectors, e.g. the introduction of Building Integrated PV in Navarra as a new topic in a regional workshop on BIPV with participation regional government, research (renewable energies, engineering & architecture, including students) and companies. The ELAt regions’ PV cluster SOLLIANCE was presented on several occasions as successful and innovative best practice example for triple helix collaboration and regional smart specialisation which is successful as a PV R&D platform for thin film attracting industrial interest on a global level.
3.2 Production of the Joint Action Plan
Objective: To produce a consortium JAP and seven regional JAPs including business plan and internationalisation strategy
To develop the JAP, partners have identified complementarities between regional clusters. The analyses carried out in WP2 but also the implementation of joint actions within other workpackages (e.g. the PV Tour in WP5 with three consecutive match-making workshops in three selected SOLARROK regions with an invited delegation of representatives from MENA countries) where clusters presented themselves jointly, were a way to identify topics of collaboration. Within WP3, the consortium continuously exchanged information, shared best practices and opened the dialogue between different regional stakeholders. To structure this process, the consortium created expert groups to develop collaborations around the following topics:
- Training and education
- Market support
- R&D Infrastructures
- Internationalisation
- BIPV
- PV Grid integration
- Si Wafer Technologies
The intermediate joint action plan was produced at the middle of the project and allowed the consortium to test collaboration propositions. Some of them were a success, and will be further developed, others have been considered as best practices to be shared with regional actors who could implement actions, and others have been left out of the JAP as they are not feasible or do not present any positive interest for collaboration. The final JAP contains all the joint actions that the consortium has agreed to implement on the short and medium terms after the end of the project.
The JAP is a first milestone in the work achieved by the consortium to foster interregional collaboration and inter-clustering in the field of PV. The concept of “coopetition” could be applied to SOLARROK activities: it reflects how European competitors have learnt to work together in areas in which they are complementary in order to be more competitive as a whole. At the EU level, this coordination was oriented towards an increased regional smart specialisation to better support innovation processes. At the global level, SOLARROK aimed at developing a coordinated approach between European stakeholders.
3.3 Regional JAPs for Smart Specialisation
Objective: To produce a consortium JAP and seven regional JAPs including business plan and internationalisation strategy
At project mid-time (June 2014), the SOLARROK PV Clusters have analysed the status of smart
specialisation policies in their regions with regards to PV and produced the so-called « Intermediate
Joint Action Plans for S3”. The ‘Regional JAPs for smart specialisation’ link the analysis of regional S3 with regard to the PV sector to the SOLARROK Joint Action Plan. SOLARROK stakeholders being key actors in the innovation process in the field of PV, have formulated recommendations for both regional and Brussels’ authorities. These constitute a road map for the update of regional policies, initiatives, programmes and processes needed to implement the strategies identified in the SOLARROK JAP and to support regional smart specialisation.
Regional analyses have shown that despite the fact that clean energies are listed as a societal
challenge for Horizon 2020, a majority of the regions involved in the SOLARROK project have decided
not to include PV explicitly as a priority in their innovation strategies. This trend is worrying as the RIS3 policies will impact the allocation of European regional funds.
The SOLARROK regions have a very different history regarding policies for the support of PV
implementation. Therefore, the current status of either radical drawback from former programs or
creating a new focus on advanced PV applications or intelligent business models displays a broad
range across all SOLARROK regions. Through the SOLARROK exchange activities and workshops on
local, interregional and international level, this range of different experiences and conclusions has
been used to trigger rethinking and strategic creativity.
RESULTS OF WORKPACKAGE 4
Expert groups were set up to structure the interregional knowledge exchange and collaboration process along the following major fields:
4.1 PV cluster environment & European collaboration
Objective: To make best use of regional innovation capacities through new cross-regional collaboration models
In several steps, future collaboration potentials among European PV clusters were addressed, resulting in a “Work program for Solarrok+” discussed at the interregional workshop in Vienna (as input for the JAP) that described (among others), the
- Organization of a future and “ideal” European competence specialization in PV
A strategy for an optimized distribution of complementary innovation competencies amongst all relevant European PV clusters, mainly driven by and reflect the market needs with a special focus on emerging extra-European markets.
- Interdisciplinary Joint Roadmaps for Smart PV
Interdisciplinary issues were clearly identified as of high potential for the market penetration of PV products: building integration and integration in urban infrastructures, ICT, mobility, materials (in particular Nano materials), water, waste and energy management, maintenance and recycling, etc.
- Information platform for PV-applications
According to the results of other research projects (e.g. PV-Grid), there still is a need to exchange on technological issues as well as good and even bad practices on market and policy issues.
- Moderation between authorities and regional industry
Regional Authorities are rated to cause the most critical hurdles, so a powerful and well (across clusters) informed entity should be installed (e.g. on developing legal framework, setting up RTD programs, developing educational content).
4.2 Mobilise human resources and infrastructure exchange
Objective: To build the human potential by initiation of joint education and training programs
The clusters and research organisations within the SOLARROK consortium have created an inventory for European summer schools in Europe. A concept for a joint summer school was developed and action was taken to achieve funding for the proposed program. In addition, a directory for sharing the R&D infrastructures among the members of SOLARROK project was developed and exchanged with the SOPHIA project. SOLARROK was presented at a SOPHIA event in France with a panel discussion.
4.3 Cooperation business models: developing joint research and innovative projects
Objective: To demonstrate advanced European technologies
Collaboration business models have been developed on different levels, including models for citizen participation, public procurement, young peoples’ education (pupils, students), new business models for shared ownership of installations, and new financing models.
On a technological level, SOLARROK partners have practised intense knowledge exchange and engaged in several joint applications for funding programs, among them topics like e.g. wafer technologies, recycling, and BIPV.
4.4 PV Technologies – best practice demonstration within Europe
Objective: To work towards the sustainable implementation of the joint action plan and stabilise a platform for European PV cluster collaboration.
The consortium has taken care to use each project meeting in order to visit demonstrators for advanced PV technologies (installations, research facilities) in order to make the best use of travel budgets. In addition, the partners decided to collect best practices focusing rather on regional policies, exploring regional action plans and support measures, than on a purely technological level. These best practices were put together in a document and used for dissemination and discussion with diverse target groups in the respective project regions. This effort to foster interregional exchange of policies and support measures was also supported by the 4. Interregional Workshop on smart specialisation strategies (Bodø, Norway) and the workshop on efficient policy design in Ljubljana.
RESULTS OF WORKPACKAGE 5
The overall objective of WP5 (Internationalisation) is to foster sourcing, R&D cooperation and sales opportunities for the research and industry partners involved in regions beyond Europe. The European Solar energy clusters’ competitiveness shall be enhanced by strengthening innovation related co-operation with international communities through benchmarking of the innovation systems, building up lasting relations with foreign regions/markets, and further stabilising the European clusters collaboration structures by joint activities in global markets.
To achieve the main objectives of WP5, a four steps approach in was followed:
1. Step: Preparing the Background for Collaboration
A workshop with the European PV Clusters was carried out at the imec research institute in Leuven in April 2014 in order to align needs and potentials of the different regions for the internationalisation strategy (see 5.1). In 2015, a second workshop targeted PV policies and smart specialisation strategies to support global competitiveness of European PV clusters (see 5.4).
2. Step: Delegation Visits to Selected MENA Countries (see 5.2)
3. Step : PV Tour d’Europe (see 5.3)
4. Step: SOLARROK Forum of European PV Clusters, October 14, 2015, in Brussels (SOLARROK Final Conference) with in-depth public discussion of collaboration potentials and conditions with experts (industry, associations & public bodies & research) from MENA countries (see D6.63 Conference Proceedings, available on the project website).
5.1 Benchmarking workshop exploring global PV cluster expertise
Objective: To identify possible collaboration opportunities and to prepare a strategy for exchange with clusters beyond Europe
The international SOLARROK Workshop on "Building Competitive Strength of the EU PV-Industry through Joint Action of Regions" (April 2014) held at imec in Leuven, Belgium, brought together experts from more than ten European countries. How to secure a share of the globally growing PV markets for the European PV value chain was the main question discussed in five moderated breakout sessions and a set of recommendations was developed. The structure of the five sessions is also reflected in the SOLARROK Joint Action Plan:
- Internationalisation
- Models for R&D Collaboration
- Overcoming Market Barriers
- PV Penetration into The Grid
- Regional Specialisation for PV Applications
Recommendation addressed the following issues, e.g.: European PV clusters’ unique selling points; role of certification and quality control for the market; integrating systems and applications; joint lobbying and marketing for EU PV opportunities; European registry of R&D resources as well as demonstration projects; new business models and services for PV grid integration and self-consumption; impact monitoring for policies; development of PV applications for emerging markets with special conditions (climate, investment, etc). The outcome of the workshop served for both, development of the SOLARROK Joint Action Plan, and the further set up of the internationalisation strategy in WP5 including the selection of targeted clusters beyond Europe (see also D5.1 Report PV Cluster Benchmark in Global Context).
5.2 Enhancing the base for global coopetition
Objective: To strengthen networks of trust in the respective international markets and RTD/production environments
PV cluster in Morocco, Russia India, Turkey, Brazil, Egypt, Tunisia and Chile had been preselected and analysed in-depth in D5.1 considering focus and sizes of PV industry and institutes, level of organization, national solar energy programs and policies, regional solar energy potential in terms of solar radiation. Out of these, three clusters were selected to start the personal exchange with local stakeholders that could act as representatives of research, industry and local authority.
The identification of the clusters was also aligned with ongoing collaboration of SOLARROK partners with other programs and projects and programs, like e.g. RES4MED (Renewable Energy Solutions for the Mediterranean) and the KIC Inno Energy. Delegations of SOLARROK partners have been set up and visited selected institutions (industry associations, research institutes, government and public agencies) in Turkey (February 2015), Egypt (December 2015) and Tunisia (November 2014) in order to deepen relations with the respective chosen clusters beyond Europe, assess collaboration potentials and identify most promising multiplicators for further interaction.
The outcome of the visits and the consecutive PV Tour d’Europe was published in D5.53 (Match-making Workshop Reports) and D5.4 (Report Market Access and Collaboration Profiles).
5.3 Establishing bridgeheads of trust beyond Europe
Objective: To organize a match-making & knowledge exchange process with global actors
During a one week visiting tour, connected match-making workshops with delegations from these countries have been carried out in three selected SOLARROK regions (ELAt, Central Germany and Rhone-Alps) from June 15-20 2015, involving SMEs and research institutes from these, but also from other SOLARROK regions. The mutual exchange between with cluster members from industry and research has proven very fruitful and resulted in ongoing collaboration activities.
The PV Tour d’Europe is an excellent example for a feasible and focused collaboration of PV Clusters. Joint initiatives of European regions for outreach to neighbouring emerging markets should be a best practice example: Making the best use of complementary competencies, market & innovation offers and pooling of well-established individual networks leads to increased efficiency. SOLARROK has created awareness for the regional dimension of PV collaboration in Europe.
The match-making workshops have been very well received among cluster members in the Netherlands, Belgium, Rhône Alps and Central Germany. The feedback by companies on this novel type of cluster service confirms that the majority finds it useful, and as much as 17% expect immediate benefits. All companies are willing to participate again in this type of initiative.
Graphic: Participation of companies in the three match-making workshops
5.4 Policy development for globalization
Objective: To align and improve European innovation support with smart specialisation and globalisation strategies
In collaboration with the project SUNROAD, the SOLARROK consortium organised an international workshop in Ljubljana (June 2015) under the title “How to design regional policies in the energy sector?: Changing technical & market scenarios, monitoring, long-term efficiency”. The workshop addressed the role of regions, regional policies and authorities in the use of solar energy and targeting mainly regional authorities, intermediaries, consumer associations and NGO’s from the SOLARROK regions.
Questions in focus were: How can regional policies (financial incentives, regulatory framework, etc.) impact the market expansion of the European PV sector? How can regions exchange their strategies and experience with changing scenarios in the energy market, e.g. self-consumption, decentralized/intermittent energy production, energy storage, net metering? How could regions pave the way to more collaboration and synergy in the regulatory frameworks, leading to more competitiveness of the European renewable energy sector? How can the PV sector interact more successfully with regional smart specialisation strategies?
The outcome of the workshop was published on the project website and further discussed at the SOLARROK Final Conference during the Open Days 2015.
Potential Impact:
Fairs, Exhibitions, Conferences
As a coordination and support action, the project has focused on network building and knowledge exchange and therefor organised a wealth of face-to-face activities on different levels:
Regional (WP3)
Each region has carried out regional workshops in the local language to engage regional stakeholders.
Interregional (European level – WP4 and WP5)
Four Interregional Workshops on European level focused on different topics around cluster management, BIPV, smart specialisation and advanced materials, two international workshops where carried out to discuss policies and collaboration strategies in view of improving the coordination of European internationalisation activities and competitiveness.
International (exchange with MENA countries – WP5, WP6)
SOLARROK has been presented twice (booth and panel discussion, poster) at the international congress and fair of the PV sector, PVSEC (Paris, 2013 and Amsterdam, 2014 - WP6). Within WP5, three delegation visits to Tunisia, Morocco and Egypt have been carried out, preparing the PV Tour d’Europe with three match-making workshops involving invited delegations from the same MENA countries. The projects’ final conference has brought together the different audiences as an official Side Event at the Open Days 2015.
The projects’ Final Conference has been carried out during the Open Days of the European Regions and Cities in 2015 to demonstrate the importance of the regional dimension of European collaboration in the PV sector, and at the same time the solar future for European citizens as well as new trends in technologies and business models. In addition, the frame of the Open Days helped to place the outreach activities of the SOLARROK community towards MENA countries into the background of institutionalised European knowledge exchange and interaction of regions. That helped to make the approach that has been followed by SOLARROK even more convincing.
Important lessons learned in four expert panel discussions during the conference day can be found in detail in the conference proceedings (published on the project website) but as a conclusion the following messages can be mentioned here:
- The global transformation of the energy system is the most important technological challenge of the 21st century and offers tremendous market opportunities. On the global scale, a huge market for PV power generation is predicted for the future. Europe is well-positioned with the availability of cutting-edge technologies and experience in system integration.
- For a smarter use of solar electricity, the direction must be: ICT for intelligent grid solutions, prosumer integration, new business models facilitated by an intelligent and attuned regulatory framework.
- Building Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV) is a local market and therefore an opportunity for the local European manufacturers. It needs a new holistic approach to unlock the full potential of energy efficiency in buildings and solar power production.
- PV is booming in many Middle-East countries for many reasons: Turkey, Egypt and Morocco lead the scene with extreme high needs for Renewable Energies (RE) due to ambitious developmental goals and a very young, rapidly growing and vocal population. European business actors should collaborate locally in joint ventures on advanced PV technologies and applications that are adapted for specific MENA needs (e.g. climate conditions, regulation, business models) – competing with cheap products is not recommendable.
- SOLARROK should continue to foster cooperation and focus on goals that can be accomplished without too much overhead administration. The KIC InnoEnergy strongly supports this networking of different regions and clusters, and offers to accompany joint measures.
Next to the dissemination activities mentioned above, the project has been presented and discussed at many occasions, among them the EU PV Clusters’ 2nd Workshop and General Assembly (Spain), the Industrial Technologies 2014 conference on nanotechnologies, biotechnology, advanced materials and new production technologies (Greece), and the EU PV Clusters’ Workshop (France).
Socio-economic impact and post-project dissemination
With the Paris Agreement adopted at the COP21 in November 2015 and the prediction of a huge growth of worldwide expected PV capacity, the socio-economic benefits of joint action from European research, innovation and business actors are not to be underestimated. Coordination of research and innovation agendas will support European technology leadership in the future field of PV. SOLARROK has formed a collaboration community of organisations and stakeholders that each represent knowledge hubs in their regional environments. The consortium has decided to further engage in this community at least by yearly meetings at international events (e.g. the INTERSOLAR) which will be organised alternately. In addition, it is planned to jointly organise internationalisation activities following the successful example of the SOLARROK PV Tour d’Europe.
Wider societal implications
The SOLARROK project has facilitated and encouraged patterns of collaboration between European regional PV clusters. These patterns include the automatic exchange of information, which allows for the emergence of fields of cooperation. The establishment of an interregional dialogue has enabled the discovery of common issues for which a joint response is appropriated. In three years, SOLARROK clusters have also developed a “reflex” of working together: developing joint proposals, joint actions, co-organising events and workshops. SOLARROK partners have now a tendency to think about informing or including other SOLARROK partners when developing or implementing new projects. Finally, SOLARROK consortium has evolved into a network of clusters.
We are now at the end of the project, and many activities and projects await the SOLARROK network. The consortium will continue its growth and development to become a Meta cluster. Finally, SOLARROK has proved its added value as a driver for inter-clustering and as a network facilitator between triple helix actors on European and International markets.
The SOLARROK project has encouraged the development of transnational cooperation between regional research-driven clusters, while reinforcing the link between the clusters and regional authorities.
Public deliverables are available on www.solarrok.eu:
- SOLARROK RTD-Atlas including Regional and Global SWOT Analyses
- SOLARROK Program for Sharing RTD Infrastructures
- SOLARROK Training and Mobility Agenda
- Report on PV Cluster Benchmarking in Global Context
- Best Practice: SOLARROK Collaboration Business Models
- Report Market Access and Collaboration Profiles
- Reports SOLARROK Interregional Workshops
- Report Policy Maker Workshop in Ljubljana
- Report PV Tour d'Europe
- Joint Action Plan
- Regional Action Plans for Smart Specialisation
- Conference Proceedings EU Forum of PV Clusters
List of Websites:
The project website has been online since month 4. Since then layout and content have been revised, augmented and updated according to project progress. The website is up-to-date:
www.solarrok.eu
SOLARROK has brought together seven European PV regions and partner from 9 countries (Navarre (Spain), Rhône-Alps (France), Central Germany, Slovenia, Austria, Lithuania with a Norwegian research partner, Belgium and Netherlands (cross-border ELAt region). The consortium has carried out joint activities (12/2012 – 11/2015) to (1) improve access to international markets, to (2) support regional PV innovation systems through interregional knowledge exchange, to (3) identify approaches for long-term cluster collaboration and to (4) strengthen the competitiveness of European PV clusters.
Based on regional analyses of the PV sector environments and a study of global trends and opportunities, the consortium developed the SOLARROK RTD-Atlas (WP2). The Atlas includes results of interviews among 74 research institutes and 114 companies in all project regions which provided a detailed picture of actual research and business hot spots as well as an assessment of expected future trends. The insights from the RTD-Atlas were used to establish expert groups focusing on regional and interregional exchange processes (WP3 and WP4) around sharing RTD infrastructures, training and mobility, smart specialization and regional best practices for collaboration business models in PV.
In parallel, the SOLARROK Joint Action Plan (WP3) was developed in two steps leading to a set of actions fostering the further cooperation of the SOLARROK PV clusters with foci on training and education (incl. concept for a summer school), market support, R&D infrastructures, internationalisation, BIPV, and PV Grid integration. In addition, regional Action Plans for Smart Specialisation revealed differences in regional support measures and policies for the PV sector, demonstrated regional achievements during the project’s lifetime and gave recommendations.
The project’s internationalisation approach (WP5) responded well to the PV clusters’ needs and has created tangible benefits through cooperation. After attuning possible topics and strategies in an expert workshop on European level, major global-level PV clusters were evaluated. The selected PV clusters beyond Europe in Turkey, Egypt and Tunisia were visited by SOLARROK delegations and then invited for three consecutive match-making workshops in the project regions Rhône-Alps, Central Germany and ELAt which resulted in immediate benefits for the participating cluster members (companies & research institutes).
The project has created impact in the project regions and neighbouring PV clusters in MENA countries through dissemination activities on different levels: 7 regional workshops, 9 international workshops, participation at international fairs, presentations at multiple regional and international occasions. To conclude the project and set the scene for the future cooperation between European and neighbouring PV Clusters from MENA countries, the final conference was carried out as first EU Forum of PV Clusters during the Open Days of Regions and Cities 2015 in Brussels (14.10).
A future meta-cluster cooperation shall focus on knowledge exchange and joint internationalisation activities, making the best use of regional experiences, RTD and business capacities and established international networks.
Project Context and Objectives:
The United Nations’ Climate Change Conference held in Paris in November 2015 (to be signed by April 2016) resulted in an agreement adopted by all of the 195 UNFCCC participating member states to hold “the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2 °C above pre-industrial levels and to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5 °C above pre-industrial levels, recognizing that this would significantly reduce the risks and impacts of climate change”. The Paris Agreement calls for zero net anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions to be reached during the second half of the 21st century.
This calls for a coordinated transformation of the worlds energy systems to more and more renewable energies used in a more efficient way, while at the same time increasing energy efficiency. The grid needs to be developed and adapted to a more flexible distribution of energy. Efficient storage systems including electro-mobility have to interact with the grid to allow for reliable and efficient operation. In the future energy mix, solar energy will play a crucial role. In the last decade, funding programmes in European countries have created a market for solar energy and supported immense research and development activities creating a huge innovation boost. During the last years, European solar industry has faced a growing competition from Asian market actors which has led to a rapid and drastic decrease of prices and cost for solar energy. In 2015, installed solar power capacity worldwide was expected to hit 200 GW (http://solarlove.org/global-solar-pv-capacity-nearing-200-gw/; Zach). A study by the Fraunhofer ISE in 2015 concludes that “In a few years, solar energy plants will deliver the most inexpensive power available in many parts of the world. By 2025, the cost of producing power in central and southern Europe will have declined to between 4 and 6 cents per kilowatt hour, and by 2050 to as low as 2 to 4 cents.” (www.agora-energiewende.de/fileadmin/downloads/publikationen/Studien/PV_Cost_2050/AgoraEnergiewende_Current_and_Future_Cost_of_PV_Feb2015_web.pdf ).
The European PV industry cannot attempt to produce standard solar cells at less cost than in Asia. But a collective, coordinated research in Europe is working on a whole spectrum of new technologies and has a chance for technology leadership bringing new technologies, which allow higher efficiencies at lower production cost, quickly into the market.
In the SOLARROK “Regions of Knowledge” project, European regions have developed a collaboration approach in order to keep innovative capacities in the photovoltaics (PV) sector. PV clusters from Navarre (Spain), Rhône-Alps (France), Central Germany, Slovenia, Austria, Lithuania, Belgium and Netherlands (in their cross-border collaboration as ELAt region), and the Norwegian research institute SINTEF address the most important current challenges for the European PV sector by knowledge exchange and joint activities in European and emerging markets.
The managements of the participating clusters stand for more than 600 companies & 40 research institutes across Europe. The SOLARROK therefore puts a considerable network power in motion – facilitated by regional communication channels. Regional experts representing the entire PV value chain contribute to establishing the knowledge base.
Objectives
The SOLARROK PHOTOVOLTAIC Clusters Development and Implementation Measures of a Seven Region Strategic Joint Action Plan for Knowledge-based Regional Innovation has been based on 4 objectives, namely:
- To improve access to international markets by developing new joint business models for RTD-& business actors of the European solar sector (GO1)
- To supporting innovation system by filling RTD-gaps through interregional knowledge exchange and identifying approaches for long-term cluster collaboration and fostering creative entrepreneurship (GO2)
- To build international collaboration capacities by optimising concepts to facilitate the development of new products, services and processes in the solar sector with special regard to education and training programmes (GO3)
- To strengthen European competitiveness by joint action developing a SOLARROK Joint Action Plan at European level including advice mechanisms, regional chapters for smart specialisation and an internationalisation strategy (GO4)
GO1 – Improving Access to International Markets
Developing new joint business models and improving the access to international markets for RTD and
business actors of the European solar sector is crucial to reach sustainability of the partners’ cooperation.
Matching collaboration partnerships between research and industry or SMEs and creating platforms
for knowledge exchange would be insufficient without further support. All involved clusters have
a wealth of experience in providing services to support technology- and knowledge transfer. To learn
from each other in terms of exchanging on the different models to organise possible successful
cooperation between the RTD actors (IPR rights, examples for work flow organisation, etc) is therefore a major concern of the consortium. Consequently, and in connection with possibly emerging new business models, the project addresses the access to international markets by active promotion and matchmaking activities supported by the partner clusters’ different
established relations and “bridgeheads” in international markets.
GO2 – Supporting the Innovation Systems
Strengthening the innovation systems of the participating clusters and within the European PV sector
is the core objective of the project and is addressed by a multilevel approach. Based on the established
complementarities of the innovation systems and RTD offer and demand, the clusters strive to align their joint innovation performance with the future challenges for the PV sector and the energy systems.
Coordinated action of regional innovation actors will be carried out to address the technological and
economic challenges of the PV sector and encourage new ways to use solar energy. A multi-stakeholder exchange process is foreseen and planned in the project which will efficiently address all elements of the innovation chains: technological interdisciplinarity, new PV integration models, resource and cost efficient production, collaboration scope of the triple helix actors (regional and interregional), and innovative cluster services.
GO3 – Building International Cooperation Capacities
The SOLARROK consortium fosters international cooperation in two major parts of the project’s
working structure, addressing two aspects: cooperation within Europe and with extra-European partners.
The partners are well aware of the difficulties of such an endeavour and have dedicated a carefully
planned multi-step process to establish a successful cooperation environment on global level. A
well-matched “coopetition” process with clusters beyond Europe will help to open up collaboration
opportunities, and will additionally inform the SOLARROK partners about global trends and help
to benchmark their innovation systems, thus serving in the same time to optimise and realign regional smart specialisation strategies.
On the European level, partners will engage to utilise their complementary strengths: to share research infrastructures and activate the human potential by increasing researchers’ mobility, to organise knowledge transfer between research and industry, and facilitate access to private and public funding.
GO4 – Strengthening European Competitiveness by Joint Action
The SOLARROK consortium takes care to establish consultation activities and advice mechanisms to
set up the JAP. This process will be started by stakeholder interaction as soon as the information base is prepared (month 8-11). The Joint Action Plan is not only a core document of the project, the
process of developing concerted actions and collaboration opportunities, models and plans is the main activity throughout the whole project. Joint action will be reconsidered at the end of the project, and a plan for further cooperation within the consortium, with other European PV competence regions and on global level will be developed. By a careful assessment of technical and economical feasibility of the planned cooperation activities, the sustainability of the JAP will be supported to achieve the overall objective of improving European competitiveness. Establishing regional JAPs for smart specialisation will support the successful transfer of the JAP to the regional level.
Project Results:
As a Coordination and Support Action, SOLARROK has focused on (i) analytical and (ii) strategic investigations, (iii) the development of Joint Action Plan(s), as well as (iv) benchmarking and internationalisation activities. In the following section the project’s results are described and correlated to the sub-objectives of the respective workpackages.
RESULTS OF WORKPACKAGE 2
2.1 Task 2.1 Definition of the Analyses Methodology
Objective: To develop methodology, procedures and structures for intra- and cross-regional analyses
A methodology was developed to structure the analyses on different levels.
1. To set the scene, a study of Global trends, challenges and opportunities of the EU PV sector including a coopetition analysis of global supply chains and innovation networks and market profiles based on the cluster members’ experience was carried out, highlighting different frameworks for PV and cultural aspects (e.g. IPR protection, business practices), as well as international tenders.
2. In a next step, the report on Regional RTD Environments established RTD, economic, and policy environments and needs in the cluster regions describing key stakeholders and activities in the field of photovoltaic in the SOLARROK regions.
3. The RTD-Atlas was designed to recognize competencies of each PV cluster for better and more specific collaboration in different aspects: RTD, education, internationalization, sharing infrastructure, personal transfer, market, PV penetration into grid. The methodology comprised desk research and field research, including an overview of PV regions (policy, research, education, players in industry and research) and in-depth research along the PV value chain research needs. Based on a jointly developed PV Value Chain, a survey among relevant research institutions and producing PV industry was prepared.
Graphic: SOLARROK PV Value Chain
4. A SWOT analysis was carried out based on the following indicators: participation of
regional institutions or companies collaborative research projects, research roles, patenting focus at regional level, expected impacts, etc.
2.2 Regional RTD Environments
Objective: To analyse RTD, economic, and policy environments and needs in the cluster regions vis à vis a global background in order to improve regional smart specialisation.
Key stakeholders and activities in the field of photovoltaic in the SOLARROK PV cluster regions have been collected in this task, including all relevant actors in research & technological development, in business and industry as well as supporting regional and national authorities. The resulting regional capacity, where applicable, has been assessed in terms of size (jobs, persons, budget) or turnover. In addition to the description of single dimensions of activity (RTD, industry and governance), the internal report describes regional and national issues, like research programs, representative training and education measures, and outstanding best practices. The task prepared the interviews among PV stakeholders that have been carried out in all SOLARROK regions for the RTD-Atlas (D2.3).
2.3 Global Trends and Opportunities Study
Objective: To identify synergies and opportunities for all clusters and partners involved
The internal report on global trends and opportunities is one of the base documents for the strategic work within SOLARROK: the aggregation of the SOLARROK RTD-Atlas with Regional and Global SWOTs and preparing the internationalisation activities in WP5. Global trends, challenges and opportunities of the EU PV sector for the short and mid future have been compiled, leading to a detailed coopetition analysis of global supply chains and innovation networks.
Market profiles have been developed collecting the cluster members’ experience and focusing on
the emerging markets in Asia and the MENA countries, including specific legal frameworks for PV and cultural aspects (e.g. IPR protection, business practices). Examples for international tenders have been collected.
Starting from the status today (PV industry and system market), PV roadmaps and national/ regional targets are described world-wide and for the project regions. Global trends and opportunities are analysed with regard to general trends, upcoming challenges for the RTD sector, the global supply chain and markets.
2.4 SOLARROK RTD-Atlas
Objective: To develop SWOT Analyses and to map the SOLARROK RTD Directory
Based on the established regional RTD environments and the Global Trends and Opportunities Study, the RTD atlas was developed assessing in detail the existing resources and identifying research potentials in the different photovoltaic regions. The data used are based on a survey among relevant research institutions and producing PV industry in all SOLARROK regions (July-September 2013). In total, 74 research institutes and 115 companies were asked about key figures (turnover, employees ...) research activities and their rating importance future research areas.
Graphic: Main classes of product on a regional base, i.e. the number of companies providing a specific product in a specific region
The RTD-Atlas – accompanied by a SWOT analysis – outlines meaningful data of the SOLARROK regions. It illustrates the SOLARROK regions as having a high density of companies with a turnover under 10 Mio € and additionally a remarkable quantity of companies between 10 Mio € and 100 Mio €. The investigated companies are predominantly small and medium enterprises.
Research institutions and companies were also asked to rate the specific value chain elements in terms of their relevance in the next 5 years in the survey.
Graphic: Future Needs for Research Capacities: Research Institutes (n=32) <> Producing Companies (n=65)
Legend: Value Chain Element According to PV Value Chain (● RESEARCH/ ● COMPANIES)
The outcome gives key aspects for certain research areas in the future regarding to technological fields of the value chain (CPV, crystalline silicon, thin film PV, OPV, BOS, PV Generator) and generic activities like quality aspects, integration into grid and education. It has provided valuable information about potential for future research, in particular for setting up the SOLARROK Joint Action Plan and workshops with various European and national players of politics.
RESULTS OF WORKPACKAGE 3
3.1 Moderated Consultation Process Structuring the JAP
Objective: To consult and involve regional triple helix stakeholders for strategy development
In the SOLARROK Regions of Knowledge project, the Joint Action Plan (JAP) was developed in two steps: an intermediate JAP was produced at project mid-time and revised, adapted and complemented at the end of the project. Regional workshops where carried out in all project regions and in addition, the objectives of the project where discussed at different opportunities in regional events. Nevertheless, has the consortium made the experience, that in times of cutting down feed-in-tariff and other subsidies for PV it was in some regions difficult to even raise the issue of the European solar industry and RTD capacities. Successful engagement of regional triple helix stakeholders could be reached with specific sectors, e.g. the introduction of Building Integrated PV in Navarra as a new topic in a regional workshop on BIPV with participation regional government, research (renewable energies, engineering & architecture, including students) and companies. The ELAt regions’ PV cluster SOLLIANCE was presented on several occasions as successful and innovative best practice example for triple helix collaboration and regional smart specialisation which is successful as a PV R&D platform for thin film attracting industrial interest on a global level.
3.2 Production of the Joint Action Plan
Objective: To produce a consortium JAP and seven regional JAPs including business plan and internationalisation strategy
To develop the JAP, partners have identified complementarities between regional clusters. The analyses carried out in WP2 but also the implementation of joint actions within other workpackages (e.g. the PV Tour in WP5 with three consecutive match-making workshops in three selected SOLARROK regions with an invited delegation of representatives from MENA countries) where clusters presented themselves jointly, were a way to identify topics of collaboration. Within WP3, the consortium continuously exchanged information, shared best practices and opened the dialogue between different regional stakeholders. To structure this process, the consortium created expert groups to develop collaborations around the following topics:
- Training and education
- Market support
- R&D Infrastructures
- Internationalisation
- BIPV
- PV Grid integration
- Si Wafer Technologies
The intermediate joint action plan was produced at the middle of the project and allowed the consortium to test collaboration propositions. Some of them were a success, and will be further developed, others have been considered as best practices to be shared with regional actors who could implement actions, and others have been left out of the JAP as they are not feasible or do not present any positive interest for collaboration. The final JAP contains all the joint actions that the consortium has agreed to implement on the short and medium terms after the end of the project.
The JAP is a first milestone in the work achieved by the consortium to foster interregional collaboration and inter-clustering in the field of PV. The concept of “coopetition” could be applied to SOLARROK activities: it reflects how European competitors have learnt to work together in areas in which they are complementary in order to be more competitive as a whole. At the EU level, this coordination was oriented towards an increased regional smart specialisation to better support innovation processes. At the global level, SOLARROK aimed at developing a coordinated approach between European stakeholders.
3.3 Regional JAPs for Smart Specialisation
Objective: To produce a consortium JAP and seven regional JAPs including business plan and internationalisation strategy
At project mid-time (June 2014), the SOLARROK PV Clusters have analysed the status of smart
specialisation policies in their regions with regards to PV and produced the so-called « Intermediate
Joint Action Plans for S3”. The ‘Regional JAPs for smart specialisation’ link the analysis of regional S3 with regard to the PV sector to the SOLARROK Joint Action Plan. SOLARROK stakeholders being key actors in the innovation process in the field of PV, have formulated recommendations for both regional and Brussels’ authorities. These constitute a road map for the update of regional policies, initiatives, programmes and processes needed to implement the strategies identified in the SOLARROK JAP and to support regional smart specialisation.
Regional analyses have shown that despite the fact that clean energies are listed as a societal
challenge for Horizon 2020, a majority of the regions involved in the SOLARROK project have decided
not to include PV explicitly as a priority in their innovation strategies. This trend is worrying as the RIS3 policies will impact the allocation of European regional funds.
The SOLARROK regions have a very different history regarding policies for the support of PV
implementation. Therefore, the current status of either radical drawback from former programs or
creating a new focus on advanced PV applications or intelligent business models displays a broad
range across all SOLARROK regions. Through the SOLARROK exchange activities and workshops on
local, interregional and international level, this range of different experiences and conclusions has
been used to trigger rethinking and strategic creativity.
RESULTS OF WORKPACKAGE 4
Expert groups were set up to structure the interregional knowledge exchange and collaboration process along the following major fields:
4.1 PV cluster environment & European collaboration
Objective: To make best use of regional innovation capacities through new cross-regional collaboration models
In several steps, future collaboration potentials among European PV clusters were addressed, resulting in a “Work program for Solarrok+” discussed at the interregional workshop in Vienna (as input for the JAP) that described (among others), the
- Organization of a future and “ideal” European competence specialization in PV
A strategy for an optimized distribution of complementary innovation competencies amongst all relevant European PV clusters, mainly driven by and reflect the market needs with a special focus on emerging extra-European markets.
- Interdisciplinary Joint Roadmaps for Smart PV
Interdisciplinary issues were clearly identified as of high potential for the market penetration of PV products: building integration and integration in urban infrastructures, ICT, mobility, materials (in particular Nano materials), water, waste and energy management, maintenance and recycling, etc.
- Information platform for PV-applications
According to the results of other research projects (e.g. PV-Grid), there still is a need to exchange on technological issues as well as good and even bad practices on market and policy issues.
- Moderation between authorities and regional industry
Regional Authorities are rated to cause the most critical hurdles, so a powerful and well (across clusters) informed entity should be installed (e.g. on developing legal framework, setting up RTD programs, developing educational content).
4.2 Mobilise human resources and infrastructure exchange
Objective: To build the human potential by initiation of joint education and training programs
The clusters and research organisations within the SOLARROK consortium have created an inventory for European summer schools in Europe. A concept for a joint summer school was developed and action was taken to achieve funding for the proposed program. In addition, a directory for sharing the R&D infrastructures among the members of SOLARROK project was developed and exchanged with the SOPHIA project. SOLARROK was presented at a SOPHIA event in France with a panel discussion.
4.3 Cooperation business models: developing joint research and innovative projects
Objective: To demonstrate advanced European technologies
Collaboration business models have been developed on different levels, including models for citizen participation, public procurement, young peoples’ education (pupils, students), new business models for shared ownership of installations, and new financing models.
On a technological level, SOLARROK partners have practised intense knowledge exchange and engaged in several joint applications for funding programs, among them topics like e.g. wafer technologies, recycling, and BIPV.
4.4 PV Technologies – best practice demonstration within Europe
Objective: To work towards the sustainable implementation of the joint action plan and stabilise a platform for European PV cluster collaboration.
The consortium has taken care to use each project meeting in order to visit demonstrators for advanced PV technologies (installations, research facilities) in order to make the best use of travel budgets. In addition, the partners decided to collect best practices focusing rather on regional policies, exploring regional action plans and support measures, than on a purely technological level. These best practices were put together in a document and used for dissemination and discussion with diverse target groups in the respective project regions. This effort to foster interregional exchange of policies and support measures was also supported by the 4. Interregional Workshop on smart specialisation strategies (Bodø, Norway) and the workshop on efficient policy design in Ljubljana.
RESULTS OF WORKPACKAGE 5
The overall objective of WP5 (Internationalisation) is to foster sourcing, R&D cooperation and sales opportunities for the research and industry partners involved in regions beyond Europe. The European Solar energy clusters’ competitiveness shall be enhanced by strengthening innovation related co-operation with international communities through benchmarking of the innovation systems, building up lasting relations with foreign regions/markets, and further stabilising the European clusters collaboration structures by joint activities in global markets.
To achieve the main objectives of WP5, a four steps approach in was followed:
1. Step: Preparing the Background for Collaboration
A workshop with the European PV Clusters was carried out at the imec research institute in Leuven in April 2014 in order to align needs and potentials of the different regions for the internationalisation strategy (see 5.1). In 2015, a second workshop targeted PV policies and smart specialisation strategies to support global competitiveness of European PV clusters (see 5.4).
2. Step: Delegation Visits to Selected MENA Countries (see 5.2)
3. Step : PV Tour d’Europe (see 5.3)
4. Step: SOLARROK Forum of European PV Clusters, October 14, 2015, in Brussels (SOLARROK Final Conference) with in-depth public discussion of collaboration potentials and conditions with experts (industry, associations & public bodies & research) from MENA countries (see D6.63 Conference Proceedings, available on the project website).
5.1 Benchmarking workshop exploring global PV cluster expertise
Objective: To identify possible collaboration opportunities and to prepare a strategy for exchange with clusters beyond Europe
The international SOLARROK Workshop on "Building Competitive Strength of the EU PV-Industry through Joint Action of Regions" (April 2014) held at imec in Leuven, Belgium, brought together experts from more than ten European countries. How to secure a share of the globally growing PV markets for the European PV value chain was the main question discussed in five moderated breakout sessions and a set of recommendations was developed. The structure of the five sessions is also reflected in the SOLARROK Joint Action Plan:
- Internationalisation
- Models for R&D Collaboration
- Overcoming Market Barriers
- PV Penetration into The Grid
- Regional Specialisation for PV Applications
Recommendation addressed the following issues, e.g.: European PV clusters’ unique selling points; role of certification and quality control for the market; integrating systems and applications; joint lobbying and marketing for EU PV opportunities; European registry of R&D resources as well as demonstration projects; new business models and services for PV grid integration and self-consumption; impact monitoring for policies; development of PV applications for emerging markets with special conditions (climate, investment, etc). The outcome of the workshop served for both, development of the SOLARROK Joint Action Plan, and the further set up of the internationalisation strategy in WP5 including the selection of targeted clusters beyond Europe (see also D5.1 Report PV Cluster Benchmark in Global Context).
5.2 Enhancing the base for global coopetition
Objective: To strengthen networks of trust in the respective international markets and RTD/production environments
PV cluster in Morocco, Russia India, Turkey, Brazil, Egypt, Tunisia and Chile had been preselected and analysed in-depth in D5.1 considering focus and sizes of PV industry and institutes, level of organization, national solar energy programs and policies, regional solar energy potential in terms of solar radiation. Out of these, three clusters were selected to start the personal exchange with local stakeholders that could act as representatives of research, industry and local authority.
The identification of the clusters was also aligned with ongoing collaboration of SOLARROK partners with other programs and projects and programs, like e.g. RES4MED (Renewable Energy Solutions for the Mediterranean) and the KIC Inno Energy. Delegations of SOLARROK partners have been set up and visited selected institutions (industry associations, research institutes, government and public agencies) in Turkey (February 2015), Egypt (December 2015) and Tunisia (November 2014) in order to deepen relations with the respective chosen clusters beyond Europe, assess collaboration potentials and identify most promising multiplicators for further interaction.
The outcome of the visits and the consecutive PV Tour d’Europe was published in D5.53 (Match-making Workshop Reports) and D5.4 (Report Market Access and Collaboration Profiles).
5.3 Establishing bridgeheads of trust beyond Europe
Objective: To organize a match-making & knowledge exchange process with global actors
During a one week visiting tour, connected match-making workshops with delegations from these countries have been carried out in three selected SOLARROK regions (ELAt, Central Germany and Rhone-Alps) from June 15-20 2015, involving SMEs and research institutes from these, but also from other SOLARROK regions. The mutual exchange between with cluster members from industry and research has proven very fruitful and resulted in ongoing collaboration activities.
The PV Tour d’Europe is an excellent example for a feasible and focused collaboration of PV Clusters. Joint initiatives of European regions for outreach to neighbouring emerging markets should be a best practice example: Making the best use of complementary competencies, market & innovation offers and pooling of well-established individual networks leads to increased efficiency. SOLARROK has created awareness for the regional dimension of PV collaboration in Europe.
The match-making workshops have been very well received among cluster members in the Netherlands, Belgium, Rhône Alps and Central Germany. The feedback by companies on this novel type of cluster service confirms that the majority finds it useful, and as much as 17% expect immediate benefits. All companies are willing to participate again in this type of initiative.
Graphic: Participation of companies in the three match-making workshops
5.4 Policy development for globalization
Objective: To align and improve European innovation support with smart specialisation and globalisation strategies
In collaboration with the project SUNROAD, the SOLARROK consortium organised an international workshop in Ljubljana (June 2015) under the title “How to design regional policies in the energy sector?: Changing technical & market scenarios, monitoring, long-term efficiency”. The workshop addressed the role of regions, regional policies and authorities in the use of solar energy and targeting mainly regional authorities, intermediaries, consumer associations and NGO’s from the SOLARROK regions.
Questions in focus were: How can regional policies (financial incentives, regulatory framework, etc.) impact the market expansion of the European PV sector? How can regions exchange their strategies and experience with changing scenarios in the energy market, e.g. self-consumption, decentralized/intermittent energy production, energy storage, net metering? How could regions pave the way to more collaboration and synergy in the regulatory frameworks, leading to more competitiveness of the European renewable energy sector? How can the PV sector interact more successfully with regional smart specialisation strategies?
The outcome of the workshop was published on the project website and further discussed at the SOLARROK Final Conference during the Open Days 2015.
Potential Impact:
Fairs, Exhibitions, Conferences
As a coordination and support action, the project has focused on network building and knowledge exchange and therefor organised a wealth of face-to-face activities on different levels:
Regional (WP3)
Each region has carried out regional workshops in the local language to engage regional stakeholders.
Interregional (European level – WP4 and WP5)
Four Interregional Workshops on European level focused on different topics around cluster management, BIPV, smart specialisation and advanced materials, two international workshops where carried out to discuss policies and collaboration strategies in view of improving the coordination of European internationalisation activities and competitiveness.
International (exchange with MENA countries – WP5, WP6)
SOLARROK has been presented twice (booth and panel discussion, poster) at the international congress and fair of the PV sector, PVSEC (Paris, 2013 and Amsterdam, 2014 - WP6). Within WP5, three delegation visits to Tunisia, Morocco and Egypt have been carried out, preparing the PV Tour d’Europe with three match-making workshops involving invited delegations from the same MENA countries. The projects’ final conference has brought together the different audiences as an official Side Event at the Open Days 2015.
The projects’ Final Conference has been carried out during the Open Days of the European Regions and Cities in 2015 to demonstrate the importance of the regional dimension of European collaboration in the PV sector, and at the same time the solar future for European citizens as well as new trends in technologies and business models. In addition, the frame of the Open Days helped to place the outreach activities of the SOLARROK community towards MENA countries into the background of institutionalised European knowledge exchange and interaction of regions. That helped to make the approach that has been followed by SOLARROK even more convincing.
Important lessons learned in four expert panel discussions during the conference day can be found in detail in the conference proceedings (published on the project website) but as a conclusion the following messages can be mentioned here:
- The global transformation of the energy system is the most important technological challenge of the 21st century and offers tremendous market opportunities. On the global scale, a huge market for PV power generation is predicted for the future. Europe is well-positioned with the availability of cutting-edge technologies and experience in system integration.
- For a smarter use of solar electricity, the direction must be: ICT for intelligent grid solutions, prosumer integration, new business models facilitated by an intelligent and attuned regulatory framework.
- Building Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV) is a local market and therefore an opportunity for the local European manufacturers. It needs a new holistic approach to unlock the full potential of energy efficiency in buildings and solar power production.
- PV is booming in many Middle-East countries for many reasons: Turkey, Egypt and Morocco lead the scene with extreme high needs for Renewable Energies (RE) due to ambitious developmental goals and a very young, rapidly growing and vocal population. European business actors should collaborate locally in joint ventures on advanced PV technologies and applications that are adapted for specific MENA needs (e.g. climate conditions, regulation, business models) – competing with cheap products is not recommendable.
- SOLARROK should continue to foster cooperation and focus on goals that can be accomplished without too much overhead administration. The KIC InnoEnergy strongly supports this networking of different regions and clusters, and offers to accompany joint measures.
Next to the dissemination activities mentioned above, the project has been presented and discussed at many occasions, among them the EU PV Clusters’ 2nd Workshop and General Assembly (Spain), the Industrial Technologies 2014 conference on nanotechnologies, biotechnology, advanced materials and new production technologies (Greece), and the EU PV Clusters’ Workshop (France).
Socio-economic impact and post-project dissemination
With the Paris Agreement adopted at the COP21 in November 2015 and the prediction of a huge growth of worldwide expected PV capacity, the socio-economic benefits of joint action from European research, innovation and business actors are not to be underestimated. Coordination of research and innovation agendas will support European technology leadership in the future field of PV. SOLARROK has formed a collaboration community of organisations and stakeholders that each represent knowledge hubs in their regional environments. The consortium has decided to further engage in this community at least by yearly meetings at international events (e.g. the INTERSOLAR) which will be organised alternately. In addition, it is planned to jointly organise internationalisation activities following the successful example of the SOLARROK PV Tour d’Europe.
Wider societal implications
The SOLARROK project has facilitated and encouraged patterns of collaboration between European regional PV clusters. These patterns include the automatic exchange of information, which allows for the emergence of fields of cooperation. The establishment of an interregional dialogue has enabled the discovery of common issues for which a joint response is appropriated. In three years, SOLARROK clusters have also developed a “reflex” of working together: developing joint proposals, joint actions, co-organising events and workshops. SOLARROK partners have now a tendency to think about informing or including other SOLARROK partners when developing or implementing new projects. Finally, SOLARROK consortium has evolved into a network of clusters.
We are now at the end of the project, and many activities and projects await the SOLARROK network. The consortium will continue its growth and development to become a Meta cluster. Finally, SOLARROK has proved its added value as a driver for inter-clustering and as a network facilitator between triple helix actors on European and International markets.
The SOLARROK project has encouraged the development of transnational cooperation between regional research-driven clusters, while reinforcing the link between the clusters and regional authorities.
Public deliverables are available on www.solarrok.eu:
- SOLARROK RTD-Atlas including Regional and Global SWOT Analyses
- SOLARROK Program for Sharing RTD Infrastructures
- SOLARROK Training and Mobility Agenda
- Report on PV Cluster Benchmarking in Global Context
- Best Practice: SOLARROK Collaboration Business Models
- Report Market Access and Collaboration Profiles
- Reports SOLARROK Interregional Workshops
- Report Policy Maker Workshop in Ljubljana
- Report PV Tour d'Europe
- Joint Action Plan
- Regional Action Plans for Smart Specialisation
- Conference Proceedings EU Forum of PV Clusters
List of Websites:
The project website has been online since month 4. Since then layout and content have been revised, augmented and updated according to project progress. The website is up-to-date:
www.solarrok.eu
