Solar breakthrough with SOLAR IMPULSE - BKW
The spoken word takes precedence
BKW solar cells test for SOLAR IMPULSE Piccard project
Solar breakthrough with SOLAR IMPULSE
Paper given by Dr. Martin Pfisterer, Member of the Executive Board of BKW FMB Energy Ltd, and President of Mont-Soleil and of sol-E Suisse AG, during the presentation of the solar cell tests at the Jungfraujoch on January 16, 2009
Ladies and gentlemen The Solar Impulse project is fascinating. Its promoters Bertrand Piccard, André Borschberg and Luiggino Torrigiani are inspiring, and most importantly they share a fundamental key belief: they believe wholeheartedly in their project and in the immense importance it has for the urgently needed further development and propagation of solar energy – for the benefit and well-being of our planet Earth. BKW – Promoter of solar development The same belief responsible for driving on the Solar Impulse project led us at BKW to establish and launch the company at Mont-Soleil in 1990. At that time – nearly 20 years ago – people laughed at us and criticised us at BKW when we installed Europe’s biggest solar power plant on Mont-Soleil in the Bernese Jura. Fortunately, times have changed. Over the years, Mont-Soleil has become synonymous with research and development in solar energy and photovoltaic. With the foundation of the International Test Centre in 1995 it became the most important private solar development project in Switzerland. Having invested more than 10 million Swiss francs in the Mont-Soleil company, BKW and its ten cooperation partners have carried out development work which has gained international respect . They have made the knowledge they have acquired available to a world-wide audience.
2
Mont-Soleil – birth of a high-flyer What began in the Jura at a height of over 1,200 metres is today experiencing a major continuation at 3,580 metres. The Solar Impulse project is giving wings to the spirit of development of Mont-Soleil. A number of solar initiatives have come into being as a result of Mont-Soleil. One might start by mentioning the construction in 2001 of the world’s largest solar-powered ship which is today still being successfully operated on Lake Biel. One might also mention the building of Switzerland’s biggest solar power plant at the STADE DE SUISSE in Berne in 2005 which was awarded the European Solar Prize. Sixteen years after it began in the Bernese Jura, the Mont-Soleil spirit really took off in no uncertain terms. In 2005 BKW agreed on a cooperation with Bertrand Piccard and his team to support and develop the SOLAR IMPULSE project. January 16, 2009: A milestone in top level performance Today marks an important milestone in the cooperation between BKW and SOLAR IMPULSE. Since 1995 we have contributed to project development by carrying out basic groundwork in three areas. The first area concerns the effect high-altitude cirrus clouds have on solar radiation. The second area concerns the testing of special electronic equipment in the climate test chamber. And the third area – whose results we are presenting to you today – makes possible the first-ever hard weathering and altitude test of the high-performance cells due to be applied in the SOLAR IMPULSE project. The work began under the ideal conditions offered by Berne University’s Jungfraujoch research station. One year ago, the newly founded BKW subsidiary for renewable energy, sol-E Suisse AG, had set up the world’s highest solar power plant here, enabling us to test the SOLAR IMPULSE high-performance cells alongside solar cells we are using designed for energy output and long service life – and all this at a height which is approximately one-third of the maximum flight altitude. Results of the solar altitude test The solar cells test at the Jungfraujoch allows us to draw valuable conclusions for aircraft development and flight planning in the SOLAR IMPULSE project. It shows that with these cells
3
Bertrand Piccard is well equipped for his project. In a moment we will present the first findings derived from the test. A major conclusion we can draw from the Jungfraujoch is that a great potential exists for photovoltaic development which has yet to be exploited. Carefully planned development work will enable us to significantly move forward the current technological status of solar energy. With its outstanding solar energy researchers, Switzerland can make a significant contr ibution here. If we are to promote CO2-friendly solar technology to the point where a breakthrough is possible, R & D needs to be further strengthened at an international level. Our country must also do a great deal more than it is at present. It is true that Switzerland is helping to finance the application of state-of-the-art solar technology, but when it comes to providing major, long-term basic support to R & D it is doing too little. If we want to help solar energy make a breakthrough, we need to invest massively in research and development. The SOLAR IMPULSE project is doing exactly that. It therefore merits our full support.
BKW solar cells test for SOLAR IMPULSE Piccard project
Solar breakthrough with SOLAR IMPULSE
Paper given by Dr. Martin Pfisterer, Member of the Executive Board of BKW FMB Energy Ltd, and President of Mont-Soleil and of sol-E Suisse AG, during the presentation of the solar cell tests at the Jungfraujoch on January 16, 2009
Ladies and gentlemen The Solar Impulse project is fascinating. Its promoters Bertrand Piccard, André Borschberg and Luiggino Torrigiani are inspiring, and most importantly they share a fundamental key belief: they believe wholeheartedly in their project and in the immense importance it has for the urgently needed further development and propagation of solar energy – for the benefit and well-being of our planet Earth. BKW – Promoter of solar development The same belief responsible for driving on the Solar Impulse project led us at BKW to establish and launch the company at Mont-Soleil in 1990. At that time – nearly 20 years ago – people laughed at us and criticised us at BKW when we installed Europe’s biggest solar power plant on Mont-Soleil in the Bernese Jura. Fortunately, times have changed. Over the years, Mont-Soleil has become synonymous with research and development in solar energy and photovoltaic. With the foundation of the International Test Centre in 1995 it became the most important private solar development project in Switzerland. Having invested more than 10 million Swiss francs in the Mont-Soleil company, BKW and its ten cooperation partners have carried out development work which has gained international respect . They have made the knowledge they have acquired available to a world-wide audience.
2
Mont-Soleil – birth of a high-flyer What began in the Jura at a height of over 1,200 metres is today experiencing a major continuation at 3,580 metres. The Solar Impulse project is giving wings to the spirit of development of Mont-Soleil. A number of solar initiatives have come into being as a result of Mont-Soleil. One might start by mentioning the construction in 2001 of the world’s largest solar-powered ship which is today still being successfully operated on Lake Biel. One might also mention the building of Switzerland’s biggest solar power plant at the STADE DE SUISSE in Berne in 2005 which was awarded the European Solar Prize. Sixteen years after it began in the Bernese Jura, the Mont-Soleil spirit really took off in no uncertain terms. In 2005 BKW agreed on a cooperation with Bertrand Piccard and his team to support and develop the SOLAR IMPULSE project. January 16, 2009: A milestone in top level performance Today marks an important milestone in the cooperation between BKW and SOLAR IMPULSE. Since 1995 we have contributed to project development by carrying out basic groundwork in three areas. The first area concerns the effect high-altitude cirrus clouds have on solar radiation. The second area concerns the testing of special electronic equipment in the climate test chamber. And the third area – whose results we are presenting to you today – makes possible the first-ever hard weathering and altitude test of the high-performance cells due to be applied in the SOLAR IMPULSE project. The work began under the ideal conditions offered by Berne University’s Jungfraujoch research station. One year ago, the newly founded BKW subsidiary for renewable energy, sol-E Suisse AG, had set up the world’s highest solar power plant here, enabling us to test the SOLAR IMPULSE high-performance cells alongside solar cells we are using designed for energy output and long service life – and all this at a height which is approximately one-third of the maximum flight altitude. Results of the solar altitude test The solar cells test at the Jungfraujoch allows us to draw valuable conclusions for aircraft development and flight planning in the SOLAR IMPULSE project. It shows that with these cells
3
Bertrand Piccard is well equipped for his project. In a moment we will present the first findings derived from the test. A major conclusion we can draw from the Jungfraujoch is that a great potential exists for photovoltaic development which has yet to be exploited. Carefully planned development work will enable us to significantly move forward the current technological status of solar energy. With its outstanding solar energy researchers, Switzerland can make a significant contr ibution here. If we are to promote CO2-friendly solar technology to the point where a breakthrough is possible, R & D needs to be further strengthened at an international level. Our country must also do a great deal more than it is at present. It is true that Switzerland is helping to finance the application of state-of-the-art solar technology, but when it comes to providing major, long-term basic support to R & D it is doing too little. If we want to help solar energy make a breakthrough, we need to invest massively in research and development. The SOLAR IMPULSE project is doing exactly that. It therefore merits our full support.
