What is the Norwegian solar energy industry like?

The Norwegian solar energy industry is highly varied with both national and international activities across the PV value chain. Based on interview and survey results we group the firms in three groups; downstream national, downstream international and upstream.

What does a Norwegian solar company do?

Norwegian firms are involved in project development, operation and maintenance and/or ownership of large utility scale PV plants, as well as sales and installation of decentralized solar home systems or “pico” solutions, such as solar lamps or PV powered devices used in agriculture.

What are the regulations for the Norwegian solar PV industry?

Following regulations for the Norwegian solar PV industry is critical. The supply companies acknowledge that any equipment that is delivered to Norway should be translated in a Scandinavian language with a Norwegian user manual for installation. Other regulations refer to CO2 footprint.

What is the opportunity space for Norwegian PV companies?

Overall, the opportunity space for Norwegian firms therefore is large both in the global and national realm. We observed that the Norwegian PV industry is highly varied, both in terms of value chain position and type of market.

Is stationary energy storage a good idea in Norway?

Electric cars now account for 79 per cent of new cars sold in Norway, and the MS Medstraum was recently launched as the world’s first electric fast ferry. In a global report on lithium-ion batteries, Norway ranked first in sustainability. These are impressive records. Even so, stationary energy storage is beginning to steal the limelight.

How has the PV industry evolved in Norway?

The Norwegian PV industry has evolved since the mid-1990s when the first PV manufacturing firm, Scanwafer, emerged (Hanson, 2017; Klitkou & Godoe, 2013). The PV industry emerged initially with a focus on upstream manufacturing towards international markets.