Objectives

The Canton of Geneva has experienced a relatively strong growth of PV deployment in recent years with total installed capacity increasing from around 240 kW in 2000 up to 1300 kW in 2003. The long-term goals are a minimum share of solar power in the electricity mix, more precisely the solar share should cover 1% in 2020 and 10% in 2040 of the total electricity consumption. In the short term, the next goal is set at a total installed capacity of 6 MW by 2010, which is above the average level of 9 W per capita within the 3 gW target in EU15 by 2010. Interestingly, the multi-utility is even more ambitious and strives to achieve that target by the end of 2006.

Figure: Photovoltaic deployment in Geneva. Historical data from 2000 to 2003 with total capacity installed almost doubling from year to year. Target values of 6 MW for 2006, 25 MW for 2020 and 250 MW for 2040.

Energy Law, Planning and Market

The Energy Law in the Canton of Geneva prescribes energy conservation and efficiency as well as the development of renewable energy. The legal prescriptions are translated into working targets, to which both the public and private sector contribute. However it can be stated that "the law stands only for the limits to what is acceptable”. A pure application of the law seems to proove insufficient if the ambitious energy policy goals were really to be achieved. This is the reason why a set of actions has been put in place in order to incite the different stakeholders to improve their performance in terms of energy conservation, efficiency and a higher share of renewable energy.

Different sectors — called platforms — have been identified:

a) public bodies (“collectivites publiques”),

b) commercial actors and SMEs (“arts&metier”),

c) building and real estate sector (“immobilier”),

d) large consumers (“gros consommateurs”) and finally

e) global actions (“actions globales”).

Two major stakeholders (among the many actors) in the context of photovoltaics are the local utilities (Services Industriels de Geneve — SIG) and the Cantonal Service of Energy (ScanE). SIG are the energy producer and distributor, ScanE is responsible for the implementation of the energy policy. In June 2002, SIG implemented major changes in the offer of electricity products. Four basic types of products (see table below) were introduced together with a new price scheme. The new products were sold — in comparison to the old reference price per kWh — at 1 Swiss cent cheaper for Bleu, at 2 cents respectively 7 cents extra cost for Jaune respectively Vert.

Electricity products of the local multi-utilities (SIG) Product name Slogan Description SIG Vitale Bleu (Blue) “You ally economy and ecology!” 100% hydro, respecting basic ecological and environmental criteria SIG Vitale Jaune (Yellow) “You support Geneva!” 100% Geneva made, local production and resources SIG Vitale Vert (Green) “You invest into the future!” 100% renewable, hydro plus 2.5% new renewables (solar, wind, bio…) SIG Mix (“Grey”) — —

The restructuring of the electricity offer can be considered a great success for the renewables (see table below). The Vitale products obtained the very large share of the power market. About 90% of the customers with an electricity consumption share of over 80% subscribed to SIG Vitale Bleu (customers not expressing any explicit subscriptions were automatically attributed to this product category). The very local product SIG Vitale Jaune had a particularly high share with the authorities/public bodies and the product with 2.5% new renewable power, SIG Vitale Vert, achieved a market share of 1.6% in terms of number of customers and 0.5% in terms of electricity consumption. Again authorities/public bodies and the private persons display an above-average concern and subscription to renewable power purchase.

Market share of SIG electricity products in terms of electricity consumption (figures in the cells) and number of customers (figures “inst” between the cells).

SIG Vitale — Market shares in the different sectors — March 2003
%	Total		Authorities GWh		Companies GWh		Buildings GWh		Private GWh
SIG Vitale Bleu	84.1%	84.4%	81.7%	76.3%		92.3%
Inst	92.6%	78.9%	90.4%	83.5%	93.8%
SIG Vitale Jaune	?.?%	11.5%	0.1%	2.7%		1.1%
Inst	1.6%	15.6%	0.7%			1.2%
SIG Vitale Vert	0.5%	0.7%	0.1%	0.1%		1.2%
Inst	1.6%	2.9%	1.0%	03%		1.7%
SIG Mix	13.2%	3.4%	18.0%	20.9%		5.4%
Inst	4.2%	2.6%	7.9%	12.3%	3.3%
Total	100%	100%	100%	100%		100%
	100%	100%	100%	100%		100%

Customers Products „VITALE“ ^Blue: certified hydropower ^Yellow: renewable power from local resources / stations ^Green: renewable power with high environmental standards (hydro plus min. 2.5% new renewables, certified naturemade star) Supply Purchase of power by local multi­utilities (SIG) ^Legal basis (Art. 21A), price 15 to 60 Swiss cents per kWh ^Voluntary measures, price for solar power 85 Swiss cents per kWh (status 2003) guaranteed for 20 years Sites Financing Inventory of potential sites by Partnership with banks and public cantonal office of energy (ScanE) financing ^Energy portal, general information ^Loans on energy issues and specific ^Grants information on suitable sites (roofs) ^Subsidies for solar power production S Contracting ^SITG, Territorial / geographic ^Voluntary purchase of VITALE information system products

The positive market trends and energy policy adopted are likely to further support the deployment of renewable power in Geneva. The public multi-stakeholder strategy for the promotion of solar energy in the canton of Geneva summarises main elements in terms of actors and actions and framework of the electricity sector (see figure below).

The four key areas of the public multi-stakeholder strategy for the promotion of solar energy in the canton of Geneva

As the figure above clearly shows, the assessment of the solar energy resources is part of the public multi-stakeholder strategy for the promotion of solar energy in the canton of

Geneva by providing, for instance, the information on the suitable sites for photovoltaic power systems on roofs belonging to publicly owned buildings.

The newly edited energy plan of the canton of Geneva includes a set of about 20 actions being addressed to the five sectors / platforms mentioned above.

Action No 11 is focussing solar thermal energy. The action addresses three out of the five sectors / platforms, which are public bodies, SME’s and building sector. Especially, the building sector is expected to greatly contribute to the targets set with 44 out of 51 TJ of solar thermal energy production per year by 2015. One of the major challenges is the property structure as the very most people live in rental appartment buildings.

Action No 12 is dedicated to the deployment of solar photovoltaics within the sector / platform of global actions.

The objectives of the action are:

• Promotion and integration of solar power in the grid

• Promotion and integration of photovoltaic modules from the point of view of architecture

• Inventory of roofs suitable for solar photovoltaic use

In order to achieve the objectives, three main measures are considered:

• Budget from the cantonal Office of Energy dedicated to pilot projects and architectural measures

• Partnership with SIG distributing renewable power (SIG Vitale products) to 97% of the households

• Legal measure prescribing a cost-covering tariff for solar power produced and fed into the grid as well as setting up of a common promotion structure for the supply and demand of photovoltaic power together with SIG

Two quantitative targets are set:

• Production of 21 TJ per year by 2010 (installed capacity approx. 6 MW)

• Production of 43 TJ per year by 2015 (installed capacity approx. 12 MW)

With respect to the cantonal Service of Energy, five key tasks are identified:

• Development of supportive financial framework appropriate for the installation of photovoltaic systems

• Support for the architectural integration of photovoltaic installations in the city

• Promotion

• Information to the wider audience and professional stakeholders

• Technical skills and education

Results

The assessment of the solar energy resources in the Canton of Geneva will provide detailed information on the solar-architectural features in the (public) building stock. Aggregated and/or differentiated results can be generated according to, for instance, i) building typology, period of construction (dynamics!), planning relevant zones and areas, roof shape, roof size (size of installation), ownership, energy „metabolism" of the buildings,
potential reduction factors (construction elements, shading,) etc. Results are based mainly on statistics and data specifically collected and can be furthermore visualised thanks to the Geographic Information System, which also makes data and results accessible and available to a wider range of audience and users. Most important, the wealth of data collected and generated allows for drawing conclusions for future activities. Some of the activities are immediately launched. For instance, as an important result of the assessment of the solar energy resources, an inventory of roofs suitable for photovoltaic installations will be made available.

The assessment is part of a larger context of an energy policy based on a public multi­stakeholder strategy for the promotion of solar energy in the canton of Geneva. Solar thermal systems shall be strongly deployed, especially in the building sector addressing the difficulty of a very high share of rental appartment buildings. Solar photovoltaics is considered a key power technology that can be integrated in the urban environment. Solar energy is therefore given some priority via an action plan within the cantonal energy planning (with binding and indicative objectives).

Conclusions

The Canton of Geneva is renowned for a strong energy policy. The assessment of the solar energy resources is part of a public multi-stakeholder strategy for the promotion of solar energy in the canton of Geneva. It provides the authorities and relevant stakeholders with detailed and concise information, tools and networks as well as support with a long­term perspective that allows investors to act in a coherent and stable framework. Solar thermal and photovoltaics become part of sound strategies for a sustained development and deployment of a renewable energy sector. Solar energy is considered a particularly significant and realistic option as well as suitable and valuable solution to bring about sustainability in a highly urbanised area like the