Copper – key to unlocking Europe’s solar energy

Concurrently with the Green Week, ECI participated in the European Solar Days – Closing Event, celebrated in Brussels on 26^th May. The two-week pan-European campaign (1-15 May) comprised more than 8,000 events, organised in 18 countries, to demonstrate that solar energy is a viable alternative energy source.

The potential from properly harnessing the sun’s energy is immense. Copper’s superior conductivity makes it an important material in the design of state-of-the-art photovoltaic and solar thermal systems. While copper is mainly used in the components that capture energy, store and distribute the water heated by solar energy, it has also recently been used in a revolutionary development of photovoltaic cells, which could replace current silicon systems. Copper solar panels present first-class durability and, when it comes to solar heated water systems, copper’s resistance, workability and conductivity remain unrivalled.

ECI’s Nigel Cotton, ECI’s Programme Manager for Solar Applications, participated in the European Solar Days panel debate which explored solar energy’s contributions to ensuring Europe’s energy independence and security of supply. Following the debate, he said: “The combination of copper and solar energy is a good example of how sustainable power and efficient use of materials rely heavily upon each other. While the technology is available now and consumers are increasingly supportive of renewable energies, we still need EU policy-makers to be fully engaged if we are to meet our 2020 targets”

In the context of EU’s 20/20/20 targets, studies show that solar photovoltaic electricity has the potential to deliver up to 12% of the EU’s electricity demand by 2020, while solar thermal could deliver up to 3.6% of low temperature demand.