A Comparative Assessment of the Deployment of PV Technologies in the Baltics and in the European Union

Abstract

The European Union target for the year 2030 is to achieve a renewable energy source share of at least 32% in the end consumption. The share of electricity generated from renewable energy sources (RES) is increasing every year. In order to stimulate an increase in the intensity of RES and particularly photovoltaic (PV) technology utilisation in countries with a low average solar irradiance, it is necessary to apply various support schemes to minimise the payback period of the technologies. The study includes an evaluation of the current and potential situation regarding the utilisation of PV technology in order for countries with a low average annual solar irradiance to reach the PV technology utilisation level observed in the EU leading countries. The results show that PV technologies make a great contribution to achieving RES goals, however, an increase in their utilisation is closely linked to the amount of investment and to government support to the introduction of the technologies.