Solar energy

Today solar energy accounts only for a minor fraction of our energy consumption. Our future sustainable and fossil-free society will, however, need to rely on solar energy as one of its major energy sources, simply because the sun is our most abundant source of energy.

Risø DTU’s Solar Energy Programme develops emerging solar technologies capable of providing energy at a viable cost and in the volume needed for turning photovoltaics into a major contributor to our total energy supply. Polymer solar cells are, unlike conventional solar cells, suited for low-cost mass production. High-speed roll-to-roll printing allows, for example, for processing of as many square meters of polymer solar cells in one hour as a crystalline Silicon solar cell plant produces in one year. We work actively for realizing this potential and thus turning polymer technology into a winning solar technology when coming to low cost and rapid ramp-up of industrial manufacturing capacity.

In addition to the PV activities, we also look into other areas where our knowledge can contribute markedly to a sustainable future, for instance reduction of atmospheric carbon dioxide by means of solar energy.

Solar Energy is furthermore addressed in Risø DTU’s Intelligent Energy Systems Programme and by DTU’s Department of Civil Engineering.


Peter Sommer-Larsen
Head of Programme
Solar Energy Programme (SOL)
Dir tel+45 46774744