The Development and Expansion of the Norwegian Solar Photovoltaic Industry

Abstract

The solar PV industry is seen as one of the viable solutions to the energy transition happening in the world. However, large parts of the value chain on solar PV are in China, and regions like the US and Europe wants to bring back the manufacturing value chain to their respective countries. Norway has a long history of solar PV and can be beneficial when Europe wants to expand and develop the solar PV industry in Europe. However, there are some issues regarding the conditions for growth of the solar PV sector in Norway. The thesis will study the key conditions for influencing and expanding the solar PV industry in Norway.

This thesis aims to examine the conditions for growth. The key conditions for further influencing and expanding the Norwegian PV industry are the knowledge base in Norway, the cost development in Norway, and the Norwegian regulatory frameworks. The secondary objective is to look at the drivers and barriers to the development of the industry in Norway. The thesis is using perspectives from the theoretical approaches of EEG and GVC to examine this further. It has examined this through conducting semi-structures interviews and triangulated data in the form reports and news articles.