Becquerel Sweden contributes expertise, analyses and data to research projects and scientific articles on solar cell expansion and the broader energy and technology transition. We participate as project managers, project partners, sub-consultants or co-authors.
Our experience combines academic research with practical application: Johan Lindahl holds a PhD in solid-state electronics from Uppsala University, has been a visiting researcher at Chalmers University of Technology, and has extensive experience in leading interdisciplinary research projects in the solar cell and energy sector. He has also supported public research funders in evaluating research strategies, projects, and scientific conferences.
Selection of ongoing or completed research projects
| Date | Project Title | Project partners | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 2026 – Ongoing | SOLARIS: Machine Learning-Based Remote Sensing for Identifying Solar Systems | ICARES Consulting, Becquerel, BDO Advisory | The project validates Alfrödull in Brussels, where high-resolution data on solar power installations and their production strengthens grid planning and investment decisions. By combining the dynamics of the installations with socioeconomic data, the city can optimize policies and promote growth in the private solar power sector. |
| Dec 2025 – Ongoing | Digital integration of remote analysis data in NIS environments — Application of Alfrödull in dpPower for optimization of solar cell-related grid capacity | Becquerel, Digpro Solutions, Västerbergslagens Elnät | This project aims to connect Alfrödull to the NIS system dpPower. The goal is to standardize data flow, improve network planning, and enable broad national application. |
| Dec 2025 – Ongoing | Virtual energy communities in practice ― network analysis of virtual sharing via the Austerland energy community | Energicentrum Gotland, Plexigrid, Becquerel, Gotlands Elnät | The project evaluates the benefits of an electricity grid linked to a virtually shared energy community in eastern Gotland. The focus is on technical effects such as reduced voltage problems and increased capacity utilization in the overlying grid—factors that may ultimately reduce the need for electricity grid expansion. |
| Sep 2023 – Aug 2025 | Unlocking grid capacity and flexibility based on simulated aggregated solar power production that considers the orientation of individual systems | Becquerel, Uppsala University, Falu Elnät, CheckWatt. | The project aims to evaluate how recently developed remote sensing and machine learning models, which provide new knowledge about the exact location and orientation of all PV installations within an area, can create value for grid owners and aggregators. |
| Aug 2021 – Feb 2023 | Calculation tool for optimal design of solar farms | Energiforsk, Becquerel, Mälardalen University | This research project aimed to contribute knowledge on how solar parks can be designed and planned with greater efficiency and profitability. The project developed a calculation model that makes it possible to optimize the angle and direction of solar modules based on both local weather conditions and spot price variations over time. |
| Aug 2020 – Jan 2023 | Automatic mapping of solar panels and generation of solar power forecasts from aerial imagery and machine learning | Becquerel, Uppsala University | The project aimed to evaluate whether it is possible to determine the physical location, power, and design of solar cell installations in Sweden using a system that utilizes aerial/satellite images and an image analysis method that employs machine learning. |
| Sep 2017 – Dec 2020 | Member of the Swedish Energy Agency's strategic research council for solar power | Swedish Energy Agency | Members of the strategic research council assist the Swedish Energy Agency with input regarding the focus and direction of research grants announced and awarded to Swedish solar power research. |
Academic publications by Becquerel Sweden staff
Remote sensing, solar power simulations, and power grid integration (Alfrödull)
G. Öhgren, L. Molin, M. Lindh, D. Lingfors, J. Lindahl, Remote sensing compatible snow loss modeling for PV power simulations, Solar Energy, Volume 303, 114132 (2026).
D. Lingfors, R. Johansson, J. Lindahl, Deriving the orientation of existing solar energy systems from LiDAR data at scale, Solar Energy, Volume 291, 113344 (2025).
J. Lindahl, Assessing the economic value for grid operators of quantified smoothing effects from PV systems with varying orientations, Proceedings of the 42nd European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition (EUPVSEC), 020486-001-004, (2025).
J. Lindahl, J. Munkhammar, G. Öhgren, Comparing approaches for estimating residential PV system orientations, Proceedings of the 42nd European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition (EUPVSEC), 020532-001-007, (2025).
D. Lingfors, J. Munkhammar, J. Lindahl, Solar resource-efficiency gain for energy communities based on current solar energy system deployment, Proceedings of the ECEEE Summer Study, (2024).
Frimane, R. Johansson, J. Munkhammar, D. Lingfors, J. Lindahl, Identifying small decentralized solar systems in aerial images using deep learning, Solar Energy, Volume 262, 111822 (2023).
J. Lindahl, R. Johansson, D. Lingfors, Mapping of decentralized photovoltaic and solar thermal systems by remote sensing aerial imagery and deep machine learning for statistic generation, Energy and AI, Volume 14, 100300 (2023).
L. Molin, S. Ericsson, D. Lingfors, J. Munkhammar, J. Lindahl, Validation of a PV generation model for simulation of wide area aggregated distributed PV power generation that takes individual systems location and orientation into account, Proceedings of the 40th European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition (EUPVSEC), 020527-001-015 (2023).
Market development
G. López Pinto, F. Özaras, J. Andersson, B. Sandén, A. Oller Westerberg, J. Lindahl, Shining light on European BIPV — A survey of dependence and fragmentation in the emerging European value chain for building integrated photovoltaics, Proceedings of the 40th European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition (EUPVSEC), 020502-001-007 (2023).
S. Zainali, J. Lindahl, J. Lindén, B. Stridh, LCOE distribution of PV for single-family dwellings in Sweden, Energy Reports, Volume 10, 1951-1967 (2023).
J. Lindahl, D. Lingfors, Å. Elmqvist, I. Mignon, Economic analysis of the early market of centralized photovoltaic parks in Sweden, Renewable Energy, Volume 186, 207-216 (2022).
J. Lindahl, S. Ekbring, R. Johansson, D. Lingfors, J. Munkhammar, Socioeconomic and demographic factors behind the deployment of domestic photovoltaic and solar thermal systems in three Swedish municipalities, Proceedings of the 8th World Conference on Photovoltaic Energy Conversion (WCPEC-8), 1530-1540 (2022).
G. Masson, I. Kaizuka, J. Lindahl, A. Jaeger-Waldau, G. Neubourg, et al., A snapshot of global PV markets — The latest survey results on PV markets and policies from the IEA PVPS programme in 2018, Proceedings of the 46th IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference (2019).
G. Masson, I. Kaizuka, J. Lindahl, A. Jaeger-Waldau, G. Neubourg, et al., A snapshot of global PV markets — The latest survey results on PV markets and policies from the IEA PVPS programme in 2017, Proceedings of the 7th World Conference on Photovoltaic Power Conversion (2018).
G. Masson, P. Hüsser, I. Kaizuka, J. Lindahl, A. Jaeger-Waldau, et al., A snapshot of global PV markets — The latest survey results on PV markets and policies from the IEA PVPS programme 2016, Proceedings of the 32nd European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition (EUPVSEC), 2869–2873 (2016).
Policy and Regulations
H. Rydehell, B. Lantz, I. Mignon, J. Lindahl, The impact of solar PV subsidies on investment over time – the case of Sweden, Energy Economics 133, 107552 (2024).
A. Jaeger-Waldau, G. Adinolfi, A. Batlle, J. Lindahl, et al., Self-consumption of electricity produced with photovoltaic systems in apartment buildings — Update of the situation in various IEA PVPS countries, Proceedings of the 47th IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference (2020).
A. Jaeger-Waldau, G. Adinolfi, A. Batlle, J. Lindahl, et al., Electricity produced from photovoltaic systems in apartment buildings and self-consumption — Comparison of situation in various IEA PVPS countries, Proceedings of the 46th IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference (2019).
CIGS thin-film solar cells
Doctoral thesis: J. Lindahl, Atomic layer deposition of zinc tin oxide buffer layers for Cu(In,Ga)Se2 solar cells, Digital Comprehensive Summaries of Uppsala Dissertations from the Faculty of Science and Technology 1277.104 (2015).
J. Lindahl, J. Keller, O. Donzel-Gargand, P. Szaniawsk, M. Edoff, and T. Törndahl, Deposition temperature induced conduction band changes in zinc tin oxide buffer layers for Cu(In,Ga)Se2solar cells, Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells, Volume 144, 684–690 (2016).
J. Keller, J. Lindahl, M. Edoff, L. Stolt, and T. Törndahl, Potential gain in photocurrent generation for Cu(In,Ga)Se2 solar cells by usingIn2O3 as a transparent conductive oxide layer, Progress in Photovoltaics: Research and Applications, Volume 24, 102–107 (2015).
J. Lindahl, C. Hägglund, J. T. Wätjen, M. Edoff, and T. Törndahl, The effect of substrate temperature on atomic layer deposited zinc tin oxide, Thin Solid Films, Volume 586, 82–87 (2015).
J. Lindahl, U. Zimmermann, P. Szaniawski, T. Törndahl, A. Hultqvist, P. Salome, C. Platzer-Björkman, and M. Edoff, Inline Cu(In,Ga)Se2 Co-evaporation for High-Efficiency Solar Cells and Modules, IEEE Journal of Photovoltaics, Volume 3, 1100–1105 (2013).
P. Szaniawski, J. Lindahl, T. Törndahl, U. Zimmermann, and M. Edoff, Light-enhanced reverse breakdown in Cu(In,Ga)Se2 solar cells, Thin Solid Films, Volume 535, 326–330 (2013).
J. Lindahl, J. T. Wätjen, A. Hultqvist, T. Ericson, M. Edoff, and T. Törndahl, The effect ofZn1–xSnxOy buffer layer thickness in 18.0% efficient Cd-free Cu(In,Ga)Se2 solar cells, Progress in Photovoltaics: Research and Applications, Volume 21, 1588–1597 (2013).
M. Kapilashrami, C. X. Kronawitter, T. Törndahl, J. Lindahl, A. Hultqvist, W.-C. Wang, C.-L. Chang, S. S. Mao, and J. Guo, Soft X-ray characterization ofZn1–xSnxOy electronic structure for thin film photovoltaics, Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics, Volume 14, 10154–10159 (2012).