International Energy Agency

Collaboration in research, development and demonstration of new technologies has been an important part of the Agency’s Programme. The IEA R&D activities are headed by the Committee on Research and Technology (CERT), supported by a small secretariat staff, with headquarters in Paris. In addition, four Working Parties on End Use, Renewable Energy, Fossil Fuels and Fusion, are charged with monitoring the various collaborative energy agreements, identifying new areas for co-operation and advising the CERT on policy matters. The Renewable Energy Working Party (REWP), recently chaired by the first PVPS chairman, Mr. Roberto Vigotti, oversees the work of nine renewable energy agreements, of which PVPS is one of the youngest, and is supported by a Renewable Energy Unit at the IEA secretariat in Paris.
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IEA PVPS

The overall programme is headed by an Executive Committee composed of representatives from each participating country, while the management of individual research projects (Tasks) is the responsibility of Operating Agents. By the end of 2004, ten Tasks were established within the IEA PVPS programme, of which one was completed in 1997 (Task 6), two were completed in 2001 (Task 5 and Task 7), one was completed in 2004 (Task 3) and one is not operational (Task 4). A new task began in 2004 (Task 10), which is a follow-up to Task 7.

The twenty-one PVPS members are: Australia, Austria, Canada, Denmark, European Union, Finland, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom and the United States. Turkey has shown an interest to revive its membership. The European Photovoltaic Industry Association (EPIA) has shown interest in joining PVPS.
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IEA PVPS mission

To enhance the international collaboration efforts which accelerate the development and deployment of photovoltaic solar energy as a significant and sustainable renewable energy option.

The underlying assumption is that the market for PV systems is gradually expanding from the present niche markets of remote applications and consumer products, to the rapidly growing markets for building-integrated and other diffused and centralized PV generation systems.

This market expansion requires the availability of and access to reliable information on the performance of PV systems, technical and design guidelines, planning methods, financing, etc. to be shared with the various actors.
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IEA PVPS objectives

1. To stimulate activities that will lead to a cost reduction of PV power systems applications
   National RD&D programmes, industrial R&D and expansion of PV amanufacturing capacity as well as utility investments in PV projects are examples of activities with a direct effect on the cost of PV systems and their application. International cooperation within IEA PVPS can indirectly contribute to cost reduction by undertaking or supporting activities such as: sharing the activities and results of national RD&D programmes, objective information and operational experience, creating and facilitating networks as well as providing guidelines.

2. To increase the awareness of their potential and value and thereby provide advice to decision makers from government, utilities and international organizations
   Key issues for the awareness of the potential and value of PV power systems among target groups are: cost/performance indicators, market developments, innovations and breakthroughs, new applications and services, national and international programmes and initiatives, policy and financing schemes, developments and standards.

3. To foster the removal of technical and non-technical barriers of PV power systems for the emerging applications in OECD countries
   Over time, photovoltaic-based electricity supply can play a key role in urban-scale developments. Such developments should follow a holistic approach to maximize society’s total energy efficiency and use of renewable energy opportunities. There is already increasing awareness of the principles of sustainable design and maximum use of (active) solar energy potential but this can be further expanded.
   PV power systems can play a key role in providing the reduced electrical energy services needs of houses and buildings and have the potential to become a major grid-connected electricity supply source. Through effective knowledge sharing, PVPS aims to enhance the opportunities for large-scale application of grid-connected photovoltaics in the urban environment as part of an integrated approach that maximises building energy efficiency, use of solar thermal and photovoltaics. There is a significant learning investment in many of the participating countries that have undertaken rooftop programmes and other sustainable community development initiatives.

4. To enhance co-operation with non-OECD countries and address both technical and non-technical issues of PV applications in those countries
   PV power systems in non-OECD countries represent a fast growing market segment, both in remote areas for rural electrification as well as increasingly in urban environments of these countries. Applications of PV in those countries move gradually from domestic applications (typically solar home systems) to non-domestic applications, community systems, mini-grids and applications in weak grid areas.
   Depending on the local framework conditions, the infrastructure available as well as appropriate quality management, financing and capacity building schemes, such applications represent new opportunities where PV can increasingly provide the required energy service on a competitive basis. Some of the Kyoto mechanisms may in future provide additional opportunities for PV applications, in particular if they can be aggregated to larger volumes. The sustainable and large-scale introduction of PV is supported by bilateral and multilateral agencies and development banks. At the same time, this large-scale introduction is hampered by various barriers such as acceptable accessible financing structures, institutional and social barriers, infrastructure issues and sometimes technical problems. PVPS expertise can be instrumental to help overcome some of these barriers.

IEA PVPS Tasks

• Task 1. Exchange and dissemination of information on PV power systems;
• Task 2. Performance, reliability and analysis of photovoltaic systems;
• Task 3. Use of PV power systems in stand-alone and island applications (concluded in 2004);
• Task 4. Modelling of distributed PV power generation for grid support (not operational);
• Task 5. Grid interconnection of building integrated and other dispersed PV systems (concluded in 2001);
• Task 6. Design and operation of modular PV plants for large scale power generation (concluded in 1997);
• Task 7. PV power systems in the built environment (concluded in 2001);
• Task 8. Very large scale PV power generation systems;
• Task 9. PV services for developing countries;
• Task 10. Urban Scale PV Applications. Begun in 2004. Follow-up of Task 7.

The Operating Agent is the manager of his or her Task, and responsible for implementing, operating and managing the collaborative project. As such the Operating Agent compiles a status report, with results achieved in the last six months, as well as a work plan for the coming period. These are being discussed at the Executive Committee meeting, where all participating countries have a seat. Based on the work plan, the Executive Committee decides whether activities in the coming period should continue, or intensify, or stop. In case the Executive Committee decides to continue the activities within the Task, the participating countries in this Task commit their respective countries to an active involvement by national experts. In this way, a close cooperation can be achieved, whereas duplication of work is avoided.