Overall objective
The objective of Task 1 is to promote and facilitate the exchange
and dissemination of information on the technical, economic,
environmental and social aspects of PV power systems. Task 1 activities support the broader PVPS objectives that relate to contributing to cost reduction of PV power applications, increasing awareness of the potential and value of PV power systems, fostering the removal of both technical and non-technical barriers and enhancing technology cooperation.
All countries participating in the PVPS Programme are members
of Task 1. To meet the Task 1 objective and deliver the expected
outcomes, Task 1 participants focus on understanding the needs
of their stakeholders and target audiences for the various
Task 1 deliverables and establishing mechanisms for communication
both within and outside the PVPS Programme. The public website
www.iea-pvps.org will continue to be refined to reflect the
requirements for information that are identified by Task 1
participants and others.
Task 1 activities are organized into the following subtasks:
- Subtask 1.1: Status Survey Reports
A published report, Trends in Photovoltaic Applications, is compiled from the National Survey Reports (NSRs) produced annually by all countries participating in the IEA PVPS Programme. The national reports can be found on the public website. The Trends report presents the current status and interprets trends relating to systems and components being used in the various PV power systems markets, the changing applications within those markets and aspects of the PV industry value chain. This is reported in the context of the business environment, policies and relevant non-technical factors mainly, but not exclusively, in the participating countries.
Trends reports were initially produced every two years, but a shorter report is now produced annually to provide more timely information. The first issue was printed in March 1995 and a further eight issues had been published by the end of 2004.
- Subtask 1.2: Newsletter
A printed, colour newsletter, PV Power, is prepared and distributed to stakeholders by post and also via the website each six months to present highlights of the IEA PVPS Programme as well as general features of interest about PV systems and components and market applications. Task 1 participants provide material of interest to the newsletter editor and ensure that the newsletter reaches its target audience in the respective countries.
Twenty one issues of the newsletter had been published by the end of 2004.
- Subtask 1.3: Special Information Activities
A variety of activities, including workshops and documents, provide analysis and summary assessment of special topics. These are
directed at technical, economic, environmental and social aspects
of PV systems and applications and are usually managed by a
specific country or a group of countries from the Task 1 membership.
Activities to date include workshops and published reports on
Other activities include
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Summary of Task 1 accomplishments for 2004
A key Task 1 priority is meeting the needs of the various stakeholders and target audiences, within the context of the objectives of the PVPS Programme. The public PVPS website enables PVPS information to be provided quickly and at a reasonable cost. The website remains a priority activity for Task 1, and its management is carried out within the framework of the guiding principles and agreed policy for the website. The website (and its various links) also provides other PVPS participants with valuable information on the programme as a whole, enhancing inter-task communication.
- Subtask 1.1: Status Survey Reports
The 9th issue of the Trends in Photovoltaic Applications report was published in September 2004 and analyzed data collected between
1992 and the end of 2003. IEA PVPS countries currently account for
about 90 % of the total PV capacity installed worldwide, with this
amount doubling around every two years, and more than 90 % of
the PV production. In 2004 the report was prepared by a small
Task 1 group on the basis of the National Survey Reports prepared by all Task 1 participants. All participating countries provided at least a basic level of information. About half of the countries can further improve their information exchange practices.
The National Survey Reports are funded by the participating countries and provide a wealth of information. They are available from the PVPS public website and are a key component of the collaborative work carried out within the PVPS Programme. Task 1 participants share information on how to most effectively gather data in their respective countries.
The Trends report is a 28 page colour publication with tables, figures and photographs that is funded by the PVPS Common Fund. Copies are distributed by post by Task 1 participants to their identified national target audiences and are provided at selected conferences and meetings. The report is also available on the public website, can be downloaded as a complete document, and figures and tables can be downloaded separately.
- Subtask 1.2: Newsletter
Editorial policy for the newsletter continued to emphasize that
projects and products - both PVPS and other - must be tangible
to be included. The newsletter now contains a section highlighting
interesting national developments in the participating countries.
Issue 20 of the newsletter was published in June 2004 and issue
21 was published in December 2004. Current and back issues of
PVPower are available on the public website.
- Subtask 1.3: Special Information Activities
During 2004, work continued at a low level on activities that fall
under the umbrella of special information activities. An industry
workshop was held in conjunction with the European PV conference
in Paris in June 2004, and the presentations were made widely
available via the website. Many topics of interests will benefit from working more closely with the industry associations, and include cost of energy from PV, value of PV business activity and the value chain of the PV industry.
Ideas for the PV Utility Forum were further refined, with the hope
of making a useful contribution during 2005. The objectives are to
openly share both positive and negative PV experiences, perceptions and ideas amongst electricity utilities internationally.
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Summary of Task 1 activities planned for 2005
Task 1 activities will closely reflect the broader strategy for the PVPS Programme. The issue of market implementation is an important focus for PVPS activities, as is a close working relationship with the PV industry and other stakeholders.
- Subtask 1.1: Status Survey Reports
The target date for publication of the 10th issue of the Trends in
Photovoltaic Applications report is August 2005, with electronic
versions of the information to be made available in July 2005. It is planned to broaden the report to include additional information from non-PVPS countries (in conjunction with Task 9), to further highlight industry development matters and to analyze market support efforts.
National Survey Reports will be completed before the end of May
2005, based on the revised guidelines and data collection pro forma, so that the information can be incorporated in and analyzed for
the Trends report. The definitions of “distributed” and “centralized” grid-connected systems have been refined to better reflect this rapidly evolving market.
- Subtask 1.2: Newsletter
Task 1 participants will continue to review and update the target
audiences within their countries, and to seek feedback regarding
preferred format (e.g. electronic or printed) and content from these audiences. It is planned to develop strategies during 2005 to more fully capture the newsletter's full potential for PVPS information outreach.
PV Power Nos. 22 & 23 will be published in May 2005 and October
2005 respectively, both prior to major PV conferences, and maintaining current editorial policy.
- Subtask 1.3: Special Information Activities
The matters of interest to Task 1 participants are increasingly being incorporated into existing activities - such as the newsletter, the national survey reports, the website - and as input to other tasks except where dedicated activities, for example the PV Utility Forum and industry workshops can be supported. An industry workshop is being planned for the European PV Conference in Barcelona, possibly discussing life cycle analysis and recycling efforts. Task 1 interests will also benefit from a close working relationship with Task 10, particularly issues such as market transformation, and the added values of PV.
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Industry involvement
Task 1 activities continue to rely on close co-operation with
government agencies, PV industries, electricity utilities and other parties, both for collection and analysis of quality information and for dissemination of PVPS information to stakeholders and target audiences. This is achieved through the networks developed in each country by the Task 1 participants. While it is recognized that the target audience for PVPS information has broadened considerably, it is also appreciated that more effective means of attracting industry involvement in the PVPS programme should continue to be promoted. PVPS / industry workshops are seen as important ongoing activities.
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Key deliverables (2004 and planned)
The following were published and also made available on the public
website during 2004:
During 2005 it is planned to produce the tenth issue of the Trends in Photovoltaic Applications report, PVPower issues 22 and 23, a broad range of country information, case studies and key topics on the website, to progress the PV Utility Forum and to organize a PVPS / industry workshop in conjunction with the European PV conference in Barcelona in June 2005.
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Participants
Task 1 participants and experts supporting them are listed in Task 1 participants.
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Meeting schedule (2004 and planned 2005)
- The 24th Task 1 participants' meeting was held in Daejeon City, Korea, 3-5 March 2004.
- The 25th Task 1 participants' meeting was held in Port Macquarie, Australia, 8-10 September 2004.
- The 26th Task 1 participants' meeting will be held in Lyon, France, 3-4 June 2005, immediately before the European PV Conference in Barcelona, Spain.
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