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European Commission Research, development and demonstration activities on photovoltaics supported by the European Commission Rolf Östrõm, Scientific officier, European Commission, DG Research Pietro Menna, Responsible for the solar sector, European Commission, DG Energy and Transport |
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Further clarifications on EU policies for the renewable energy sector are contained in the Green Paper on the Security of Energy Supplies, which was launched in November 2000, and in the recent EC Communications on the Share of Renewables and on Renewable Electricity Support Schemes. Since 2001, the EU has put in place a new regulatory framework, with a view to accelerating the growth of EU markets for renewable electricity. In this context, the most important instrument is the Directive on electricity production from renewable energy sources and its monitoring process, which is underpinned by a number of data gathering activities, notably also for the new Member States and Candidate States 1. In view of these policy commitments, the future development of photovoltaics is supported through the EU Framework Programme, for both research and demonstration activities and through the Intelligent Energy –Europe Programme for non-technological actions aiming at overcoming market barriers.
The policy objectives of the programme of research 2 into sustainable energy systems include reducing greenhouse gases and pollutant emissions, increasing the security of energy supplies, improving energy efficiency and increasing the use of renewable energy. In addressing these objectives, a distinction is made between activities having the potential for exploitation in the short to medium term and those which are expected to have an impact in the medium to longer term.
Through a series of RTD framework programmes (FP), preceded by two Energy R&D Programmes, the European Commission has been supporting research and development in the Photovoltaic sector in Europe for about 30 years. The support has included the development of a full range of PV devices, including crystalline and thin film solar cells, PV modules and balance of systems.
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From the proposals received under the first three calls in FP6, the following
eleven new PV projects have been launched with an expected impact in the medium
to long term. The projects have a total budget of nearly 110 MŰ and a maximum
EC contribution of about 62 MŰ, as indicated after each project description.
See also the pie-chart in Fig 1.
The short to medium term activities focus mostly on demonstration aimed at accelerating the market penetration of more cost-effective PV technologies. More specifically, the priority has been given to innovative production concepts for high efficiency cells/modules to be integrated into larger scale photovoltaic production facilities to lower the cost; and including low-cost integrated components or devices for PV generators; large area, low cost photovoltaic modules for building integrated PV and autonomous solar electricity generation systems; integration of photovoltaic installations in generation schemes to feed local distribution grids and development of new devices and systems to manage these installations. Six new projects, selected among the proposals submitted in the first three calls launched under FP6, have been already launched. Their total cost is 35 M and the EC contribution is 11 M. Furthermore, it is worth noting that photovoltaic installations received indirectly an additional 14 M of EC through the Concerto initiative. The preliminary results of the 4th (and last) TREN call launched under FP6 are not yet finalised.
However, it is expected to fund new projects for a total cost of about 19 MŰ and an EC contribution of about 5,5 M. In summary, it ispossible to estimate a total EC contribution (for the whole short/medium term activities in FP6) of about 30 MŰ for a total cost of the projects of about 90 M.
The distribution of the EC contribution to short medium term activities on photovoltaics under FP6 is considered in the figure. It is worth noting that projects aimed at demonstrating innovations in manufacturing plant for mass-producing solar PV technologies received 52 % of the total EC contribution (44 % to silicon manufacturing process and 8 % to thin film). Projects demonstrating new concepts for integrating PV electricity supply in buildings received 12 % of the contribution and 30 % was allocated to activities aimed at innovative integrated solutions of the components of a PV system. Studies and dissemination account for 7 % of the whole contribution.
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One of the main recommendations of the PV-TRAC was to set up a Photovoltaic Technology Platform to mobilise stakeholders sharing a long-term European vision for PV. In domains where RTD has a vital role to play in addressing major economic, technological or societal challenges, technology platforms provide a means to foster effective public-private partnerships between industry, the research community, and policy makers towards achieving a common goal. Following a call for expressions of interest, the members of the Steering Committee were selected by the European Commission and met for the first time in May 2005. The Platform is now in full operation and consists of the Steering Committee, four Working Groups (Policy and instruments; Information, promotion, education, market deployment; Science, Technology and Applications; Developing countries) and the Mirror Group (representing the Member States including Associated States and Candidates Countries). [ Top ]