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 developed 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 nine issues had been published by the end of 2005.
- Subtask 1.2: Newsletter
A printed, colour newsletter, PVPower,
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. Twentythree issues of the newsletter had been published by
the end of 2005.
- Subtask 1.3: Special Information Activities
A range 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:
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Summary of Task 1 accomplishments for 2005
A key Task 1 priority is meeting the information 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 10th issue of the Trends in Photovoltaic Applications report was published in September 2005 and analyzed data collected between 1992 and the end of 2004. The 2005 report contained more information on the upstream production issues, markets and production in non-PVPS countries and the popular topic of public support measures. The 32 pages report was prepared by a small group from within Task 1 on the basis of the annual National Survey Reports prepared by all Task 1 participants and was funded by the IEA PVPS Programme. The report was available on the public website from July 2005, can be downloaded as a complete document, and figures and tables can be downloaded separately. Copies are distributed by post by Task 1 participants to their identified national target audiences and are provided at selected conferences and meetings.
The National Survey Reports are funded by the participating countries and provide a wealth of information. The latest versions 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 including information on national market frameworks, public budgets, the industry value chain, prices, economic benefits, new initiatives, electricity utility interests, standards and codes, and an overview of R&D activities.
- 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. PVPower issue 22 was published in June 2005; issue 23 was prepared to be available for the Shanghai PVSEC Conference (October 2005) and presented an Asian and international market flavour with considerable material from the Trends report plus information on Malaysia's BiPV project. Current and back issues of PVPower are available on the public website.
- Subtask 1.3: Special Information Activities
A workshop on PV Environmental Safety and Health (ES&H) issues was held in conjunction with the European PV Solar Energy Conference in Barcelona on 8th June 2005, was well attended and regarded as successful by all involved. The workshop performed the function of a ‘task definition meeting' whereby the framework for a new PVPS research activity could be developed. In particular the focus was the presentation of selected ES&H activities, identification of opportunities for ES&H activities and their scope within the IEA PVPS Programme, agreement on possible topics for cooperation and agreement on follow-up activities. Presentations from the workshop were made available via the PVPS website.
A workshop was held on 13th October 2005 at the Shanghai International Convention Centre, in conjunction with the Photovoltaic Science and Engineering Conference. The workshop was well attended (between 40 and 80 participants throughout the day) and was well received. The workshop highlighted international collaboration on PV activities and outlined recent market developments worldwide.
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Summary of Task 1 activities planned for 2006
Task 1 activities will continue to closely reflect the broader strategy for the PVPS Programme. Market implementation is an important focus for PVPS activities, as is a close working relationship with the PV industry and other stakeholders (including non-IEA PVPS countries).
- Subtask 1.1: Status Survey Reports
The target date for publication of the 11th issue of the Trends in Photovoltaic Applications report is August 2006, with electronic versions of the information to be made available on the public website in July 2006. The report will be refined to reflect any feedback from key stakeholders, and will include further information from non-PVPS countries (in conjunction with Task 9) and further discussion of PV market support efforts (in particular, the role of green power schemes and renewable portfolio standards). National Survey Reports will be completed before the end of May 2006, based on the revised template, so that the information can be incorporated in and analyzed for the Trends report.
- 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 2006 to more fully capture the newsletter's full potential for PVPS information outreach, both within and outside the IEA-PVPS countries. PVPower Nos. 24 & 25 will be published in April 2006 and October 2006 respectively, 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 survey reports, the website - and as input to other tasks except where dedicated activities, for example a PV Utility Forum or industry workshops might be supported. An industry workshop is being planned for the European PV Conference in Dresden, Germany possibly discussing the findings from the latest round of survey reports. Task 1 interests will also benefit from a close working relationship with new participants in the task, such as the European Photovoltaic Industry Association and Malaysia's PTM (Malaysia Energy Centre).
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Industry involvement
Task 1 activities continue to rely on close cooperation 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 the target audience for PVPS information has broadened considerably, it is important to ensure that two significant groups are effectively engaged - the PV industry and the electricity utilities. The latter requires a more concerted effort on both the national and IEA PVPS levels than has been forthcoming in recent years.
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Key deliverables (2005 and planned)
The following were published and also made available on the public website during 2005:
During 2006 it is planned to produce the eleventh issue of the Trends in Photovoltaic Applications report, PVPower issues 24 and 25, 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 Dresden, Germany in September 2006.
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Participants
Task 1 participants and experts supporting them are listed in Task 1 participants.
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Meeting schedule (2005 and planned 2006)
- The 26th Task 1 participants' meeting was held in Lyon, France, 3-4 June 2005, immediately before the European PV Conference in Barcelona, Spain.
- The 27th Task 1 meeting will be held in Vancouver, Canada 27-28 March 2006.
- The 28th Task 1 meeting will be held in Vienna, Austria 11-12 September 2006.
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