Author:	[s.n.]
Organization:	The Executive Conference was organized and sponsored by the IEA, together with ENEL and ENEA of Italy and with the collaboration of the European Commission, the US Department of Energy and NEDO of Japan
Reference:	IEA PVPS T0-1:2001
Date of issue:	2001
Details:	17 pages: tables; with appendices
Type:	Report IEA  PVPS Executive Committee
Download:	Open or download this report as pdf-file (523 kB)
Available from:	Executive secretary, Mrs. Mary Josaine Brunisholz, NET Ltd., Waldweg 8, CH 1717 - St. Ursen, Switzerland
Tel.:	+41 26 494 00 30
Fax:	+41 26 494 00 34
E-mail:	mary.brunisholz@netenergy.ch
Abstract:	In December 1990, the International Energy Agency (IEA) called a First Congress of Executives from photovoltaic manufacturers, electrical utilities, and government leaders for a groundbreaking conference in Taormina, Italy. The purpose was to construct a strategic approach for PV market development. The Taormina Congress focused on the diffusion of applications based on cost-effectiveness. A second IEA International Conference was held in Sun Valley, Idaho, in September 1995, focusing on implementation of physical markets based upon profit opportunities. Discussions in Sun Valley included the integration of utility and PV businesses into new partnerships in the developing world. By 1995, there was recognition of the strategic interaction of utility activity with photovoltaic technology, and a number of new business opportunities were identified in both industrialized and developing countries. The November 1999 conference, held in Venice, Italy, has taken things a step further. Its theme focused on communicating the "value of the sun", as well as bringing in the developing business interests and expanding roles of the building construction industries and financing institutions. This theme was expressed as the most important issue of the conference, and led to the conclusion that selling kWh is not enough, because the market needs complete products and better concepts. Further, all of the relevant stakeholders, including PV industry, project developers, architects, local, regional and national governments, and the IEA should collaborate in a world-wide effort to accelerate the growth of markets for solar photovoltaic electricity. The conference was designed to provide a unique forum for senior executives from the energy sector, building sector, the photovoltaic industry, financial institutions and governments to: Discuss and jointly develop strategic photovoltaic business opportunities in rapidly changing energy markets, and taking fully into account the growing movement towards sustainable buildings; Share the lessons learned from recent market experience on the full range of additional values that arise from the use of photovoltaic power systems, and how those values impact on customer choice; Promote international co-operation between private and public sectors on policies for removal of key constraints and for promotion, financing and implementation of solar photovoltaic electricity projects. The conference was expected to achieve the following outcomes: Stronger relationships and networks between the participants and through them between the sectors represented; A better definition of the added values of PV, which influence customer choice; Recommendations, which can be implemented by each of business sectors represented at the conference, for the orderly future development of the most important future PV markets; Recommendations to the IEA for ways in which they could develop their collaborations with both governments and industry, using their unique position to assist the future development of PV markets.

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