The IEA Photovoltaic Power Systems Programme (IEA  PVPS) is one of the collaborative R&D Agreements established within the International Energy Agency. Since the establishment in 1992 the PVPS participants have been conducting a variety of joint projects in the application of photovoltaic conversion of solar energy into electricity.

To celebrate ten years of successful international collaboration IEA  PVPS held an International Conference in Osaka in May 2003. The event reviewed achievements to date and helped define the future mission of the programme.

The overall programme is headed by an Executive Committee composed of representatives from each participating country. The activities of the IEA  PVPS programme are divided into eight different working areas (so-called Tasks):

• Exchange and dissemination of information on photovoltaic power systems
• Operational performance, maintenance and sizing of photovoltaic power systems and subsystems
• Use of photovoltaic power systems in stand-alone and island applications
• Design and grid interconnection of building integrated and other dispersed photovoltaic systems
• Design and operation of modular photovoltaic plants for large scale power generation, which was concluded in 1997
• Photovoltaic power systems in the built environment
• Very large scale photovoltaic power generation systems in remote areas
• Technical co-operation for photovoltaic market deployment

In order to execute these activities, working groups for each of these areas are established composed of representatives from the countries participating in this activity. The management of the working groups (Tasks) is the responsibility of Operating Agents.
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