The European Photovoltaic Industry Association, EPIA, is preparing to release its roadmap; a plan that aims to make PV competitive with conventional energy within the next two decades and put Europe at the forefront of clean power generation.

Not surprisingly, principal among EPIA’s roadmap priorities is to reduce [end-user] investment costs of PV systems. There are several parallel routes outlined to achieve this, including technology improvements such as increased efficiency and better use of materials, development of new technology options, mass fabrication techniques and improved tooling, as well as investment in significantly larger scale production units. Amongst the numerous detailed technology goals and milestones, EPIA is calling for industry and research centres to collaborate to cut silicon material consumption by 37,5 to 40 % by 2010. This will be achieved through wire-sawing innovations and use of larger ingots or ribbon sheets. Crystalline silicon cell efficiency increases of over 20 % and 35 year module life expectancy are sought within the same time frame, while unit area costs for building integrated PV are expected to be cut by 50 % through thin film process and efficiency improvements. On the systems side, EPIA acknowledges that the PV industry must focus on international programmes for developing countries to deliver appropriate off-grid services, while concentrating on developing linkages with the building community to capitalise on opportunities for building integrated PV. A general objective of continual 5 % per year reductions in system component costs is also expressed.

At the same time, EPIA recognises that PV has numerous applications with different cost structures and that continuous cost reduction will gradually broaden the competitive market opportunities. A second target is to develop these opportunities and the Association proposes that European home markets will benefit from the introduction of funding schemes for investments, new financial instruments, improved standards and training for installers and stronger awareness campaigns. Export markets especially in remote areas of developing countries present other opportunities that will require a different development approach, including a focus on energy services (as opposed to energy delivery per se) targeted development finance and continued evolution of appropriate financing schemes. Central to EPIA’s technological and market development programme are three branches of policy support which provide the long-term stable platform for industry to base its investments upon: a European rate-based incentive scheme; continuing Focused Research and Technological Development (RTD) Programme with improved funding arrangements; and strengthened assistance for export promotions.
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Information

• Michel Viaud, EPIA
  Fax: +32 (0)2 468 24 30

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