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. All countries participating in the PVPS Programme are members of Task 1. Task 1 activities are organized as follows:

• 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 NSRs are funded by the participating countries and provide a wealth of information. The latest versions are available from this website (please see National reports) and are a key component of the collaborative work carried out within the PVPS Programme. These national reports 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.

  The Trends report (please see PV Trends) 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 mainly, but not exclusively, in the participating countries. The first issue was printed in March 1995 and a further eleven issues had been published by the end of 2007.
  

• Newsletter

  A printed, colour newsletter PVPower (please see Newsletter) is prepared approximately 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. Twenty seven issues of the newsletter had been published by the end of 2007.

• Special Information Activities
  Under the auspices of Task 1, diverse activities including workshops (please see 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 Environmental aspects of PV power systems, Photovoltaics in competitive electricity markets, Added values of photovoltaic power systems, PV industry roadmaps, Environmental Safety and Health issues, International PV collaboration and market developments, Finance and PV, Information gathering along the PV industry value chain and the Status of PV in the Asia Pacific region. Early activities included Buy back rates for grid-connected photovoltaic power systems, Photovoltaic components and systems: Status of R&D in IEA countries and Photovoltaics in cold climates.

  All Task 1 reports available for download can be found under Publications.

  Contact details for all national representatives of Task 1 can be found under Contacts.