‘The cooperation in EERA should lead to an accelerated development of PV technology’

Kick-off EERA-PV - On Monday 7 February the kick-off meeting of EERA-PV took place in Amsterdam with 50 participants from 23 European research institutes and universities.

This event was organised by Paul Wyers (coordinator EERA-PV, unit manager Solar Energy ECN) and Bas van Bree (secretariat EERA-PV, researcher Policy studies ECN). Chairman for this day was former EERA chairman and ECN director Ton Hoff. The ambition of the Joint Programme on Photovoltaic Solar Energy is to accelerate development of photovoltaic solar energy towards a technology that can be implemented at a very large scale. By harmonising the research programmes at the participating institutes, the Joint Programme aims to  increase the efficiency and effectiveness of PV research in Europe. Moreover, the Programme contributes to development needs of the Solar Europe Industry Initiative regarding cost reduction of solar electricity (performance, lifetime/reliability, manufacturing costs), in support of the SET plan. The EERA-PV programme  brings together more than 80 researchers from 23 organisations and 16 countries across Europe.

ECN provides a significant contribution to EERA-PV and recognizes the importance of cooperation in Europe in order to compete with other countries and maintain a leading position. Paul Wyers: “Cooperation with other leading research institutes in Europe and thereby maximising synergies should lead to an accelerated development of PV technology. We will utilise each other’s strengths, conduct joint research, share infrastructure,  exchange our scientists and educate our students.”

The goal of the kick-off meeting was to develop a detailed work plan 2011 with specific actions to reach 1st year’s milestones. Searching possibilities for funding of activities through setting up new projects was also on the agenda. A good start was made with filling in the work plans, and the parallel sessions were characterized by many lively discussions. In the coming weeks, the work plans for 2011 will be finalized.

Subprogrammes
The Joint Programme on PV contains five subprogrammes with several activities for the period 2010-2013:

1. Silicon Materials (coordinated by FhG-ISE)
   - Improvement of crystal growth for very high efficiency solar cells
   - Development of low-cost feedstock and wafers
   - Development of high Si utilization approaches to wafers (low g/Wp)
   2. Thin-Film Photovoltaics (coordinated by HZB)
2. Cell & module concepts for high efficiency
   - Advanced transparent conductors
   - Advanced module manufacturing
   - Processes and equipment design for large-scale production
   - Analysis and modelling of materials and devices
3. Organic Photovoltaics (coordinated by Risø-DTU)
   - Building library of materials (absorber, electrode, barrier etc.)
   - Defining protocols for fast screening of materials
   - Elucidate degradation mechanisms, define common measures of OPV stability
   - Improve understanding of device physics and morphology
4. Module Technology (coordinated by ECN)
   - Development and evaluation of new module concepts and materials (low-cost and/or very high lifetime)
   - Development of test methodologies allowing prediction of module lifetime under different climate conditions
   - Improving energy yield predictions
5. Education, Training and Use of Infrastructures (coordinated by CEA-INES)
   - Identify outstanding R&D facilities and improve access for EERA
   - Identify R&D facilities that are missing or need upgrade
   - Set-up database of main projects of EERA partners
   - Identify new joint projects using these facilities
   - Organize staff exchange and education/training

About EERA
In order to meet increasing challenges with respect to climate change and security of supply, Europe has formulated ambitious targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Together with nine leading research institutes in Europe, ECN has therefore founded the European Energy Research Alliance (EERA). The aim is to accelerate the development of new technologies. The first EERA programmes, Photovoltaic, Wind, Smart Grids, Geothermal, Bioenergy, Carbon Capture and Storage, and Materials for Nuclear have been launched in 2010. They  are aimed at strengthening, expanding and optimizing EU energy research . The innovative programmes will identify and bring together national centres of excellence in the energy research sector, proactively engaging involved organisations in the identification of common needs and areas of research for the 2013-2020 programming period.

Recognized as a crucial element of the Strategic Energy Technology (SET) Plan, the Joint Programmes respond to the need for better coordination among Member States, maximising synergies and identifying priorities for future funding. 

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