European Commission (EC) plans to team up with partners to create a new collaboration specifically aimed at solar power through Horizon Europe

The European Commission (EC) has decided to form a co-programmed European partnership for solar photovoltaics with the European Technology and Innovation Platform (ETIP PV), the PV sector’s research representation to the European Commission.

The European Commission recently published a strategic plan for research and innovation (R&I) investment under Horizon Europe for the 2025-2027 period and solar photovoltaics is one of nine new areas identified in the plan for European co-funded and co-programmed partnerships.

SolarPower Europe, which is part of the Secretariat of ETIP PV, said on Tuesday that the Commission and the solar sector will negotiate on the best format for the partnership, planned to be effective from early 2025.

Thomas Garabetian, member of the ETIP PV Secretariat and R&I manager at SolarPower Europe, said that “the inclusion of a co-programmed partnership for solar PV under the European Commission’s Horizon Europe Strategic Plan is a significant step for the industry, which will improve the coordination of R&I efforts along the rapidly evolving solar value chain.”

“This partnership will be a crucial pillar to develop a resilient European solar supply chain, by helping European companies and research institutes to reduce their turnaround time between the laboratory and production phases, with better targeted R&I programmes that will help deliver innovation at scale,” Garabetian added.

He further said this will also be important for advancing new solar applications such as building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) and floating solar, and developing circularity solutions.

Welcoming the news, Rutger Schlatmann, chair of ETIP PV, and head of the division Solar Energy at the Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin fuer Materialien und Energie (HZB), said: “For Europe to maintain a leadership on PV research and innovation, it is essential to directly involve the industry in R&I programmes, and ensure funding is directed to the right priorities.”