Overview

Photovoltaic R&D activities receiving support from the European Commission can be divided into short to medium-term and medium to long-term, and are managed by DG TREN and DG RTD respectively. The following PV projects are currently ongoing in the Sixth Framework Programme (FP6):

Ongoing PV Projects in FP6

CRYSTAL CLEAR

The main objective of the CRYSTAL CLEAR project is to research, develop and integrate crystalline silicon technologies that allow PV modules to be produced at module costs of €1/Wp in next generation plants while improving their environmental profile by 20%. Although crystalline silicon is currently dominating the market, there is still considerable potential for improvement, and one of the main objectives of CRYSTALCLEAR is to reduce module manufacturing costs by 60%. The project also aims to drive down energy payback time – the period of operation of a module required to produce the same amount of energy consumed during its manufacturing.

FULL SPECTRUM

The FULL SPECTRUM Project aims to further develop concepts that are already scientifically proven but not yet developed, and by trying to prove new ones in search of a breakthrough for PV technology, notably the development of:

1. III-V multi-junction cells towards 40% efficiency
2. Solar thermo-photovoltaic converters
3. Intermediate band materials and cells
4. Molecular-based concepts for full utilization of the solar spectrum
5. Manufacturing technologies for novel concepts

HICONPV

HICONPV aims to develop, set up and test a new cost-effective high concentration PV system with a concentration factor of 1,000. The cost goal for the proposed type of system is €1/Wp until 2015. The most challenging task will be the development of a high-efficiency 2kWp III-V receiver with a module area of about 100cm².

BIPV-CIS

Project Data: The aim of this project is to improve the potential for fitting copper-indium-diselenide (CIS) photovoltaic technology to new and existing buildings. Photovoltaic roof tiles, overhead glazing and façade elements based on CIS materials will be developed, including innovative connection and mounting techniques. The building elements produced in the project will undergo characterisation and performance tests, including thermal behaviour, reliability and outdoor exposure. The project will also address the architectural and aesthetic aspects of building integrated photovoltaics, including a European market survey on PV roof tiles.

MOLYCELL

The goal of the MOLYCELL is to improve the lifetime and efficiency of organic solar cells. The MOLYCELL project will focus on the development of two types of photovoltaic devices: all-organic solar cells and nanocrystal / organic hybrid solar cells. The consortium will bring together experts from the polymer and dye-sensitized solar cell communities, with expertise in the design and synthesis of organic polymers, low temperature fabrication, and roll-to-roll manufacturing of materials. The cost-target is to reduce future production costs to below €1/WP.

PV-CATAPULT

PV-CATAPULT is a Coordinated Action consisting of 10 diverse work packages, centred on a common goal of accelerating the development of the photovoltaic technology (including hybrid solar) towards market deployment. The work in PV-CATAPULT includes studying the potential of PV in the emerging electricity markets of developing countries, engaging the construction industry on applications of PV in buildings (BIPV), producing a roadmap for the penetration of hybrid solar (PV and thermal), and comparing the measurement performance of different solar testing laboratories. Round-robin testing will lead to the publication of best-practise guidelines on measurement procedures and a better understanding of solar simulator performance. The project will organise meetings to discuss market development and will produce status reports on socio-economic issues.

PV-SEC

The PV-SEC Coordination Action provides secretarial support to the European Photovoltaic Technology Platform. The tasks are carried out by a consortium of 4 partners: European Photovoltaic Industry Association, WIP, EUREC Agency and the European Commission DG JRC.

FLEXCELLENCE

The goal of the project is to develop the equipment and processes for cost-effective roll-to-roll production of thin-film modules based on micro-crystalline and amorphous silicon. A crucial issue for such a production system is the deposition rate of the micro-crystalline layer, and this will be tackled using three approaches: VHF-PECVD, MW-PECVD and hot-wire CVD*. Other technological considerations such as low-cost substrates and monolithic cell integration will be studied. The equipment and processes developed in the project will be tested or transferred in the different pilot production lines of the partners, and a blueprint for a complete roll-to-roll production line for modules costing less than 0.5 €/Wp will be produced.
* VHF = very high frequency, MW = microwave, (PE)CVD = (plasma-enhanced) chemical vapour deposition

LARCIS

The aim of the project is to improve the manufacturing potential of thin-film solar modules based on CIS (copper indium diselenide) technology. The project will work on the development of the molybdenum back contact, the buffer layer, the CIS absorber and process control. Special emphasis is placed on the development of cadmium-free large-area modules and electro-deposition methods for CIS absorbers. Results of the work will be transferred from the laboratory to the pilot production facilities of the project partners.

FOXY

The growth of the photovoltaic industry has resulted in an increased demand for silicon feedstock, the price of which has risen significantly. The FOXY project will address this problem by developing refining, purification, and crystallisation processes for metallurgical solar-grade silicon feedstock, as well as for recycled electronic-grade silicon. The refined solar-grade silicon cost target is 15 €/kg, and the electronic quality of the feedstock material will be assessed by fabricating and analysing large area solar cells.

PERFORMANCE

The rapid development of the photovoltaic market requires harmonised, high-quality testing and labelling of products, supported by a sound scientific base. The PERFORMANCE project covers pre-normative aspects of photovoltaic technology, from cell to system level. The limitations of current indoor and outdoor calibration and measurement practices will be investigated, and measurement precision will be improved for traditional technologies and for new and emerging photovoltaic concepts. The results of the project will be fed directly into standardisation processes at CENELEC and IEC level.

ATHLET

By using cell thicknesses of only a few micrometers, thin-film technologies have significant potential to lower the cost of photovoltaic electricity due to reduced material consumption. In addition, high productivity and low-temperature processes offer further possibilities for cost reduction. The ATHLET integrated project will contribute to the development of 3 types of thin-film technologies: 1) CIGS (based on copper, indium and selenium) 2) microcrystalline / amorphous silicon 3) thin-film polycrystalline silicon. The project activities include increasing the performance of high-efficiency cells in the laboratory, developing module technology specifically for thin-films, improving the environmental-friendliness of certain processing steps, and adapting industrial equipment for large-scale deposition of thin-film solar modules. The work will be supported by material analysis, device modelling, and sustainability assessments.

PV-MIPS

The aim of this project is to significantly reduce the cost of grid connected PV systems through the development and demonstration of PV modules with integrated inverters. The research has a strong focus on building-integrated PV, because the potential for this application is especially high in the densely populated areas of Europe. The cost targets for production are 0.3 €/Wp for the inverter and 3.0 €/Wp for the complete system.

SOLAR PLOTS

The main objective of the project is to foster the market penetration of grid-connected PV systems in the south of Europe by engaging around 250 European investors, removing barriers, developing new PV products and financial mechanisms. The project focuses on the connection of PV elements in plots and in commercial and domestic buildings. The objective is to reduce the PV systems costs through an optimal innovative design (trackers and reflectors), and a better economic efficiency, from 7.07 €/Wp to as little as 3.12 €/Wp.

BITHINK

The aim of the project is to significantly reduce the cost of PV energy through the development and demonstration of new thin-film bifacial modules. Bifacial solar cells will be developed using thin silicon solar cells manufactured by an integral screen-printing technique and using a BSF structure. The project aims to obtain low cost crystalline technology (under 1.6 €/Wp) in a multi-megawatt facility - to be implemented at the end of the project.

PV-ERA-NET

The mission of PV-ERA-NET is to carry out activities towards networking and integration of national and regional programmes in the field of PV RTD in the European Research Area (ERA). The consortium comprises 17 participants from 11 countries with more than 20 national RTD programmes (or parts of programmes) and two regional RTD programmes.