Reducing the cost of PV electricity

Proposals are requested to address the reduction of the cost of PV electricity by optimising the PV system energy yield and lifetime and decreasing cost at module (encapsulation materials, glass, and antireflective layers, anti-soiling layers, module architecture, etc.), balance-of-system component (electronics, inverters, tracking systems, etc.) or system configuration levels.

Applications for Innovation Actions (bringing the technology from TRL 5-6 to 6-7) are invited (please see part G of the General Annexes).

Opening the project's test sites, pilot and demonstration facilities, or research infrastructures for practice oriented education, training or knowledge exchange is encouraged.

The Commission considers that proposals requesting a contribution from the EU of between EUR 7 to 10 million would allow this specific challenge to be addressed appropriately. Nonetheless, this does not preclude submission and selection of proposals requesting other amounts

Much of the R&D efforts in recent years have focused on the development of high-efficiency PV cells at low cost. However, the cost of a PV system also depends on a number of other elements and components. The reduction of their cost and the enhancement of their performance show ample margins for improvement and can considerably help reducing price and accelerating large-scale deployment of PV installations; however this still represents a challenge.

For a given technology, demonstration of cost-effective solutions (expressed by a considerable reduction of cost per kWh) with increased energy yields at module/system level (under standard as well as actual operating conditions). Solutions are also expected to contribute to reduce energy payback time for the PV system and, when applicable, to increase lifetime. At module level, solutions should show increased cost effectiveness for recycling.