Periodic Reporting for period 2 - ETIP PV - SEC (Support to all stakeholders from the Photovoltaic sector and related sectors to contribute to the SET-Plan) Reporting period: 2017-10-01 to 2018-09-30 Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project The European Technology and Innovation Platform Photovoltaics (ETIP PV), hereinafter the Platform, is an independent organization of solar energy experts and professionals with a full coverage of relevant backgrounds. ETIP PV is recognised by the European Commission and the SET Plan Steering Group as representative of the photovoltaic sector. It provides high quality analyses and background documents on photovoltaic technology, economics, applications, system integration and other aspects that are important for the development of a competitive industry sector and growing markets. The Platform recognises the paramount importance and potential impact of the strategy for a European Energy Union and the Strategic Energy Technology Plan (SET Plan) and contributes to its activities. ETIP PV is closely linked to Implementation Working Group PV (IWG PV) which has a complementary mission of monitoring the implementation of the strategic plan [Initiative for Global Leadership in Photovoltaics Implementation Plan from November 2017] that has been developed by ETIP PV and other representatives of the PV sector in Europe like EERA PV and SolarPower Europe.The Steering Committee is the permanent decision making body of the ETIP PV. The work of the ETIP PV takes the form of ad hoc working groups (WGs) which are proposed for specific tasks by the Steering Committee. Such tasks may be, for example, to prepare a short document to assist the European Commission or to explore a relevant topic in depth. Ad hoc WGs are reviewed every two years with a view to extending or ending their mandate.The working groups of the ETIP PV presently cover the areas of:1. Levelised cost of electricity (LCoE)2. Industry Policy3. Building-Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV)4. Grid Integration5. PV Quality and ReliabilityThe objective of the ETIP PV – SEC project was to provide continuity of the activities of the ETIP PV. This was done with an active Secretariat that was able to provide efficient, impartial and transparent support to the Members of the ETIP PV.The specific objectives of the project were:- To ensure the smooth running of the operations of the ETIP PV by providing support and assistance to its Members- To organise participatory, constructive and inclusive meetings, workshops and conferences of the ETIP PV- To prepare and implement an active and successful communication and dissemination strategy to make the project and its achievements widely known among key stakeholders and the general publicThe ETIP PV Secretariat partners have used this project to provide these services, fulfil other aspects of the mission of ETIP PV and ensure that the ETIP PV was running according to its Terms of Reference, as adopted by its Steering Committee. Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far The ETIP PV – SEC project started in October 2016 and ended in September 2018. During these two years, the ETIP PV Secretariat:- Supported ETIP PV to reach consensus on priorities, strategies, and R&I investment advice and taking these to decision-makers in the European Commission, Member States and Associated Countries; - Provided support in keeping the PV community connected to parallel advisory bodies (ETIPs, notably) concerned with complementary aspects of the energy system- Fostered cohesion of the stakeholders involved in the PV sector and related sectors through the organization of regular meetings of the members of ETIP PV and of meetings with stakeholders outside ETIP PV in the form of public workshops or conferences. The Secretariat disseminated the ETIP PV results in the form of written reports and through public workshops and conferences. The main results of the ETIP PV – SEC project are summarized below. 1. Urgent Call for Action to Ensure a Sustainable Future for European PV Manufacturing: In June 2017, ETIP PV together with EUREC and SolarUnited initiated a call for urgent action to maintain solar R&D and EU manufacturing and to take further opportunities for Europe. The initiative was supported by more than 100 European research centers, equipment suppliers, materials providers, and module manufacturers.2. Recommendations of the working groups in the form of published reports:The recommendations of the ETIP PV cover the areas of Building Integrated Photovoltaics, Photovoltaics Levelized Cost of Electricity, penetration of PV into power grids and industrial policy. The ETIP PV working groups have published a total of six reports since October 2016:- Building Integrated Photovoltaics as a core element for Smart Cities – Integrated Research, Innovation and Competitiveness Strategies within the Energy Union - The true competitiveness of solar PV. A European case study- Assessing the need for better forecasting and observability of PV- PV manufacturing in Europe- Supporting the Development of the European PV Industry and Markets through Enhanced Quality- PV Quality and Economy3. ETIP PV conferences and workshopsETIP PV has organized succesfully the following events- ‘PV Manufacturing’ Conference on 18&19 May 2017 in Brussels, Belgium- 'Innovation in Solar Building Skins & Energy Efficiency towards Sustainable Cities developments’ workshop on 7 September 2017 in Brussels, Belgium- ‘Building Integrated Photovoltaics: where Energy Efficiency meets Building Aesthetics’ workshop on 19&20 March 2018 in Berlin, Germany- ‘Quality and sustainability of PV Systems’ Conference on 3 May 2018 in Brussels, BelgiumAll the ETIP PV reports can be downloaded for free from the ETIP PV website at www.etip-pv.eu. The proceedings and presentations of the ETIP PV events are also available on the website. Dissemination has been one of the central activities within the ETIP PV – SEC project. The main target groups of the dissemination activities were the European Commission and the Member States, the Members of the ETIP PV, the PV stakeholders such as industry and academia, the public sector and civil society organisations. To maximise the impact outside the network of the ETIP PV, the documents prepared within the ETIP PV were disseminated at the most relevant events for the PV community such as the European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition and the Intersolar, the European Sustainable Energy Week and other general assemblies of platforms related to PV (eg. Smart Networks for Energy Transition (ETIP SNET)). The wider public was reached thanks to the publication of press releases and of non-technical documents such as fact sheets about Photovoltaics written in an easy-to-understand language. Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far) ETIP PV has supported and will continue to support the SET Plan activities focused on raising the profile of PV or on helping policymakers to craft legislation or tailor research programmes to optimally support it. ETIP PV continues to serve as the European Commission’s and Member States and Associated Countries’ recognised interlocutor (as representative of PV industry stakeholders) for PV R&I strategy.ETIP PV is closely linked to Implementation Working Group PV (IWG PV) which has a complementary mission of monitoring the implementation of the strategic plan [Initiative for Global Leadership in Photovoltaics Implementation Plan from November 2017]. ETIP PV will support the IWG PV to mobilize private actors and industry and will liaise with EC and SET Plan countries for identification of concrete projects, including co-fund activities in line with the implementation plans. ETIP PV logo and visual identity
