R&D activities in the field of photovoltaics and the European Commission

Since 1980, the European Commission has funded medium to long term research photovoltaics projects for over 150 Million Euros in addition to short term research, demonstration and infrastructure projects as well as promotional programmes. For example, JOULE, THERMIE, ALTENER are well-known EC programmes within the PV community. Today, the Fourth Framework Programme (FP4) which has launched those R&D activities during the period 1994-1998 sees its PV projects coming to an end, while new ones are starting under the Fifth Framework Programme (FP5: 1999-2002). Photovoltaics has a strong position among the new and renewable energy sources that have been selected as priority themes within the Energy, Environment and Sustainable Development (EESD) main EC programme of FP5. International collaboration of European organizations outside EU-15 is being encouraged at research level to maximize mutual benefits and avoid unnecessary overlaps or duplication. In particular, EU/US cooperation in the field of PV is part of an Implementing Arrangement that follows the 1997 Science and Technology Agreement signed between the two regions.