Financing - R&D
FOCUS ON R&D: THE EU'S HORIZON 2020 PROGRAMME
Horizon 2020 is the new EU framework programme for research and innovation under the upcoming multiannual financial framework (MFF) 2014-2020, which sets budget priorities. It will represent one of the main tools for the financing of photovoltaics R&D projects at EU level.
In the proposal presented on 30 November 2011 by the European Commission, the overall financial envelope for Horizon 2020 is €80 billion, which represents an increase of 30% in R&D&I spending compared to the previous MFF.
The first priority, Excellent Science (€27.8 billion), is focused on the strengthening of the European Research Area with the final aim of creating a more competitive European research environment at global level. Main beneficiaries will be universities, research institutes and academics.
Close-to-the-markets technologies and innovations will be funded under the second priority, Industrial Leadership (€20 billion). ICT, nanotechnology, and advanced materials are some of the main objectives. The financial facility “Access to risk finance” under this priority has been assigned €4 billion of which €1 billion may go towards the implementation of the Strategic Energy Technology (SET) Plan.
The third priority, Societal Challenges (€35.8 billion), is the most relevant for PV R&I since it comprises the “secure, clean and efficient energy” challenge. This chapter dedicated to the development of renewables, CCS and Energy efficiency, has been attributed a €6.5 billion budget. Compared to the non-nuclear energy RDI budget under the previous MFF, this represents a modest increase.
The legislative texts establishing Horizon 2020 are still under negotiation and the first calls for proposals are expected early 2014. 
SOPHIA RI Project - A unique entry point to many European PV Research Facilities
The SOPHIA project, co-financed by the FP Infrastructure programme, aims at bringing together the main European Photovoltaic Research Infrastructures in order to provide the scientific community with common referential to conduct efficient and coordinated research work in the field of PV technologies.
The SOPHIA project will address the issues of fragmentation and costly duplication of research at the European scale. Large research infrastructures working together will avoid the useless replication of a large number of small efforts.
Read more: www.sophia-ri.eu
THE SOLAR EUROPE INDUSTRY INITIATIVE (SEII)
The Strategic Energy Technology (SET) Plan represents the technology pillar of the European climate and energy policy. It also represents the framework within which the Solar Europe Industry Initiative (SEII) has been established. 5 other European Industrial Initiatives have been created, each one dedicated to one of the low-carbon technology identified by the SET Plan.
The SEII focused on photovoltaics and concentrated solar power. It was launched in June 2010 with the goal of facilitating the reduction of PV generation costs and its integration into the electricity grid in a fast and cost efficient way. It is based on a 10 years technology roadmap that identifies the R&D priorities and ensures an alignment of public and private investments.
Every 3 years an Implementation Plan, drafted with the contribution of the PV industry, lists the R&D priorities that need to be addressed on the medium-term. The current SEII Implementation Plan covering the 2010-2012 period features 3 thematic pillars; cost reduction, system integration and preparing for cost and penetration beyond 2020 levels. The overall budget estimated for the implementation of the PV part of the SEII is € 9 billion, of which 10% should be provided by the EU budget, 20% by Member States and 60% by the private sector. The impact of the SEII is measured against Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).
The governing body leading the implementation of the initiative, the SEII team, monitors its progresses, ensure links with the other European Industrial Initiatives and liaise with the SET-Plan Steering Group. The team is composed by industry representatives drawn from the EPIA secretariat, its Members, the EU Photovoltaic Technology Platform and representatives from the European commission (DG RTD), Member States, the European Energy Research Alliance and the European Investment Bank.
Find out more about how to contribute to the work of the Solar Europe Industry Initiative on the Members’ area!
EU FUNDING: FP7 CALLS
EPIA constantly monitors calls for proposals under the Seventh European Framework Programme (FP7) that are relevant for the PV industry and in particular for the implementation of the Solar Europe Industry initiative.
The most recent FP7 calls were published on 10 July 2012. Three particular topics are of direct interest for the PV industry:
- ENERGY.2013.2.1.1: High efficiency c-Si photovoltaics modules (deadline 28 November 2012)
- ENERGY.2013.2.9.2: Methods for the estimation of the Direct Normal Irradiation (DNI) (deadline 28 November 2012)
- ENERGY.2013.2.1.2: Support to key activities of the European Photovoltaics Technology Platform (TP PV) (8 January 2013)
Additionally, please note the following call of interest for the PV sector has been published under “Nanosciences, Nanotechnologies, Materials and new Production Technologies – NMP”:
- “NMP.2013.4.0-2 Innovative materials for efficient, stable and cheap organic photovoltaic cells”
THE EUROPEAN PHOTOVOLTAIC TECHNOLOGY PLATFORM
The European Photovoltaic Technology Platform (EU PV TP) is the main forum for PV stakeholders to create a strategy and corresponding implementation plan for research & technology development, education and market deployment of photovoltaics.
The platform’s Strategic Research Agenda (SRA) includes an overview of all the R&D needs of the PV sector and the related recommendations for research topics in order to reach cost-reduction targets set for 2020 and 2030.
The EU PV TP was established in 2007 with the support of the Seventh European Framework Programme. Its consortium includes EPIA as the project leader, along with EUREC, JRC and WIP for the organization of the secretariat of the Platform. The secretariat provides supporting activities to a network of experts drawn from the research, academia and industry sectors, making the platform an independent and objective body. The 140 Members are organised in four working groups: policy & instruments, market & deployment, science technology & application and developing countries.
In addition, the “Mirror Group” reunites representatives of the Member States’ ministries. Its mission is to ensure exchange of information between the platform and Member States. Steering and executive committees ensure the coordination of the platform activities.
In the framework of the Solar Europe Industry Initiative (SEII), the platform contributes to the drafting of triennial implementation plans and is represented in the SEII team.
Find out more at www.eupvplatform.org
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