Press releases
More than 200 international experts pave the way for photovoltaic module recycling
Berlin, 26 January 2010: More than 200 experts in photovoltaic (PV) energy, waste management and recycling participated today in the 1st International Conference on PV module recycling organized by PV CYCLE and EPIA in collaboration with the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre. Attendees had the opportunity to learn first-hand from different industry associations and companies what is currently being done to implement recycling mechanisms and to minimise the environmental impact of end-of-life solar panels.
Solar Energy: Key Solution to CO2 Challenges in the Developing World
Copenhagen, 14 December 2009: Intense debate at COP15 centres on the challenge of reducing CO2 emissions in developing countries without limiting their economic growth and ability to make life better for their citizens. EPIA (the European Photovoltaic Industry Association) is in Copenhagen to make the case that solar provides the opportunity for developing countries to leapfrog traditional energy dependence on fossil fuel to producing clean energy.
Energy performance of buildings: photovoltaic systems to become a standard product in new buildings
BRUSSELS, 7 December 2009 - Today, at the Energy Council the Swedish Presidency was congratulated for the agreement reached on the new Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD). Any new European building will have to be “nearly zero energy” by 2020, meaning that a very large share of energy consumption will be provided by renewable energy. Solar photovoltaic technologies are amongst the best suited to be integrated in buildings. However no target has been set for existing buildings which currently represent about 99% of the building stock.
Thin Film: a key PV technology to reach 12 percent of EU’s electricity by 2020
BRUSSELS, 16 November 2009 - The Thin Film industry is more than ever ready to contribute to the 12% target set by EPIA in its recent SET For 2020 study. This was confirmed by the 260 participants of EPIA’s 2nd International Thin Film Conference that took place on 12 November 2009 in Munich.
Solar Europe Initiative funding: Positive but incomplete way forward
BRUSSELS, 7 October 2009 – Communication on the financing of low carbon technologies: the European Commission positively recognises the strong potential of solar photovoltaic technology but does not sufficiently reflect industry R&D and demonstration priorities; furthermore,significant uncertainty remains on the financing model.
Solar Photovoltaic Power Essential to Meet the 20% Renewable Energy Target
HAMBURG, 24 September 2009 – Despite the global economic downturn, solar photovoltaic power retains huge, largely untapped potential to help Europe meet its energy and environmental goals.
“The fundamentals of the PV industry are and remain strong, as indicated in our SET for 2020 study,” said Adel El Gammal, Secretary General of the European Photovoltaic Industry Association (EPIA) at the 6th European Photovoltaic (PV) Industry Forum held on 23 September in Hamburg. It needs an ambitious policy support for the next 3 to 9 years, until photovoltaic power is able to compete with conventional electricity on price.
Photovoltaic Power is Poised to Join European Energy Mainstream by 2020
BRUSSELS, 22 June 2009 – Photovoltaic solar electricity is poised to become a significant and competitive supplier to the European electricity market, concludes a comprehensive study conducted by the European Photovoltaic Industry Association (EPIA) with the strategic management consultancy A.T. Kearney.
The SET For 2020 study (www.setfor2020.eu) explores different deployment scenarios: Under business-as-usual conditions, photovoltaic power should supply between 4% and 6% of Europeans’ electricity needs by 2020. However, photovoltaic power could supply as much as 12% of EU electricity demand by 2020 – up from less than 1% at present – if more favourable conditions are established by European policy makers, regulators and the energy sector at large.
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Newsletter Editorial - SET For 2020: Setting the Pace for a New Age of Photovoltaics in Europe
The European Photovoltaic Industry Association (EPIA) will shortly be releasing the final report of the SET For 2020 study. This study was carried out between October 2008 and March 2009 by EPIA with the collaboration of the strategic management consultancy firm A.T. Kearney. This major undertaking provides the Industry with substantial strategic input to accelerate the transition of Photovoltaics from a niche to a mainstream energy technology and constitutes a key milestone in the development of the PV Industry.
Despite credit crunch, the solar photovoltaic industry is more than ever ready for further growth
Brussels, April 15th 2009: Speakers at EPIA’s 3rd International Conference on Solar Photovoltaic Investments confirmed that, like all industries, the solar photovoltaic (PV) sector has not been spared by the credit crunch. Medium to large scale PV plants are taking longer to be financed than ever before. They also stressed that the fundamentals of the PV sector remain intact, if not better than before, considering the price decrease of PV modules between 10 % and 20% since the beginning of 2009.
Solar electricity key to reach net zero energy buildings
Brussels, 31 March 2009: Today the industry and energy committee of the European Parliament (EP) voted on the recast of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD). The committee agreed that on-site renewables (RES), combined with efficiency measures, are essential to improve the energy performance of buildings in Europe. This should boost the use of solar electricity in buildings.
2008: an exceptional year for the Photovoltaic Market
Brussels, 24 March 2009: The European Photovoltaic Industry Association (EPIA) presented its annual market figures to its members on Friday 20 March 2009. The global solar photovoltaic (PV) market grew to at least 5.5 GW1 in 2008 compared to 2.4 GW in 2007. Spain ranks first, followed by Germany.
Dr Winfried Hoffmann re-elected as President of EPIA until 2010
Brussels, 24 mars 2009: The European Photovoltaic Industry Association (EPIA) celebrated its Annual General Meeting on Thursday 19 March 2009. The assembly re-elected Dr. Winfried Hoffmann from Applied Materials GmbH as President until 2010 and elected Anton Milner, from Q-Cells SE, as Vice-President. Stephan Hansen from First Solar GmbH entered the Board as Director.
Climate and Energy package adopted by the European Parliament - the targets are clear, now it’s time for Member States to pull up their sleeves !
Brussels, 17 December 2008: “The adoption of the Climate and Energy Package marks a new decisive step forward in the development of renewables” said Eleni Despotou, Deputy Secretary General and Policy Director of the European Photovoltaic Industry Association (EPIA). The world's largest photovoltaic (PV) industry association welcomes the positive vote of the European Parliament this morning.
This Package represents a crucial legal framework for the deployment of the photovoltaic sector in the next decade. It will provide a secure investment environment, guaranteeing a continued sustainable development of the photovoltaic sector. In particular, the association is pleased with the Directive on Renewable Energies which confirms the binding EU target of 20% renewable energy share by 2020 and national binding targets.
“This new Directive should ensure PV energy becomes a mainstream energy source in tomorrow’s energy mix”, Despotou continues..
A brighter energy future for Europe!
Brussels, 9 December 2008: A few days before the end of the international conference of the United Nations on Climate Change in Poznan, Poland, and after months of intense negotiations, Europe’s energy future looks brighter than ever.
The European Photovoltaic Industry Association (EPIA) welcomes the agreement reached this morning on the European Renewable Energy Directive. It confirms the binding EU target of 20% renewable energy share by 2020..
Think Thin and Go Large!
For its first edition, the EPIA International Thin Film Conference gathers
more than 350 industry professionals.
Brussels, 18 November 2008: Hardly anyone would have believed that Thin Film could attract so many people when the first EPIA-JRC Thin Film Workshop was initiated with 15 companies in 2005. Over 350 photovoltaic (PV) professionals gathered for the 1st EPIA International Thin Film Conference on 13 November last in Munich, Germany - a huge success that confirms the interest for a promising technology.
Think Thin and Go Large!
EPIA organises its first international Thin Film Conference
Brussels, 15 October 2008: Over 300 experts from the thin film sector are expected to gather on13 November next in Munich for the 1st EPIA International Thin Film Conference. With a growing demand for photovoltaic (PV) products in the European and American markets, all technological solutions are expanding and Thin Film even stronger. With the organisation of this 1st edition, EPIA aims at providing a dedicated international discussion platform for the photovoltaic Thin Film industry.
Photovoltaic industry substantially revises its target to supply 12% of European electricity demand by 2020.
Valencia, 4 September 2008
- Competitiveness with retail electricity prices will be achieved earlier than expected in major energy markets
- Industry is committed to increasing investment to accelerate cost reductions provided that appropriate political support is ensured in the individual member states, in harmony with the European framework, until competitiveness is reached
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Solar Energy can bring clean energy to over 4 billion people by 2030.
Valencia, Spain, 1 September 2008 - Solar electricity can contribute largely to the energy needs of two-thirds of the world’s population - including those in remote areas - by 2030. This is the main conclusion of the Solar Generation report, published by Greenpeace and the European Photovoltaic Industry Association (EPIA) today..
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Photovoltaic Industry urging the Spanish government to improve the future decree.
Brussels, 29 August 2008 : The current royal decree that provides the framework for the retribution of grid-connected photovoltaic systems in Spain will come to an end next 29 September; the Spanish government is working on a new proposal of decree that would come into force from January 2009. According to the first draft, an annual market cap has been fixed to 300 MW and the proposed tariffs have been strongly decreased, potentially jeopardising Industry sustainability. The European photovoltaic industry is urging the government to reconsider its proposal to preserve the sustainable development of this emerging sector.
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Ernesto Macias new EPIA President from 2008 until 2010
Brussels, 4th July 2008 – The European Photovoltaic Industry Association (EPIA) celebrated its Annual General Meeting (AGM) last Thursday 26 June in Aix les Bains, one day prior to its annual national political event which was this year entitled: “Towards the development of the photovoltaic sector in France”. On the occasion of the AGM, Ernesto Macias became president of the world’s largest photovoltaic association succeeding Dr. Winfried Hoffmann in this position. He will remain president until the 2010 AGM.
Recommendations by French solar professionals to launch the national market
Brussels, 1 July 2008 : On the occasion of the symposium “Towards the development of the photovoltaic sector in France” organised by EPIA, the European Photovoltaic Industry Association, together with the French actors of the sector in Aix les Bains (Savoie, France), professionals propose concrete solutions to allow France to really launch its market, in a similar way to its neighbouring countries of Germany or Spain..
Que préconisent les professionnels du solaire pour le marché français ?
Aix-les-Bains, le 27 Juin 2008 : À l’occasion du colloque national « Vers un développement durable de la filière photovoltaïque en France » organisé par l’Association Européenne de l’Industrie Photovoltaïque (EPIA) et l’ensemble des acteurs français du secteur à Aix-Les-Bains (Savoie), les professionnels proposent des solutions concrètes pour permettre à la France de faire démarrer réellement son marché, à l’instar de ses voisins européens tels que l’Allemagne ou l’Espagne..
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The Photovoltaic and the Battery Sectors recognize the key role of Energy Storage in the future development of photovoltaic power. Brussels, 12 June 2008 - “Energy storage technology will become an important, valueadded component in photovoltaic (PV) systems in the future and will contribute to the continuous long term growth of PV”. That is the conclusion reached by a joint working group convened by EPIA (European Photovoltaic Industry Association) and EUROBAT (Association of European Storage Battery Manufacturers).
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| Source : EPIA & EUROBAT Release Date : 13 Juin 2008 |
