Press releases
Roofs could technically generate up to 40% of EU’s electricity demand by 2020
Madrid, 23 June 2010 - With a total ground floor area over 22,000 km2, 40% of all building roofs and 15% of all facades in EU 27 are suited for PV applications. This means that over 1,500 GWp of PV could technically be installed in Europe which would generate annually about 1,400TWh, representing 40% of the total electricity demand by 2020.
The European Solar Photovoltaic Industry is ready to co-finance 1,235 million euro in R&D in order to achieve competitiveness in all its market segments
Madrid, 1 June 2010 - The Solar Europe Industry Initiative (SEII) that will be launched on Thursday in Madrid during the European SET Plan Conference will contribute to achieving 12% Solar Photovoltaic (PV) supply of the EU electricity demand by 2020.
PV could significantly overshoot the 20 GW target of the MSP
Valencia, 12 May 2010 - Gathered together in Valencia for the first of a 2-day high-level conference on the Mediterranean Solar Plan (MSP) within the framework of the Spanish Presidency of the European Union, over 550 participants, including ministers and representatives from the 43 Mediterranean countries, have discussed the potential of solar photovoltaic (PV) electricity in the Mediterranean region. The MSP constitutes one of the major initiatives of the Union for the Mediterranean and its prime objective is to develop 20 GW of renewable electricity capacity by 2020 in the Southern Mediterranean area, as well as the necessary infrastructures for the electricity interconnection with Europe. The conference is intended to enhance and facilitate the implementation of the MSP in terms of infrastructural requirements, policy frameworks and associated financing..
European Solar Days: The sun shines all over Europe
Brussels, 3 May 2010 - An increasing number of countries will participate to the 3rd edition of the European Solar Days from 1 to 16 May 2010. Around 6.600 events are planned in 17 European countries for this year’s Solar Days campaign, involving several hundred thousands of citizens at local level. Solar energy is already contributing significantly to the reduction of CO2 emissions, supplying millions of European households with green electricity and renewable heating and cooling.
Ingmar Wilhelm, new President of the European Photovoltaic Industry Association: “The beginning of a new chapter in the history of EPIA”
Brussels, 14 April 2010 - During the Annual General Meeting of EPIA, the European Photovoltaic Industry Association, which took place in Rome on 18 March 2010, Ingmar Wilhelm, Executive Vice President of Enel Green Power responsible for Business Development world-wide, was elected the new President of the world's largest association devoted to the solar photovoltaic (PV) industry. His appointment clearly marks the beginning of a new chapter in the history of EPIA and demonstrates both the strong interest of the PV industry to move further down the value chain to electricity markets and clients as well as the increasing attractiveness that the European energy industry sees in the current and future potential of PV technologies.
A bright future shines on the solar photovoltaic electricity market
Brussels, 12 April 2010: The global solar photovoltaic electricity (PV) market counted an additional increase in installed capacity of about 7.2 GW in 2009, reaching a total capacity of over 22 GW world-wide. This has been the most important annual capacity increase ever and is particularly impressive in light of the difficult financial and economical circumstances during the past year. In 2010, global cumulative installed PV capacity is expected to grow by at least 40%, while the annual growth is expected to increase by more than 15%. During 2009, Germany remained the largest market, with Italy ranking second and Japan and the U.S. markets to follow. Germany most probably will remain the largest market in 2010, while new markets in particular from Southern Europe, Asia and the U.S. will grow significantly.
Ingmar Wilhelm from Enel Green Power elected as new President of the European Photovoltaic Industry Association (EPIA)
Rome, 19 March 2010: Gathered together in Rome on the occasion of its Annual General Meeting yesterday, the members of the largest photovoltaic (PV) industry association worldwide have elected their new Board of Directors. Ingmar Wilhelm, Executive Vice-President of Enel Green Power, is elected as President .
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.
