New partnership on solar photovoltaics launched in EU

A new partnership on innovation in photovoltaics has been launched by the European Commission to strengthen the region’s position in the global industry.

The new partnership – one of three new, including advanced materials and textiles – is aimed to support the transition to renewable energy, particularly to solar power, as outlined in the Green Deal, the REPowerEU plan and the 2023 Renewable Energy Directive.

Specifically it is planned to scale up European solar PV manufacturing capacity, develop a more resilient value chain in the EU and reduce dependency on fossil fuels through collaboration across the entire PV value chain.

The Commission is targeting with private partners to invest up to €240 million ($260 million) each from 2025 to 2030 in the partnership.

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“Europe’s future depends on its ability to innovate and scale up. By fostering public-private collaboration in emerging and transformative sectors through these new partnerships, we are driving progress in key areas such as solar energy,” commented Henna Virkkunen, Executive Vice-President for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy.

“Our pathway to tech sovereignty is clear: we need to transform Europe into a global digital and innovation powerhouse while reducing our reliance on imported technologies.”

The innovation in photovoltaics partnership – of which few details are available so far, subject to the signing of an MoU between the Commission and the other partners – and the others were identified in the Horizon Europe strategic plan for 2025-2027.

Along with the clean energy transition partnership, it is expected to impact on ensuring more efficient, secure and competitive renewable and decarbonised energy supply in Europe.

Other existing partnerships in the energy sector include on the industrial battery value chain, the built environment and clean hydrogen.

The partnerships approach, introduced in 2002, is considered a key implementation tool of the Horizon research agenda, bringing together the Commission with private and public partners to address pressing challenges through joint research and innovation activities.

The 2024 monitoring report on the partnerships states them to be major contributors to the digital and green transitions, resilience and the sustainable development goals.

In this context, the new partnership on advanced materials is noteworthy. Its goal is to accelerate the design, development and industrial uptake of safe and sustainable advanced materials and associated technologies fit for the circular economy.

For the energy sector key materials research priorities are on those for the conversion and generation of renewable and low carbon energy, energy storage and increased energy efficiency.

The basis for cooperation in the partnerships is the MoU between the Commission and the other partners.

Once adopted and signed, the partnership can begin through dedicated Horizon Europe Work Programme calls, complemented by additional investments and activities.