European partnership on solar PV unites leading minds from research and industry

The European Partnership for Solar Photovoltaics (EUPI-PV) has been formalised in an MoU between the European Technology & Innovation Platform for Photovoltaics (ETIP PV) and European Commission.

The EUPI-PV, set up under the Horizon Europe programme, is a co-programmed partnership for PV proposed by the European Commission to strengthen the research and innovation framework for photovoltaics in Europe.

Bringing together leading minds from research and industry, the objective is to accelerate the market uptake of solar PV innovations by strengthening R&I across the PV value chain and ensuring a consistent approach across European R&I efforts through to commercialisation.

The signing of the partnership is considered to mark a major step in uniting European efforts to advance solar technology and sustainability.

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Joanna Drake, Deputy Director-General for Research and Innovation at the Commission, commented that Europe is re-inventing itself as the leader in solar R&I.

“We need to drastically step up our efforts to support the solar industry in Europe.”

Walburga Hemetsberger, CEO of SolarPower Europe, who signed the agreement on behalf of ETIP PV, said the more we’re inventing, the better we’re going to be able to integrate renewables into our system.

"That’s why R&I is so important and plays a role in so many applications like floating solar and agrisolar. This agreement will allow us to tackle our energy transition challenges, while securing our energy future."

Rutger Schlatmann, Chair of ETIP PV and head of the Solar Energy division at the Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie, added that the partnership confirms solar PV as a crucial technology for the continent.

“The partnership is of vital importance for both European PV research and industry as it will enable the two to collaborate and innovate on a scale in an efficient and transparent manner, while being supported by the European Commission.”

He also noted that Europe stands united in its strategic goal to create an EU-based PV-manufacturing eco-system, for both traditional silicon-based and innovative PV technologies.

The partnership is governed by a board and supported by leading industry and research associations, as well as the SET Plan Implementation Working Group, with the aim that its work stays aligned both with the priorities of the sector and with Europe’s broader energy goals.

It also should strengthen involvement of the PV industry in the research and innovation process.

Along with SolarPower Europe, key associations shaping the European PV research and innovation landscape include EERA-PV, ESMC, EUREC and PVthin.

The Commission and private partners plan to invest up to €240 million ($271 million) each from 2025 to 2030 in the partnership, which will work through dedicated Horizon Europe Work Programme calls, complemented by additional investments and activities by partners.

The first funding opportunities will be part of the Horizon Europe Work Programme 2025 and the last are due by the end of December 2027, with the partnership planned to run through December 2030.