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| European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference | |
|---|---|
| Name | European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference |
| Status | Active |
| Genre | Conference |
| Frequency | Biennial / Annual |
| Country | Various in Europe |
| First | 1975 |
| Organizer | European Commission; academic and industry bodies |
European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference is a major scientific and industry meeting focused on photovoltaic technology, solar cells, and renewable energy deployment. The conference gathers researchers, engineers, policymakers, and commercial stakeholders from across European Union, United Kingdom, Germany, France, and other countries to present advances in photovoltaic materials, systems, and policy. It functions as a forum where developments intersect with institutions such as the European Commission, International Energy Agency, Fraunhofer Society, and universities including University of Cambridge, École Polytechnique, and Technical University of Munich.
The conference traces roots to early solar research networks influenced by events like the Oil crisis of 1973 and initiatives from bodies such as the European Economic Community and Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Early editions reflected collaborations among laboratories linked to Bell Labs, Bell Telephone Laboratories, Sandia National Laboratories, CSEM, and national research councils including Conseil National de la Recherche Scientifique and Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt. Over decades the meeting paralleled milestones associated with entities like NREL, Institute of Physics, IEEE, and policy milestones from the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Kyoto Protocol. Participants have included researchers affiliated with Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Stanford University, Imperial College London, and industrial partners such as Siemens, BP, Shell, and First Solar.
Organizing committees typically include representatives from academic institutions such as KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Delft University of Technology, and Politecnico di Milano, research organizations like Fraunhofer ISE, and industry associations including European Photovoltaic Industry Association and regional bodies linked to the European Renewable Energy Federation. Governance often interacts with funding agencies such as Horizon Europe, national ministries (e.g., Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Energie), and standards organizations such as International Electrotechnical Commission and European Committee for Standardization. Peer review and program oversight draw on experts from societies like The Royal Society, EurObserv'ER, Royal Society of Edinburgh, and professional groups such as IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference committees.
Notable editions have been held in cities with strong research ecosystems, including Hamburg, Amsterdam, Barcelona, Milan, Paris, and Lisbon. Special sessions have featured collaborations or parallel events associated with COP21, World Energy Congress, Intersolar, and thematic workshops co-located with Materials Research Society meetings and conferences hosted by SolarPower Europe. Key keynote speakers have included representatives from European Commission President, leaders from NREL, directors from Fraunhofer ISE, and academics affiliated with University of Oxford, ETH Zurich, Max Planck Society, and CEA. Proceedings have been cited alongside publications in Nature Energy, Science, Applied Physics Letters, Journal of Applied Physics, and conference series anchored by Springer Nature and IEEE Xplore.
Technical sessions cover photovoltaic materials and devices pioneered by labs such as Bell Labs and MIT Lincoln Laboratory: silicon photovoltaics, thin-film technologies from companies like First Solar and research centers such as IMEC, perovskite solar cells developed at University of Oxford and EPFL, organic photovoltaics linked to groups at University of Cambridge, tandem and multi-junction cells related to work at Fraunhofer ISE and NREL, and concentrator photovoltaics associated with Sandia National Laboratories. System-level topics intersect with grid integration studies from ENTSO-E and storage research influenced by Tesla, Inc. developments, while lifecycle analysis sessions cite methods from ISO and European Environment Agency. Standards, testing, degradation, and reliability discussions invoke laboratories like PV Cycle and certification bodies including TÜV Rheinland.
The conference has conferred prizes and recognitions honoring technical achievement and early-career contributions, analogous to awards given by organizations such as IEEE, Royal Society, European Research Council, and Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions. Distinguished lectures and lifetime achievement acknowledgments have been associated with figures connected to John Goodenough, Stanford R. Ovshinsky, Akira Yoshino, and other innovators whose work spans collaborations with industrial partners like Shell, BP Solar, and research institutes like NREL and Fraunhofer.
The conference has influenced technology transfer between academic groups at Imperial College London, Eindhoven University of Technology, and Technical University of Denmark and industry players such as Sharp Corporation and Panasonic Corporation. Proceedings have catalyzed adoption patterns evaluated in reports from International Renewable Energy Agency, European Environment Agency, and BloombergNEF. Policy-relevant outcomes have intersected with directives from the European Commission and targets reflected in European Green Deal planning. Collaborative networks seeded at the conference have fed projects under Horizon 2020, Horizon Europe, and bilateral programs involving China National Renewable Energy Centre and Japan Renewable Energy Foundation.
Typical attendees include researchers from University of Southampton, University College London, University of Manchester, engineers from industrial firms like ABB, Siemens, Schneider Electric, investors associated with European Investment Bank, and policymakers from institutions including European Parliament. Sponsorship and exhibition partners span corporations such as Trina Solar, Vestas, Enel Green Power, Iberdrola, and technology publishers like Elsevier and Wiley. Event logistics have been supported by venue partners in municipalities represented by Barcelona City Council, Hamburg Messe, and national tourism boards.
Category:Photovoltaics Category:Energy conferences Category:Renewable energy in Europe