Much of the R&D efforts in recent years have focused on the development of high-efficiency PV cells at low cost. However, the cost of a PV system also depends on a number of other elements and components. The reduction of their cost and the enhancement of their performance show ample margins for improvement and can considerably help reducing price and accelerating large-scale deployment of PV installations; however this still represents a challenge.

Scope:

Proposals are requested to address the reduction of the cost of PV electricity by optimising the PV system energy yield and lifetime and decreasing cost at module (encapsulation materials, glass, and antireflective layers, anti-soiling layers, module architecture, etc.), balance-of-system component (electronics, inverters, tracking systems, etc.) or system configuration levels.

Opening the project's test sites, pilot and demonstration facilities, or research infrastructures for practice oriented education, training or knowledge exchange is encouraged.