European PV industry road-map

The favourable conditions created recently by the White Paper and the RES Directive will help Photovoltaic (PV) Solar Electricity to accelerate its pace in becoming a major contributor to worldwide electricity generation. Indeed, European Union (EU) Member States following the lead of the European Commission have set a target of a 22 % contribution of renewable energy sources to electricity in the EU by 2010. In order to achieve this objective and obtain a sustainable energy scenario in the EU, emission-free, high-tech and universally applicable solar electricity systems need to be installed rapidly. The European Photovoltaic Industry Association (EPIA) Road-map presents the European PV Industry priorities for achieving this objective. It includes quantified goals, consequent incentive policies and the necessary development of technologies. The scope of the European PV Industry Road-map is to present an overview of technologies and trends and pave the way in order to achieve the 3 GW objectives for 2010, taking into account quantified goals, consequent incentive policies and the necessary development of technologies. (authors)