Programm Photovoltaik Ausgabe 2009 ... - Bundesamt für Energie BFE

Topical Areas: Complementarities, Gaps and Opportunities
The results of the analysis on subjects and (around 100) sub-topics was presented in synoptic tables.
The different sets of subjects and topics with the qualified marks provided by the partners show a wide
range of potential complementarities, gaps and opportunities. They can be subdivided into the following
three basic categories potentially interesting for joint transnational activities:
1. Thematic areas that are of crosscutting nature and hence by definition of transnational relevance.
They most likely relate to system oriented research (examples: balance of systems, grid-connected
systems, stand alone systems, grid integration and storage, supportive research). For this
category, the aspect of complementarities between national approaches prevails; tackling these
issues on a transnational level can have direct benefits for standardisation and cost reduction.
2. Thematic areas which are either sub-critical on the national level and/or scattered across Europe.
They mostly relate to new concepts and, more generally speaking, interdisciplinary subjects (examples:
polymer and organic solar cells, basic R&D). In this category, the existing gaps between
individually (on a national level) developed approaches can be addressed.
3. Finally, a third category can be identified for very specific thematic subjects in mostly well established
areas. By their nature, such subjects are more of ad-hoc nature and can best be addressed
individually on a case-by-case basis (examples: specific needs for analytical methods, access to
special technologies, vertical complementarities along the value chain). In this category, complementarities
can be addressed specifically, e.g. through clustering of activities and projects.
Common interest can be found for various reasons. For instance, competences in different states can
be complementary and mutually strengthen competences in these countries. Or a topic can reach
critical mass.
The overall picture indicates an important potential for joint transnational activities thanks to i) the expected
complementarities in order to mutually improve competences, or ii) to opening new opportunities
in fields where individual programmes can (virtually) pool (and maybe increase) their resources in
order to reach critical mass. This actually shows that there is considerable potential to strengthen both
individual research programmes and PV research in Europe as a whole. This can help overcome the
two main weaknesses in the European RTD landscape, i.e. fragmentation of national R&D programmes
and (too slow) technology transfer from research to application. Cooperation offers here use
of untapped synergies and effectively addressing key issues in research and technology development.
Based on this analysis, the subject of Polymer and Molecular Solar Photovoltaic Cells and Modules
was selected for a pilot Joint Call that was prepared and launched in 2007. Further topics have been
identified for future, transnationally implemented PV RTD activities (e.g. standardisation, grid issues).
Joint Call
Launching a Joint Call is a crucial element in the ERA NET project and was one of the key activities in
the previous year 2007. Major challenges arise due to the fact that different programmes of various
nature, e.g. with their evaluation criteria and funding rules, come together. Even basic elements can
pose certain difficulty, e.g. a common timeline between different programmes with various call dates
and systems. In a Joint Call Laboratory, the consortium elaborated on the framework for the call. A full
set of guidelines and forms was developed to be implemented by all programmes involved.
A dedicated transnational call “POLYMOL” on Polymer and Molecular Solar Photovoltaic Cells and
Modules was finally launched in September 2007 with the participation of Denmark, Flanders (Belgium),
The Netherlands, Spain (which joined POLYMOL later in the process), Sweden, Switzerland
and the United Kingdom. Nine preproposals respectively eight full proposals were submitted in 2008.
Through an evaluation procedure carried out both on a national and transnational level, all proposals
were ranked and, finally, four proposals were recommended for funding. Despite the use of common
procedures and documents, national rules still apply and prevail mainly for legal reasons.
Swiss researcher groups are involved in (the first) two out of four POLYMOL projects:
� APOLLO, Efficient Areal Organic Solar Cells via Printing
� HIOS-Cell, Nanoscale structuring of heterojunction ionic organic solar cells by liquid-liquid dewetting
� POLarge, Polymer solar cells; stabilised morphology and upscaling
� PolyStaR, Novel materials and processes for polymer solar cells with improved stability and reliability
PV ERA NET, S. Nowak, NET Nowak Energy & Technology
288/290
6/8