Conference Topics

Topic 1 collects all presentations which deal with crystalline silicon up to cell level. Amorphous and microcrystalline silicon is also covered in subtopic 1.4. The whole spectrum of Si technology is divided into 6 subtopics, which address typical issues and fields of technology development, many of them dealt with on a corporate R&D level.

An exception is tandem structures combining other materials with silicon which are grouped together in subtopic 2.1.
Contributions which focus on Si module encapsulation and reliability, or electrical performance measurement technologies are better placed in subtopic 3.1.

This Topic is subdivided amongst the different photovoltaic materials in use today or in the conceptual or demonstration phase that are not based on silicon.  An exception is tandem structures combining other materials with silicon which are grouped together in subtopic 2.1.  The Topic comprises theoretical studies, innovations in processing and manufacturing technologies and upscaling, measurement and characterisation. If the paper describes the encapsulation on a module level, it probably is better to be presented under subtopic 3.1. For materials which don’t fall under any of those listed in subtopics 2.1 to 2.4 you should consider subtopics 2.5 and 2.6, which present the ongoing high-end research with contributions to the understanding of photovoltaic conversion, including new or exotic materials and cross-fertilisation with other fields of optoelectronics.

This Topic addresses all the components required to form a complete system. The PV module related aspects are divided into three subtopics, broadly dealing with manufacturing, reliability and performance respectively. The remaining balance of system components are grouped together in subtopic 3.4. Papers presented under this topic regard research, development, design, measurement, modelling, testing and operational experience. Disposal, recycling and resource issues regarding these components are dealt with in the Sustainability and Circularity subtopic of Topic 5.

This Topic in general addresses single PV plants, where plant size may range from a few modules up to multi-MW. Consequently, this is the place for contributions on systems design, sizing, modelling, performance and operations.

This topic also deals with particular integration of PV, e.g., PV integrated into buildings, Infrastructure (I2PV) and nature-inclusive PV (eco-PV, floating PV, Agri-PV); vehicle integrated PV (VIPV), concentrating PV and PV for space applications. Advances in power electronics for advanced grid functionality are also covered. The subtopic on solar resources and forecasting is relevant to individual systems, but it covers scales ranging from the local to large geographical areas. The employment of batteries in stand-alone systems or for local use may form part of systems reported in this topic, but storage related to the wider grid is dealt with in subtopic 5.1.

This Topic covers the wide range of multidisciplinary efforts required to ensure the rapid deployment of PV technologies on a massive and global scale as a key element of the energy and the broader ecological transition.

As such it covers a range of essential aspects:

• integration of PV generated electricity into the electrical grid and the wider energy system, including storage and sector coupling;
• analysing and ensuring that PV is implemented sustainably and ecologically in all dimensions;
• financing, market development and policy making;
• addressing and ensuring societal acceptance of the role of PV in a just energy transition.