Extending the lifetime of crystalline silicon PV modules (EUPI-PV Partnership)
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See in 5 min if you're eligible for Extending the lifetime of crystalline silicon PV modules (EUPI-PV Partnership) offering max €33.0M funding💰 Funding Details
Funding Description – HORIZON-CL5-2026-02-D3-12
What the Grant Funds
* Research & Innovation Actions (RIA) aimed at extending the lifetime of crystalline-silicon (c-Si) PV modules and systems through:
* Detection and root-cause analysis of new defect/failure modes in high-efficiency or novel c-Si module designs (TOPCon, HJT, IBC, tandem, bifacial, etc.).
* Development of cost-effective, field-deployable diagnostics (incl. AI-based) for rapid defect identification.
* Design, modelling and lab validation of mitigation strategies at module & system level.
* Multi-climate outdoor testing across Europe to quantify degradation rates & predict service lifetime.
* Alignment with—and reporting to—the European Partnership for Innovation in Photovoltaics (EUPI-PV), contributing to its common R&I agenda and KPI monitoring.
Financial Envelope & Cost Model
* Indicative EU contribution per project: up to €33 million (lump-sum).
* Funding rate: 100 % of eligible costs (Horizon-RIA).
* Payment scheme: single pre-defined lump sum negotiated at Grant Agreement signature; payments linked to approved work-packages, not to real cost reporting—simplifies financial administration but requires robust work-package budgeting during proposal stage.
Timeline
* Call opening: 16 Sep 2025
* Single-stage deadline: 17 Feb 2026, 17:00 Brussels time
* Earliest project start: Q4 2026
* Typical project duration: 36–48 months
Eligibility Snapshot
* Consortium minimum: 3 independent legal entities from 3 different EU Member States or Horizon-Europe Associated Countries.
* All categories (industry, RTOs, universities, SMEs, NGOs, end-users, test-sites) welcome.
* International partners from non-associated third countries may participate without funding unless their country has a specific funding arrangement.
* Projects must:
* Address *all* elements listed in the Scope.
* Integrate field testing in multiple EU climatic zones.
* Commit to EUPI-PV KPI data delivery.
Compliance & Horizontal Aspects
* Open Science: mandatory open access to publications & FAIR research data.
* Gender Equality Plans: required for all public bodies, RPOs & HEIs.
* Climate mainstreaming: quantification of greenhouse-gas impacts and circularity.
* Ethics & security: AI-based diagnostics must respect EU data & AI legislation.
📊 At a Glance
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🇪🇺 Strategic Advantages
EU-Wide Advantages & Opportunities for "Extending the lifetime of crystalline silicon PV modules (EUPI-PV Partnership)"
1. Single Market Access
• 450+ million consumers & 22 million SMEs: Successful RIA solutions can be commercialised in a tariff-free area, accelerating market uptake of extended-lifetime modules, monitoring hardware and AI-based diagnostic services.
• Public procurement leverage: Nearly €40 billion/yr of EU public spending on renewable-energy infrastructure can adopt longer-lifetime PV, giving first movers a competitive edge.
• Energy-communities & rooftop mandates: The revised Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) and Renewable Energy Directive (RED III) oblige Member States to deploy more rooftop PV—creating immediate demand for durable modules.
2. Cross-Border Collaboration
• Consortia requirement: Horizon Europe demands at least three independent entities from three Member/Associated States—naturally fostering multi-national knowledge exchange.
• Climate-zone field testing: The call explicitly requests outdoor experiments across Europe’s diverse climates; partnering with research sites from Scandinavia to the Mediterranean maximises dataset richness and supports pan-European performance bankability models.
• Industrial–academic clustering: Link Tier-1 EU manufacturers (e.g., Meyer Burger, Enel Green Power) with metrological institutes (e.g., PTB, CEA-INES) and AI start-ups to shorten the TRL pathway.
3. EU Policy Alignment
• European Green Deal & REPowerEU: Extending module lifetime directly contributes to the 750 GW solar target for 2030 by reducing material demand and LCOE.
• Circular Economy Action Plan: Longer durability and resource efficiency align with EU objectives on waste prevention and eco-design (upcoming Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation).
• Digital Europe & AI Act: Development of AI-enhanced defect detection leverages Europe’s ethical AI framework, creating trust and regulatory readiness.
• Strategic autonomy: Supports the Net-Zero Industry Act (NZIA) goal of 40 % domestic clean-tech manufacturing capacity by 2030.
4. Regulatory Harmonisation Benefits
• Unified standards: CENELEC EN 61730/61215 series applies EU-wide, simplifying compliance testing for new encapsulants or coatings.
• Banks & insurers: Harmonised certification de-risks financing; multi-country degradation data will feed into EU Taxonomy technical screening criteria for sustainable investments.
• Lump-sum grant model: Reduces administrative burden uniformly across partners, making budgeting predictable.
5. Innovation Ecosystem Access
• World-class RTOs: Fraunhofer ISE, IMEC, CEA-INES, SINTEF offer pilot lines, accelerated ageing labs and reliability modelling tools.
• European Digital Innovation Hubs (EDIHs): Provide subsidised HPC/AI resources for defect-detection algorithm training.
• Partnership leverage: EUPI-PV co-programmed partnership gives visibility, KPI tracking and direct channel to SET-Plan Temporary Working Group on PV.
6. Funding Synergies & Blending Options
• Innovation Fund (large-scale call): Demonstration plants using extended-lifetime modules can claim CAPEX/OPEX grants covering up to 60 % of additional costs.
• InvestEU & EIB Green Loans: Bankable performance data from the project can unlock cheaper debt for gigawatt-scale manufacturing lines.
• ERDF & Just Transition Fund: Co-locate pilot production in coal-transition regions (e.g., Silesia, Jiu Valley) to tap regional grants.
• LIFE Clean Energy Transition: Post-RIA market-uptake projects (training installers, drafting O&M guidelines) can follow on.
7. Scale & Impact Potential
• Pan-European deployment: Standardised mitigation techniques can be integrated by EPCs operating EU-wide, delivering up to 5 % LCOE reduction.
• Carbon footprint reduction: Extending lifetime from 25 → 40 years cuts cradle-to-grave emissions by ~35 %, contributing to EU 2050 climate neutrality.
• Job creation: Reliability analytics and refurbishment services can create high-skilled jobs in all Member States, supporting the Digital & Green twin transition.
8. Actionable Recommendations for Applicants
1. Build a geographically balanced consortium covering at least 5 climatic zones (Arctic, Oceanic, Continental, Mediterranean, Semi-arid) to satisfy field-test diversity.
2. Integrate AI & materials science teams early to meet the call’s emphasis on defect detection and modelling.
3. Map deliverables to EUPI-PV KPIs (degradation <0.3 %/yr, >30-year lifetime, <€20/MWh LCOE) to strengthen Excellence score.
4. Plan standardisation activities (CEN/CENELEC TC 82 liaison) to exploit regulatory harmonisation advantages.
5. Outline a post-project finance strategy blending Horizon results with Innovation Fund or ERDF for scale-up.
9. Strategic EU-Level Value Proposition
By operating at EU scale, the project can create a self-reinforcing loop: diverse climatic validation → harmonised certification → faster single-market penetration → bigger manufacturing volumes → further cost decline, cementing Europe’s leadership in durable PV technology while advancing Green Deal and strategic autonomy objectives.
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