The transition to a low carbon society will not be possible without a major shift to renewables. Up to now the world is not set for a clear downward turn in emissions because most of the energy infrastructure continues to work in a business-as-usual scenario. With its strong reduction in LCOE, PV is at the forefront of new energy technologies to be a key contributor for change. PV benefits range from local energy production to large power plants. In combination with other technologies, it expands its added value not only to cities, including buildings and mobility, but also to agriculture, water desalination and hydrogen production. According to the International Energy Agency, solar is now the cheapest form of electricity generation [1] and soon will be the most important renewable energy technology in the world.

PV is everywhere and its benefits are present not only in cities but also in remote regions of the globe, contributing to a better life for their populations.

The EU Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition is a world reference point regarding the latest developments related to PV and for up-to-date insights regarding new opportunities. PV is a major contributor to a cleaner and safer future for the planet. The latest updates on PV science, technology, systems, finance, policies, and markets are all covered by the EU PVSEC conference series.

A cross-section of the top-ranking contributions have been selected by the Scientific Committee for independent peer review and publication in this special edition of the EPJ PV. This selection represents the focus of current research in photovoltaics, ranging from materials, solar cell and module technology to PV systems and their integration in several applications such as BIPV.

We bring to the readers of this special issue a special flavor of the richness of the most up to date scientific contributions from the PV community.

References

© R. Kenny and J. M. Serra, Published by EDP Sciences, 2022