Extending the lifetime of crystalline silicon PV modules (EUPI-PV Partnership)

This EU funding opportunity is part of the Horizon Europe Programme, specifically targeting research and innovation actions within Cluster 5, which focuses on climate, energy, and mobility. The initiative aims to enhance the durability and lifespan of crystalline silicon photovoltaic (PV) modules, addressing the degradation issues that compromise their reliability and elevate operational costs. The call is under the European Partnership for Innovation in Photovoltaics (EUPI-PV), underscoring the commitment to improving solar energy technologies amid the rapidly evolving market.

Eligible applicants for this grant include research institutes, universities, and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) located within EU member states and associated countries. The funding support is structured as grants in a lump sum format, with expected contributions ranging from €1 million to €5 million per project.

The application process is characterized by a single-stage open call, inviting proposals that adhere to specific guidelines and submission requirements outlined in the Horizon Europe Work Programme. Projects will be evaluated based on established criteria related to the anticipated impact and innovation of the proposed solutions, which should aim to identify and mitigate defects in high-efficiency silicon modules, develop detection and testing techniques, and conduct outdoor experiments across different climatic conditions.

Funding from this initiative does not require co-funding due to its lump-sum nature, covering 100% of eligible costs. However, successful applicants are expected to provide reports to the EUPI-PV, contributing to the monitoring of relevant key performance indicators.

The overarching goal of this funding opportunity is to secure enhancements in the resource efficiency and operational performance of PV systems, contributing to the reduction of the levelized cost of electricity. The call is designed to facilitate thorough research and innovation actions that can ultimately lead to longer-lasting and more efficient solar energy solutions, targeting specific objectives such as reducing degradation rates and improving module reliability.

The funding announcement indicates an opening date for submissions on September 16, 2025, with a deadline of February 17, 2026, alongside a framework providing support resources and guidelines to facilitate application preparation and submission. This includes templates for application forms and access to various helpdesk services aimed at assisting applicants throughout the process.

This EU funding opportunity focuses on extending the lifetime of crystalline silicon Photovoltaic (PV) modules through research and innovation actions. The call falls under the Horizon Europe Programme, specifically Cluster 5, and is part of the co-programmed European Partnership for Innovation in Photovoltaics (EUPI-PV). The goal is to address the degradation issues that affect PV module reliability and increase operational costs, despite the decreasing costs and increasing adoption of PV energy systems.

The PV market is rapidly evolving with advancements in high-efficiency crystalline silicon cell concepts like TOPCon, HJT, and IBC, as well as larger module sizes, bifacial designs, and new materials such as anti-reflection coatings and thinner glass. While manufacturers typically guarantee a 25-year lifetime with a degradation rate of 0.8% per year, real-world performance often falls short due to various failures.

The expected outcomes of projects funded under this opportunity include:

Reduced degradation rates to enable longer PV module lifetimes.
Increased module durability and reliability.
Improved resource efficiency and lifelong energy yield of PV systems.
Decreased levelised cost of electricity (LCOE).
Execution of the solar energy joint research and innovation agenda.

The scope of the projects should address the following:

Identifying defects and failure modes in high-efficiency c-silicon modules and their components, exploring their mechanisms and root causes, and reviewing each component’s susceptibility to defects and failures.
Developing cost-effective and accurate module defect detection techniques, potentially using Artificial Intelligence (AI), applicable to most PV modules and systems.
Proposing mitigation approaches at both the module and system levels, validating these approaches through modeling and lab testing.
Conducting outdoor field experiments and testing across various European climates to determine degradation rates, identify defects and failure modes, and estimate service lifetime.

Projects are expected to report their results to the EUPI-PV to support the monitoring of its KPIs.

The general conditions of this funding opportunity include:

Admissibility Conditions: The proposal page limit and layout are described in Annex A and Annex E of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes and Part B of the Application Form in the Submission System.
Eligible Countries: As described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes. Specific provisions may exist for non-EU/non-Associated Countries, as detailed in the Horizon Europe Programme Guide.
Other Eligible Conditions: As described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes.
Financial and operational capacity and exclusion: As described in Annex C of the Work Programme General Annexes.
Evaluation and award: The award criteria, scoring, and thresholds are described in Annex D of the Work Programme General Annexes. Submission and evaluation processes are detailed in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes and the Online Manual. The indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement is described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes.
Legal and financial set-up of the grants: Eligible costs will be in the form of a lump sum, as defined in the Decision of 7 July 2021. This decision is available on the Funding and Tenders Portal. Further details are in Annex G of the Work Programme General Annexes.

Specific conditions are described in the specific topic of the Work Programme.

Application and evaluation forms and model grant agreement (MGA):

Application form templates are available in the Submission System, including a standard application form for HE RIA and IA.
Evaluation form templates will be used with necessary adaptations, including a standard evaluation form for HE RIA and IA.
Guidance is provided in the HE Programme Guide.
Model Grant Agreements (MGA) include a Lump Sum MGA.
Call-specific instructions include a detailed budget table (HE LS) and guidance on lump sums.

Additional documents include:

HE Main Work Programme 2025 – 1. General Introduction
HE Main Work Programme 2025 – 8. Climate, Energy and Mobility
HE Main Work Programme 2025 – 14. General Annexes
HE Programme Guide
HE Framework Programme 2021/695
HE Specific Programme Decision 2021/764
EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509
Decision authorising the use of lump sum contributions under the Horizon Europe Programme
Rules for Legal Entity Validation, LEAR Appointment and Financial Capacity Assessment
EU Grants AGA — Annotated Model Grant Agreement
Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual
Funding & Tenders Portal Terms and Conditions
Funding & Tenders Portal Privacy Statement

The budget overview for the call in the year 2025 includes various topics with different types of actions, budgets, and indicative numbers of grants. The opening date for the single-stage calls is planned for 16 September 2025, and the deadline is 17 February 2026.

There are partner search announcements available for those seeking collaborators. LEARs, Account Administrators, and self-registrants can publish partner requests on the Funding & Tenders Portal. The submission system is planned to open on the date stated in the topic header.

Support and guidance are available through the Online Manual, Horizon Europe Programme Guide, Funding & Tenders Portal FAQ, Research Enquiry Service, National Contact Points (NCPs), Enterprise Europe Network, IT Helpdesk, European IPR Helpdesk, and CEN-CENELEC/ETSI Research Helpdesks.

In summary, this funding opportunity aims to improve the durability and extend the lifetime of PV modules by addressing degradation issues through research, development, and field testing. It encourages the use of AI and advanced techniques to identify and mitigate defects, ultimately contributing to more efficient and reliable solar energy systems in Europe. The call is structured as a single-stage application process with a lump sum funding model, and various resources are available to support applicants throughout the process.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types are not explicitly stated in the provided text. However, given the nature of Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Actions (RIA) and Innovation Actions (IA), eligible applicants typically include universities, research institutes, SMEs, large enterprises, and other organizations capable of conducting research and innovation activities. Coordination and Support Actions (CSA) are open to a wide range of entities, including public and private organizations. Pre-commercial Procurement (PCP) is open to public procurers.

Funding Type: The primary funding mechanism is a grant, specifically a lump sum grant, under the Horizon Europe Programme. There are also Pre-commercial Procurement actions.

Consortium Requirement: The text does not explicitly state whether a consortium is required. However, Horizon Europe RIAs and IAs often involve consortia of multiple applicants to address the scope of the call effectively.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility includes EU member states and associated countries, with specific provisions for non-EU/non-associated countries as detailed in the Horizon Europe Programme Guide.

Target Sector: The program targets the energy sector, specifically photovoltaic (PV) energy systems, cleantech, and innovation in solar energy technologies.

Mentioned Countries: The opportunity mentions EU member states and associated countries, as well as non-EU/non-Associated Countries that have specific provisions for funding participants in Horizon Europe projects.

Project Stage: The project stage targets research, development, validation, demonstration, and innovation, aiming to extend the lifetime and improve the reliability of PV modules.

Funding Amount: The funding amounts vary depending on the specific topic within the call, ranging from €6,000,000 to €33,000,000. The indicative number of grants per topic also varies, typically between 1 and 3.

Application Type: The application type is an open call, with a single-stage submission process.

Nature of Support: Beneficiaries will receive money in the form of lump sum grants to cover eligible costs.

Application Stages: The application process involves a single stage.

Success Rates: The success rates are not explicitly mentioned, but the indicative number of grants provides some insight into the potential competitiveness of each topic.

Co-funding Requirement: The text does not explicitly state whether co-funding is required. However, Horizon Europe projects often require beneficiaries to cover a portion of the total project costs, although this is not always the case for RIAs and CSAs.

Summary: This Horizon Europe call focuses on extending the lifetime and improving the reliability of crystalline silicon photovoltaic (PV) modules. It aims to address the degradation issues that affect PV systems, reducing their lifespan and increasing operational costs. The call invites proposals for research, development, and innovation actions to identify defects, develop detection techniques, propose mitigation approaches, and perform field experiments. Funding is provided as lump sum grants, and the call is open to applicants from EU member states, associated countries, and potentially non-EU/non-associated countries with specific provisions. The call is structured around several topics, each with a specific budget and indicative number of grants, covering innovation actions, research and innovation actions, pre-commercial procurement, and coordination and support actions. The overall goal is to contribute to the European Partnership for Innovation in Photovoltaics (EUPI-PV) and support the execution of the solar energy joint research and innovation agenda, ultimately leading to longer-lasting, more durable, and more efficient PV systems.