Prospects for photovoltaics in the Central and Eastern Europe

Photovoltaics has a great potential as a powerful renewable energy source and technology, which can be deployed into a wide range of competitive applications and growing markets and, finally, contribute to a sustainable, secure and efficient energy supply. The photovoltaic activities are slowly emerging and markets are already being created in the CEEC. There is a need for overcoming the existing barriers for the PV development in CEEC. It is also of strategic importance to have information updated and exchanged and to use the latest results available. This helps to avoid duplications or mistakes earlier made by others, etc., and, if possible, to orientate the ongoing research activities towards the problems and key issues relevant in the context of the enlarged EU. To sum up, PV may develop in CEEC. There are still many opportunities to be effectively exploited and some barriers to be overcome.