Deadline Date: March 31, 2026
The European Commission (EC) is inviting grant applications to strengthen unlock new solar potential across buildings, infrastructure, and landscapes, while driving innovation in manufacturing, recycling, and market deployment within the European photovoltaic sector.
Integrated photovoltaic (IPV) technologies are emerging as a key driver of Europe’s energy transition, offering new ways to expand solar power deployment beyond conventional installations. However, the diversity of IPV products in terms of formats, materials, sizes, and technical constraints presents significant production and market-entry challenges. The lack of large-scale infrastructure to demonstrate innovative IPV technologies, combined with limited standardisation and complex recycling needs, has slowed their commercial uptake despite their strong potential.
This initiative aims to address these challenges by supporting projects that advance the competitiveness, sustainability, and scalability of IPV technologies. Expected outcomes include strengthening Europe’s technological leadership in IPV, increasing the commercial readiness of new solutions, and developing competitive know-how for the European photovoltaic industrial base. Projects will also focus on improving recyclability, reducing environmental impacts, and introducing new business models that open markets in IPV manufacturing, reuse, and recycling, while supporting the broader solar energy research and innovation agenda.
This Horizon Innovation Action is supported by a total indicative budget of €31.5 million, with approximately €10.5 million allocated per project, reinforcing the EU’s commitment to accelerating the deployment of innovative and sustainable photovoltaic solutions across Europe.
Within the scope of the initiative, projects are expected to demonstrate technically and economically innovative IPV manufacturing solutions at scale. This includes the development of flexible production pilot lines capable of testing systems above 100 kWp, supported by linked demonstration sites. Dedicated recycling and material recovery processes must also be demonstrated for a wide range of IPV products, including building-integrated, infrastructure-integrated, agri-photovoltaic, vehicle-integrated, and floating PV solutions, reflecting the wide variability of materials and designs.
Strong emphasis is placed on market deployment and long-term impact. Proposals are required to include robust plans for the exploitation and dissemination of results, supported by clear business cases and sound commercialisation strategies. These plans should outline pathways for scalability, deployment, and financing, including potential use of instruments such as the Innovation Fund. Projects funded under this topic will also contribute to the European Partnership for Innovation in Photovoltaics and report results to support monitoring of key performance indicators.
The initiative forms part of the EU’s broader effort to ensure a more efficient, sustainable, secure, and competitive renewable and decarbonised energy supply for the 2026–2027 period. It aligns with strategic priorities for the green and digital transitions and supports a more resilient and competitive Europe. Activities span renewable energy technologies, energy systems, grids and storage, and carbon capture, utilisation, and storage, contributing to the objectives of the Strategic Energy Technology Plan.
The expected impacts extend across the energy ecosystem. Energy producers gain access to advanced and competitive European solar technologies, while technology providers benefit from resilient, circular, and export-ready value chains. Industries and researchers strengthen their innovation capacity and global competitiveness, and citizens benefit from more resilient, affordable, and decentralised energy systems that reduce reliance on fossil fuels and create new employment opportunities. Together, these efforts position IPV technologies as a cornerstone of Europe’s clean energy future.
For more information, visit European Commission.
