Page 308 - ISES SWC50

10.10 SWC50 Supporter: APVI

APVI supports the development and uptake of photovoltaics with research, analysis and information.
The Australian Photovoltaics (PV) Institute was formed in 2014 from the previous Australian PV Association
(APVA), which in turn was formed in 2008 from the Australian PVPS Consortium. The latter had been
operating since 1993 to coordinate Australia’s input to the International Energy Agency PV Power Systems
Programme. The current Chair of the APVI is Dr Chris Fell, CSIRO. Past Chairs have been Prof. Renate Egan,
UNSW & Solar Analytics, and Dr Muriel Watt, ITP Renewables (& UNSW at the time).
The APVI carries out a range of solar research projects, produces detailed technical and market publications,
hosts seminars, workshops and member events, prepares submissions on key solar issues and promotes solar
energy in the media.
Over the years, the APVI has provided information and analysis to support the technical and policy debates
in Australia and internationally around topics including solar feed-in tariff design, safety and standards for PV
systems, managing high penetrations of PV, and developing distributed energy markets.

Activity – IEA Implementing Agreements
A key component of the APVI’s work is the collation of data on manufacturing, end-use applications, research
& development and policy support for contribution to two IEA Implementing Agreements:

The Photovoltaic Power Systems Programme (PVPS): Australia is currently represented on the Executive
Committee by Renate Egan (UNSW) and Olivia Coldrey (Sustainable Energy for All).
PV information is compiled by APVI into an annual PV in Australia report, the first of which was published in
1996. APVI also coordinates Australian contributions to the various PVPS international collaborative research
Tasks. It is currently participating in Tasks on High Penetration of PV in Electricity Grids; PV Sustainability and
Life-Cycle Assessment; and Off-Grid and Edge of Grid PV Systems.
Solar Heating & Cooling (SHC): Australia is represented on the Executive Committee by Ken Guthrie
(Sustainable Energy Transformation) and Stephen White (CSIRO).
This Implementing Agreement has been operating since 1974 and a range of Australian companies and
researchers have been involved in the various tasks since that time. APVI contributes to an annual market
report entitled Solar Heat Worldwide and currently participates in Tasks on Solar Energy in Industrial Water
and Wastewater Management, Integrated Solutions for Daylighting & Electric Lighting, and Application of
PVT Collectors and Solutions in HVAC Systems.

Clip from the PV in Australia report

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