Using more renewable energy sources for electricity generation is without doubt on the global agenda to mitigate climate change. Solar power and particularly photovoltaics is an attractive technology that offers innovative approaches than can transform our electrical infrastructure. Powering the word with sunlight is a timely topic as 2015 was named the “International Year of Light and Light Based Technologies” by UNESCO. This workshop organized by Georgia Tech (GT) and CEA-Liten (France) will focus on solar energy generation, with a particular emphasis on photovoltaic (PV) materials and devices. An overview of the PV technology landscape in Europe and in the United–States will be presented and an outlook on future opportunities and challenges generated by recent progress in research and development will be provided.

The morning session will consist of scientific and technical presentations on power generation from sunlight. After an overview of PV research and technology both in Europe and in the U.S., specialized talks will be given by American and French experts on the scientific and technological issues of power generation using various kinds of solar PV materials and devices, including crystalline silicon, thin films, compound semiconductor multijunction cells for concentrator photovoltaics (CPV), and new material platforms (organics and perovskites) .

Round-table discussions during the afternoon session will focus on expanding the discussion to energy storage and transport, which must be considered to further expand solar energy on a larger scale. Finally, different avenues for future scientific and technological bilateral cooperation will be explored.