Warsaw University of Technology

Dr. Stanislaw Pietruszko
www.imio.pw.edu.pl
pietruszko@imio.pw.edu.pl

The Centre of Photovoltaics (PV Centre) in Poland promotes the widespread use of solar photovoltaic (PV) energy as realistic, reliable, and economic energy source and to encourage the integration of PV energy into Poland's research, economy, and everyday life. The PV Centre serves as a focal point to conduct and stimulate research and demonstration activities; educate and allow students to work on real-world PV solar energy issues; organise expert meetings, workshops, symposia, and conferences; and disseminate information and address environmental issues.

The PV Centre concentrates on four areas:

1. PV systems—The PV Centre designs, install, and monitors grid-connected and stand-alone PV systems. The first grid-connected, building-integrated, 1-kW PV system in Poland was installed in December 2000. The staff also took part in installing grid-connected PV systems on three BP petrol stations: one 2-kW and two 11 kW canopies, and are involved in continuously monitoring these systems. There are current plans to install PV systems of more than 20 kW on the façade of the Department of Electronics and Information Technology building.
2. Amorphous silicon (a-Si) solar cells—The Centre focuses on the technology and characterisation of a-Si solar cells, their stability problems, and thin-film transistors for active matrix liquid-crystal displays.
3. Education—The PV Centre is involved in educating others about solar energy through a program that includes lectures, classes, laboratories and training visits of students and researchers from and to the Centre.
4. Strategy, promotion, and dissemination—the PV Centre investigated the legal, administrative, and financial environment for introducing BIPV into Poland. It was the first such study related to PV in Poland.

The Centre has prepared the concept of the ‘100 Solar Schools’ program and has developed a Polish/English Web site about PV in general and PV in Poland in particular.

The PV Centre co-operates with many scientific institutions and industrial partners.