Building next-generation PV reliability: defect detection, AI monitoring and mitigation strategies for HORIZON-CL5-2026-02-D3-12
3rd December 2025 at 10:57 am
Crystalline silicon photovoltaic (PV) modules underpin Europe’s rapidly growing solar capacity, yet their long-term performance still suffers from unexplained degradation and emerging failure modes. As new module architectures, such as Tunnel Oxide Passivated Contact (TOPCon), Heterojunction (HJT), Interdigitated Back Contact (IBC), tandem cells and bifacial designs, enter the market, understanding reliability over decades becomes both more complex and more urgent. The Research and Innovation Action (RIA) HORIZON-CL5-2026-02-D3-12 seeks to extend PV module lifetimes through advanced defect detection, AI-based monitoring, mitigation strategies and field validation across Europe’s diverse climates. With a budget of € 8.00 million for two projects and a deadline on 17 February 2026, the call also contributes to implementing the European Partnership for Innovation in Photovoltaics (EUPI-PV), requiring projects to monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) and support the solar energy joint research and innovation agenda. Below, we outline how to design a competitive proposal that advances PV reliability and reduces the long-term levelised cost of electricity (LCOE).
1. Understanding emerging degradation: why next-generation PV needs new reliability strategies
Novel, high-efficiency and large-format modules introduce new materials, interconnection schemes and coatings, each with their own degradation patterns. Failures now arise from interactions between components: encapsulants influencing cell cracking, coatings affecting moisture ingress or new metallisation structures changing stress patterns.
• Map failure modes specific to TOPCon, HJT, IBC, tandem or bifacial modules.
• Analyse how component choices like glass thickness, backsheets, coatings and interconnections interact under stress.
• Address both component-level degradation and system-level chain effects.
• Link failure analysis to lifetime modelling and service-life predictions.
2. Advanced defect detection: building simple, accurate and widely applicable tools
The call emphasises cost-effective, accurate and scalable defect detection techniques, including methods using artificial intelligence. These must be applicable to a wide variety of PV modules and installation contexts.
• Develop or improve detection tools suitable for manufacturers, installers and operators.
• Combine imaging, electroluminescence, photoluminescence, infrared, acoustic or new sensor-based methods with artificial intelligence (AI) analysis.
• Prioritise simplicity, portability and scalability.
• Demonstrate accuracy through cross-validation with lab-characterised defects.
3. AI-driven modelling and mitigation: turning diagnostics into lifetime extension
Detection alone is not enough. The European Commission (EC) expects proposals to develop mitigation approaches at both module and system levels, validated through modelling or AI-based simulations.
• Use data-driven models to link defects with degradation trajectories.
• Propose mitigation strategies such as design adjustments, material substitutions or installation guidelines.
• Demonstrate mitigation impacts through simulation and controlled lab testing.
• Integrate predictive maintenance approaches where relevant.
4. Field testing across European climates: validating reliability in real conditions
Proposals must conduct outdoor testing across Europe, reflecting climatic diversity such as irradiation, temperatures, humidity, snow loads, wind speeds, dust exposure or coastal salinity, which is essential for realistic degradation assessment and service-life estimation.
• Include test sites in locations representing Europe’s full climatic spectrum.
• Measure degradation, failure rates and environmental stress interactions in real installations.
• Combine field data with modelling to refine service-lifetime predictions.
• Ensure consistency between field measurements, lab tests and AI-based analysis.
5. Alignment with the EUPI-PV Partnership: contributing to European solar leadership
This topic is part of the co-programmed EUPI-PV, which requires projects to contribute to KPI monitoring and support the solar energy joint research and innovation agenda.
• Demonstrate how your activities support EUPI-PV’s objectives on durability, reliability and innovation.
• Integrate reporting mechanisms for partnership KPIs.
• Align your defect detection, modelling and field-testing approach with the solar energy joint research and innovation agenda.
• Highlight how your outcomes strengthen Europe’s PV manufacturing competitiveness.
6. Designing a strong consortium for PV reliability innovation
Successful proposals must bring together complementary expertise across PV science, materials analysis, AI, reliability modelling, field testing and industrial manufacturing.
• Combine partners with deep PV materials knowledge, AI expertise and field-testing infrastructure.
• Include manufacturers and operators who can validate detection and mitigation solutions.
• Ensure access to multiple field sites and climatic conditions.
• Integrate clear strategies for knowledge transfer and exploitation.
Looking for support in preparing your PV reliability proposal?
At accelopment, we have extensive experience supporting Horizon Europe projects that advance PV innovation, module performance and long-term system reliability. Our work in PEPPERONI and SOLARX demonstrates our involvement in next-generation solar technologies, including material development, device optimisation and manufacturing processes that enhance efficiency and stability. Through CHEOPS, we gained expertise in solar cell validation and precision characterisation methods, directly relevant to projects aiming to understand degradation mechanisms and extend module lifetimes. Together, these initiatives reflect our strong foundation in supporting consortia that address durability challenges, develop advanced testing methodologies and accelerate industrial uptake of innovative PV solutions. With our experience in proposal writing, consortium coordination and impact communication, we help research teams design competitive, strategically aligned projects under Horizon Europe’s Cluster 5.
Dr. Johannes Ripperger
Research & Innovation Manager
Andreia Cruz
Research & Innovation Project Manager