Technology trends for solar energy July 2025 Contents List of abbreviations05 List of countries and world regions05 Glossary 1.Introduction111.1Policy context...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................111.2Market situation........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................141.3Technologies for photovoltaics.............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................151.4About this report......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................16 2.Technology trends in photovoltaics222.1General technology trends.........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................222.2Specific technologies...........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................27 3.Origins of innovation41 3.1Regional trends............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................413.2Top applicants...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................433.3Focus on European startups and universities.................................................................................................................................................................................................................50 4.Conclusions and outlook55 5.Bibliography565.1List of scholarly sources (articles, chapters)........................................................................................................................................................................................................................565.2Other sources (reports, policy briefs)..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................56 6.1Using patent information.............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................586.2Methodology of this EPO technology insight report..............................................................................................................................................................................................586.3Patent retrieval..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................586.4Data sources and tools used....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................596.5Notes on the limits of the study.......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................60 List o