The session began with a review of the current situation of the photovoltaic field by the Basque Energy Cluster. The latter analyzed the situation and prospects, the new challenges arising, and the progress made based on the efforts at the European level to promote the PV value chain, which has generated an exchange of views among the attendees.

Later, the Basque Energy Cluster presented the 2024 Industrial Decarbonisation Aid Programme - promoted by SPRI - which has recently been modified to include photovoltaic self-consumption installations aimed at industry, which may be eligible for subsidies if their contribution to the reduction of CO2 emissions is adequately justified.

This was followed by a series of pitch presentations made by four companies from the Basque solar value chain: Becquerel Institute, a strategic consultancy focused on support in the decision-making process through strategic analysis for actors in the photovoltaic and energy sector; Geinor, a renewable energy company that offers customized solutions in aerothermal, geothermal and photovoltaic installations; Zenit Solar, a developer of a platform dedicated to accelerating the energy transition towards a model based on renewable, decentralized, sustainable and participatory energies and Edison Next, a developer of a platform dedicated to collaboration in the ecological transition and decarbonization of companies and territories.

After the coffee break, the following collaborative R&D projects developed by associate companies and entities were presented: the AEI AGROVOLTECH (smart agrovoltaic system based on phenological models and advanced sensorics) presented by Powerfultree, the AEI CEUIS 3. 0 (Modular technological solution for the management and energy-financial optimization of urban-industrial energy communities) presented by R2M Solution and the Elkartek ADAPT-IA (Creation of an Adaptive AI in Language Technologies applied to RIS3 industrial sectors) presented by Vicomtech.

Following with the international chapter, which focused on the internationalisation activities promoted by the Basque Energy Cluster, the next mission to Tanzania was presented within the framework of the European Project ESECA - European Sustainable Energy Cluster partnership for Africa. In addition, the participation in INTERSOLAR EUROPE 2024 (Munich, 19-21 June 2024) was discussed through a joint stand under the brand ‘Solar PV Basque Country’. Finally, BEC presented two sectoral events aimed at the photovoltaic sector in the process of negotiation to be held in 2025 and 2026 and a preliminary survey was carried out among the attendees to determine their interest in participating in these events.

The meeting ended with the presentation of the Basque Energy Cluster Talent Pool, a platform that the organization provides to its associates to support them in the search for candidates for job offers, promoting the attraction of talent to the Basque energy sector.