On 27-28 May 2026, the third General Assembly of the EMPOWER project took place in Vilnius, Lithuania, bringing consortium partners together to review progress, align next steps, and reinforce a shared vision for a more competitive and resilient European photovoltaic (PV) value chain.
Representing Leitat, we were pleased to participate in two productive days of technical discussions, project updates, and collaborative planning. One message was particularly clear: although the project has not yet reached its midpoint, EMPOWER is already delivering promising results across multiple areas of innovation.
Advancing photovoltaic manufacturing
The project is advancing disruptive technologies spanning the entire photovoltaic manufacturing process, from advanced silicon wafer production to high-efficiency solar cell and module manufacturing. These developments aim to reduce production costs, strengthen the resilience of the European solar industry, and contribute to Europe’s energy independence and sustainability objectives.
The meeting was hosted by the Applied Research Institute for Prospective Technologies (PROTECH) and Metsolar. In addition to consortium discussions, participants had the opportunity to visit laboratories and industrial facilities, gaining first-hand insight into the technologies, expertise, and manufacturing capabilities being developed within the project.
Strengthening European collaboration
Beyond the technical achievements, the General Assembly also highlighted the strength of European collaboration. Bringing together partners from different countries and backgrounds continues to be one of EMPOWER’s greatest assets, enabling knowledge exchange, innovation, and a shared commitment to accelerating the energy transition.
At LEITAT, we highly value these opportunities to collaborate closely with partners across Europe, exchange expertise, and contribute to the development of innovative solutions that will help strengthen Europe’s photovoltaic manufacturing ecosystem.
Looking ahead
We would like to thank PROTECH and Metsolar for their excellent organisation, warm hospitality, and inspiring hosting of the event. We also extend our appreciation to all consortium members who joined remotely and actively contributed to the discussions, making the assembly a success regardless of location.
As EMPOWER moves forward, Leitat remains committed to supporting the consortium’s efforts to advance next-generation PV technologies and build a more sustainable, competitive, and resilient European solar industry.
