The purpose of the Advanced Characterization of Photovoltaic Devices Taskforce (PV Taskforce) is to help the development of novel PV devices for further expansion of solar power by establishing globally consistent PV performance characterization techniques — essential for reliable evaluation and deployment of solar technologies.

The purpose of the Hydrogen Life Cycle and Sustainability Analysis (LCSA) Taskforce is to understand how participating institutes assess the life-cycle carbon footprint and other sustainability indicators of hydrogen production and how their methods vary. As hydrogen is widely considered an important energy carrier for decarbonization and many countries have national hydrogen strategies, credible LCSA is essential for decision-making. However, differences in national context, boundary conditions, energy sources and affordable infrastructure can lead to inconsistent results and complicate comparison across countries.

The purpose of the Hydrogen TEA Taskforce is to help RD20 participants and society more broadly understand how participating institutes perform techno-economic assessment and how their methods vary. Techno-economic assessment (TEA) provides information about the competitiveness of emerging energy technologies and research and development opportunities. Competitive hydrogen production prices are crucial to stimulating hydrogen’s widespread adoption as an energy source, and accurate cost assessment helps inform investment decisions. However, differences in the methodologies and underlying assumptions among institutes can lead to challenges in understanding the technical status. This inconsistency complicates understanding and decision-making.