Photovoltaics (PV), the direct conversion of sunlight into electricity, exploit our most abundant renewable energy resource and are a key clean energy technology supporting Europe"s fight against climate change. Making reliable, independent information publicly available is a very effective tool to support the EU goals for renewable energy. The JRC"s Photovoltaic Geographical Information System (PVGIS) produces solar radiation maps of Europe and Africa that show how much sunshine is available at a given location and how much electricity could be produced by a photovoltaic system. It is freely accessible online and helps investors, industry and individuals to make investment decisions and supports policy-makers with data to design policies for PV deployment. The JRC"s European Solar Test Installation (ESTI) provides a unique reference facility for testing emerging PV technologies and developing the international standards needed to ensure market transparency, reliability and safety.