Although photovoltaic technology has been used for terrestrial applications for almost thirty years (since the oil crises of the early 1970s), it is clear that the vast majority of the population - including many decision makers from the electricity industry, governments and development agencies - still know very little about the practical applications for PV. Even worse, problems and errors in the implementation of PV projects are sometimes replicated because the implementers did not know how to avoid past mistakes. Part of the cause of these problems is that practical, reliable and 'user-friendly' information about what PV is, why it might be worth considering and how best to utilise the technology is not always readily accessible. In some cases such information simply does not exist.

IEA-PVPS is working to address the information shortfall by publishing reports, newsletters, best practice guidelines and various other information products that can assist potential users and choosers to make informed decisions on all aspects of PV technology and its utilisation. Many of the products are available free of charge. Each of the special focus areas, such as PV in the Built Environment, and Grid Interconnection (referred to internally as 'Tasks') periodically publish salient results and conclusions from their work. There is also a specific 'Task' devoted to Information Exchange and Dissemination, which has responsibility for more general PV information products, such as the biannual newsletter and the annual market status reports, as well as various 'non-technical' areas not covered by the other Tasks.

Aside from the various information products produced through the PVPS international cooperation, the UK PVPS participants also undertake various information actions specifically for the national audience. This includes publication of the Annual National Survey Report and the BIPV Newsletter, not forgetting of course, maintenance of this website!