The 1977 PhotovoLtaic SoLar Energy Conference was the first European Conference devoted to the potentiaL of soLar ceLLs as a future energy source. The Commission, aware of the need to deveLop aLternative sources of energy, took the initiative of organizing this conference. The strength of the participation from the Community as weLL as from third countries and the tremendous new interest which expressed itseLf at the technicaL sessions showed that we were right to do so. In the pLanning of energy poLicy 10 to 20 years ahead from now, I feeL that priority shouLd be given to the development of aLter­ native energy sources. For this reason the European Community Launched a major energy research programme back in 1975. Within this programme, soLar energy has a strong cLaim in view of its manifest advantages. The success of the Conference gives us encouragement to organize simiLar meetings in the future. Guido Brunner Member of the Commission of the European Communities CONFERENCE COMMITTEE Dr. Karl-Heinz Krebs Chalrnum ~o~~A ~~::rch Centre of the European Communities - Dr. Albert S. Strub Commission of the European Communities. Brussels, Belgium ISPRA, Va, Italy Dr. Leonard M. Magid Technical . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ERDA Washington, D. C. , USA Prof. Roger van Overstraeten Kath. Univ. Leuven, Belgium Dr. Sanai Mito Sharp Corporation Dr. Wolfgang Palz Nara, Japan Commission of the European Communities, Brussels. Belgium Prof. Sergio Pizzini Montedison Registration. Local Arrangements Novara, Italy Roger LiDster Dr. Klaus K.