In the Last few years, much progress has been made in Learning how to use soLar energy. In photovoLtaics the prospects Look brighter every year and as a resuLt of this, photovoLtaic conferences are attracting increasing interest from the pubLic. The 1980 PhotovoLtaic SoLar Energy Conference in Cannes was the third organized by the Commission of the European Communities since 1977. With more than 700 participants from aLL over the worLd, it was the biggest heLd to date in Europe on photovoLtaics. These proceedings reproduce the SS invited and more than 120 submitted papers which have been presented during the conference. In generaL, these papers were of very high quaLity; they provide a comprehensive overview of the curren status and future prospects of photovoLtaics. I take this opportunity to thank the Commissariat a L'Energie SoLaire in Paris and the Institute of ELectricaL and ELectronic Engineers in New York for their cooperation in organizing this very successfuL conference. WoLfgang PaLz Conference Chairman -ili- Exhibition on the roof of the Palais des Festivals Exhibition, Commission's booth - - CONFERENCE COMMITTEE G.neral Chairman Dr. C. J. Bishop Solar Energy Research Inst., Golden Dr. W. Palz Colorado, U.S.A.