The overall aim of research, development and demonstration is to:

New ideas, scientific discoveries and engineering advances have a direct impact on the development of the industry to which they relate and are at the root of the dramatic reduction in cost of all renewable technologies in recent years.

However, despite the huge progress made, renewable energy has a long way to go before it reaches its full potential in terms of a 100% supply of energy. While some technologies can already be cost-competitive, even without the full internalisation of external costs of fossil fuels, significant further cost reductions are necessary through market development and research and development.