| A European Photovoltaic Industry Association survey | | | | power could provide 5-8% of the total energy demand |
| covering the 1990-1994 time period showed that | | | | by 2020, but only with continued support for research |
| approximately three-fourths of PV applications | | | | and development .Figure .1 shows the practical |
| involved remote locations. Remote applications include | | | | implementation of photovoltaic system |
| satellites, remote telecommunications sites, remote | | | | Fig.1. A view of PV system |
| homes and villages, water pumping, camping, and | | | | |
| boating . Remote applications can become | | | | Major Manufacturers |
| economically feasible because of the expense of | | | | |
| constructing distribution lines and power losses | | | | The five companies listed below are major producers |
| sustained in transmission of conventional power. PV | | | | of photovoltaic modules. All have been involved in |
| facilities may be located at the point of power | | | | products for aerospace as well as land-based |
| consumption and do not require the purchase or | | | | systems including thin-film technology. Some have |
| delivery of fuel. If a remote site requires a dependable | | | | achieved this status by recent buyouts of established |
| power source or has large loads, a hybrid system may | | | | PV manufacturers. |
| be a better option. This may consist of photovoltaic | | | | |
| cells and a diesel generator charging a bank of | | | | Siemens Solar |
| batteries. In such a hybrid system, the PV cells reduce | | | | |
| the amount of fuel consumed. The batteries reduce | | | | Siemens Solar is the largest manufacturer of |
| the runtime required of the generator. Charging the | | | | photovoltaic cells. The parent company, Siemens, is a |
| batteries during generator runtime permits the | | | | diversified producer of electrical equipment, involved in |
| generator to operate in a more efficient load range. | | | | all types of electrical power generation, with an |
| | | | | established worldwide marketing and distribution |
| Peak Load Relief | | | | system. |
| | | | | |
| In warm-climate areas, peak load demands occur on | | | | Applications of Photovoltaic Power |
| sunny days due to heavy use of air conditioners. This | | | | |
| coincides with the productive period for photovoltaic | | | | Distinct advantages to PV power, such as zero |
| power. By locating photovoltaic collectors at the end of | | | | pollution and absence of the need to transport fuel to |
| a distribution line, a power utility may be able to defer | | | | the generating site, make it attractive in many |
| the construction of additional conventional generating | | | | applications. As efficiency improvements and |
| capacity as well as defer an upgrade of the distribution | | | | manufacturing cost reductions inch PV power toward |
| line. | | | | economic parity with conventional power, these |
| | | | | applications become more numerous. This economic |
| Photovoltaic System Components | | | | trend is reflected in the recent expansions of |
| | | | | manufacturing capacity and the acquisitions of PV |
| We often see the cost of photovoltaic modules | | | | manufacturers by larger corporations. The use of |
| reported in dollars per watt. At the retail level, the cost | | | | photovoltaic as the sole source of electrical power |
| of photovoltaic modules is currently about $5/watt. But | | | | requires the use of batteries or other storage. The |
| photovoltaic modules account for only 25% to 50% of | | | | cost of electrical storage prevents PV generation |
| the cost of a PV system. To achieve substantial cost | | | | from replacing conventional power generation. PV |
| reduction, the expense of system components will | | | | systems with electrical storage are only feasible for |
| need to be addressed. Also, poor component | | | | low-power, remote applications. For remote |
| efficiencies can compromise the total system | | | | applications requiring more power, a hybrid system |
| efficiency. PV systems can have efficiencies as low | | | | may be practical. This may consist of photovoltaic cells |
| as 50% due to losses in inverters, batteries, and | | | | and a diesel generator charging a bank of batteries. In |
| system voltage drops. | | | | such a hybrid system, the PV cells reduce the amount |
| | | | | of fuel to be transported to the site. The batteries also |
| Green Power | | | | reduce the runtime required of the generator, and |
| | | | | charging the batteries during generator runtime permits |
| Economic feasibility is not always the determining | | | | the generator to be operated in a more efficient load |
| factor in selecting a power generation system. With | | | | range . |
| interest in green (ecologically friendly) power growing, | | | | |
| both consumers and providers of electrical power are | | | | Conclusion |
| turning to the use of photovoltaics in spite of its higher | | | | |
| cost. | | | | Photovoltaic efficiency and manufacturing costs have |
| | | | | not reached the point that photovoltaic power |
| Industry Forecasts | | | | generation can replace conventional coal-, gas-, and |
| | | | | nuclear-powered generating facilities. For peak load |
| A 1996 study published by the International Energy | | | | use (no battery storage), the cost of photovoltaic |
| Agency (IEA), concluded that demand for alternative | | | | power is around two to four times as much as |
| energy would grow strongly, yet renewable sources | | | | conventional power. (Cost comparisons between |
| would only account for about 1% of total energy | | | | photovoltaic power and conventionally generated |
| produced in 2010. This does not include hydropower, | | | | power are difficult due to wide variations in utility |
| which would constitute about 3% of the energy supply. | | | | power cost, sunlight availability, and numerous other |
| The World Energy Council estimates that renewable | | | | variables. |