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Solar electric technology involves the direct conversion of sunlight to electricity. For a wide variety of applications, it is a compelling alternative to conventional sources of fossil fuel-based power. It is:
  • silent
  • non-polluting
  • renewable
  • extremely durable
  • virtually maintenance- free
Typical applications for photovoltaics today:
  • lighting and security
  • water pumping and irrigation
  • communications
  • remote monitoring equipment
  • aids to navigation
  • remote refrigeration
  • portable power
  • village power
  • electricity for individual buildings or entire communities
  • supplementing the utility grid
Cells, Modules and Arrays
Photovoltaic electricity is produced by an array of individual PV modules electrically connected in series and parallel to deliver the desired voltage and current. Each PV module, in turn, is constructed of individual cells also connected in series and parallel. Dozens of solar cells are connected together to produce a PV module. The number of cells determines a module's size and power. Modules are typically available in ratings from less than 10 watts peak (Wp) to 300 Wp.



There are several basic types of PV modules commercially available today--those made from crystalline silicon, those made from amorphous silicon and those made from other thin-film PV materials such as copper-indium-diselenide (CIS) and cadmium telluride(CdTe). While crystalline silicon modules have dominated the market since the 1970s, CdTe modules appear poised to offer solar electricty at substantially reduced costs in the near future.

Stand-alone versus Utility-interactive
PV systems from buildings can be either stand-alone or grid-connected. In a stand-alone system, the building has no connection to the utility grid and often relies on a bank of batteries to store power for use at night and during times of limited sun. In a utility-interactive system, the building receives electricity from both the PV array and the utility grid.



In many utility-interactive systems, surplus electricty from the PV array is exported to the utility grid, turning the electric meter backwards. This "net metering" arrangement--when the utility is paying PV producers at the same kilowatt-hour rate they're charging--is the law in many states and will likely soon be available in Hawaii as well. With net metering, the utility grid becomes the storage medium in place of on-site batteries.

Market Trends

Over the past 11 years, the global PV industry has enjoyed a compounded annual growth rate of over 40 percent. Over that period, crystalline silicon has remained the dominant semiconductor used by the industry. Crystalline silicon has established itself as the most efficient element in converting sunlight to usable electricity and, since the 1950s, the most durable and reliable PV material. However, with all the newcomers into the PV manufacturing industry in recent years, thin films (e.g., cadmium telluride, amorphous silicon, copper indium gallium selenide) seem poised to cut into the 85+ percent market share that crystalline silicon enjoys. The sunlight-to-power efficiency of thin films has been as little as half or less compared to crystalline silicon. The promise of thin films has always been the potential for significantly lower production costs. Will this promise come closer to reality in 2009?

PV Industry Growth

PV Industry Growth

Top Ten Photovoltaic Manufacturers

PV Supply and Demand by Geography

Graphs courtesy of Paula Mints, Principal Analyst, Navigant Consulting PV Services Program.





 

Big Island (Hawai'i) Office
69 Railroad Avenue, Suite A-7, Hilo, Hawaii 96720 USA, 808 969 - 3281
Fax 808 934 - 7462, email inquiries@provisiontechnologies.com

Maui Office
808 877-9988, Fax 808 661-8077

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