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Photovoltaics
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SOLAR PHOTOVOLTAIC
This chapter covers solar photovoltaics generally but focuses particularly on gridconnected
applications.
Technology Status Overview
PV has been commercialised in specialised applications such as remote area
telecommunications since the mid-1970s. Low-efficiency amorphous silicon cells
have expanded into the consumer market in applications such as solar-powered
calculators, solar-powered lights, solar-powered battery chargers for vehicles,
outdoor lights and electric fences.
Large photovoltaic generating systems with capacities of one megawatt or greater
were installed in the United States in the 1980s by private companies and utilities
taking advantage of the generous financial incentives including taxation benefits
and high buyback rates offered. One utility in the US, Sacramento Municipal Utility
District (SMUD) installed 2 MW of PV modules next to the closed Rancho Seco
nuclear power plant to provide power to 500 homes. Other megawatt scale gridconnected
photovoltaic power plants are located in Japan and Norway. There are
also a few experimental plants in Saudi Arabia, West Germany and Italy which has
the worlds largest PV power station at 3.3 MW.
However, the focus is now on widespread application of small distributed gridconnected
systems at individual household or commercial building scale. For
example in 1998 a demonstration system of 26 solar skylights covering 25,000
square metres was installed at a car plant in the UK capable of generating sufficient
electricity to meet all the plants lighting needs. Similarly the worlds largest rooftop
system with