Thin-film or crystalline photovoltaic modules? One of the consequences of the rapid introduction of new photovoltaic technologies is the buzz generated in the industry. Large-scale photovoltaic applications are especially sensitive to any question connected with cost optimization. Therefore, stakeholders involved in photovoltaic project development are questioning whether the time has arrived to shift module technologies to large-scale applications. A great variety of opinions are exposed every time this question arises. This paper’s aim is to uncover the key questions that should be taken into consideration in order to select the proper technology for large-scale photovoltaic applications and to provide the maximum amount of practical information for this decision.
Armed with the aim of generating a knowledge base on CPV technology, ISFOC has installed 1.4MW of CPV and is executing up to a total of 3MW of power plants incorporating seven different technologies, all scheduled for completion in 2009. These pilot plants are being established to assist the industry in the setting up of pilot production lines and to obtain very valuable information such as reliability, suitability and production [1]. Rating measurement approaches have been proposed by ISFOC, but there remains a need for an international standard that is accepted by the CPV community. This paper presents ISFOC’s proposed standards set and outlines the methodology adopted by the company in this respect.
Power quality and reliability are two very important factors in electrical power supply, particularly for specific branches of industry. Multifunctional PV battery systems can improve power quality, substitute uninterruptible power supply systems, and can offer additional services such as energy management and peak shaving. This article presents the results of an analysis of possible services under current German conditions and the measurement results of laboratory tests and a pilot demonstration.
With the ever-growing challenge of remaining financially viable in today’s economic climate, some companies in the PV industry are adapting and applying the structures and principals of project finance to the photovoltaic assets. The purpose of project finance is to create a business structure which brings together multiple entities, aligns their interests, and allocates the project’s inputs and outputs (i.e. risks and rewards) in such a way that the overall benefits derived from the project are maximized.
New interconnections requirements for utility-connected photovoltaic systems are coming into play in several European countries, armed with the task of supporting the grid operation and stability. This approach to better integration of photovoltaic systems into the electric power system enables a larger selection of renewable energies. This paper presents the new grid code in Germany as an example of this improved integration, complemented by a brief report regarding activities currently being undertaken to ensure European harmonisation of interconnection requirements.
Solar photovoltaic power plants have emerged in recent years as a viable means of large-scale renewable energy power generation. A critical question facing these PV plants at the utility scale remains the competitiveness of their energy generation cost with that of other sources. The relative cost of electricity from a generating source can be compared through the commonly used levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) calculation. The LCOE equation evaluates the life-cycle energy cost and production of a power plant, allowing alternative technologies - with different scales of operation, investment, or operating time periods - to be compared. This article reviews the LCOE drivers for a PV power plant and the impact of a plant’s capacity factor on the system LCOE, as well as the effects of various factors such as capacity and geographical location. The economic tradeoffs between fixed and tracking systems are evaluated as well as a review of land use, plant operation and maintenance costs.
The U.S. residential solar market is poised for growth. For solar companies seeking to capitalize on the growth potential of this market, the keys to success will be sales volume and operating efficiency. Solar employee purchase programs (solar EPPs), which have been initiated by companies as diverse as SunPower, REC Solar, and SolarCity, represent a new and potentially important channel for increasing sales and improving sales efficiency. Driving these programs are increasing corporate sustainability initiatives and growth in voluntary employee benefit offerings, especially employee purchase programs and green benefits. This article provides an introduction to solar employee purchase programs, analysis of the business ecosystem, and discussion of an example program. It is based on the industry’s first report to identify and analyze this emerging trend, which was published by AltaTerra Research in November 2008 [1].
Electricity has been around for a long time and no doubt will be for the foreseeable future, but it is quickly changing its nature. Owing to evolutions in power electronics, sustainable electricity generation and consumption came to the fore and now it is nigh on impossible for photovoltaics to operate without this technology. This holds true for efficient consumption such as plug-in electric and hybrid vehicles or compact efficient lighting. Power electronics need to be taken into account in relation to grids, for example in novel voltage-source HVDC connections. Photovoltaic energy conversion requires power electronics in order to adapt the floating DC-output to a fixed DC-level and typically further to a grid-compatible AC electricity. These converter (mainly inverter) technologies have evolved considerably over the past few years, in much the same way as has PV cell technology, but in a much less apparent fashion. It is, however, expected and required that the technologies will evolve even further to meet the demands of the future market and the electricity grid to which they will be connected. This article intends to give an overview of the challenges ahead for power electronics in photovoltaic energy conversion.
The past year was characterised by MW-range solar power plants and it was also a year with the highest market growth related to large-scale photovoltaic systems ever. Not only in Spain, where progress does not need to be commented upon at all, but also in some other countries where the cumulative installed power increased significantly. In the European Union progress was observed in among other countries Italy, Czech Republic and France; the German market however decreased slightly but in terms of capacity of installed power output Germany was, despite the market explosion in Spain, almost the same as in year 2007.
The costs of a photovoltaic installation are driving the market and the need for subsidized schemes, such as feed-in tariffs. Concentrated photovoltaics (CPV) is leading the development of future lowcost renewable energy sources in two ways: on one hand offering high efficiency systems, and on the other, being most capable of reducing manufacturing costs. The idea to decrease the cost of the photovoltaic system using optical elements to focus the radiation into the cell to reduce the size of the cells has been in the mind of the scientists since the 1970s [1]. But, apart from a reduced market, there were several issues that did not allow CPV success at that time. This paper puts forth the proposition that the key is to replace the area of active material, which is the most expensive, with optic elements, which are well known and cheaper.