Photovoltaic technology and applications: Overview for the workshop on photochemistry research opportunities

Conference · Sun Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1996

OSTI ID:273405

Benner, J P ^[1]

---

1. National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, CO (United States)

The business surrounding photovoltaic energy conversion for terrestrial applications has changed dramatically in the last several years. It is now a business that makes money. Industry is responding. with manufacturing capacity expansions, and planned expansions, that will triple U.S. annual output within the next eighteen months. The majority of this product is exported (70%) where it is proven to be a cost competitive alternative. This industry provides experience in manufacturing and reliability in fielded systems that will serve as the basis for extrapolating growth to larger-scale installations and utility systems. The largest part of the National Photovoltaic Program budget supports assisting industry in advancing manufacturing technology and stimulating applications to reduce cost and expand the evolving industry. A growing segment of society looks to photovoltaics as an alternative that may be needed to replace conventional electric generating capacity. The grand challenge for photovoltaics is to make the technology economically competitive for large scale electric power generation before real or perceived evidence of environmental damage from conventional sources dictates its use at economically disruptive costs.

• Research Organization: National Renewable Energy Lab., Golden, CO (United States)
• OSTI ID: 273405
• Report Number(s): NREL/CP--450-21097; CONF-9602108--; ON: DE96007867
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
ELECTRIC POWER
MARKET
PHOTOCHEMISTRY
PHOTOVOLTAIC CONVERSION
PHOTOVOLTAIC POWER PLANTS
RELIABILITY
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
SOLAR ENERGY
SOLAR ENERGY CONVERSION
SOLAR INDUSTRY