Photovoltaic energy program summary

Technical Report · Mon Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1990

OSTI ID:7262387

In 1989, the US photovoltaic industry enjoyed a growth rate of 30% in sales for the second year in a row. This sends a message that the way we think about electricity is changing. Instead of big energy projects that perpetuate environmental and economic damage, there is a growing trend toward small renewable technologies that are well matched to end-user needs and operating conditions. As demand grows and markets expand, investment capital will be drawn to the industry and new growth trends will emerge. The photovoltaic industry around the world achieved record shipments also. Worldwide shipments of photovoltaic (PV) modules for 1989 totaled more than 40 megawatts (MW), nearly a 20% increase over last year's shipments. The previous two years showed increases in worldwide shipments of 23% and 25%, respectively. If this growth rate continues through the 1990s, as industry back orders would indicate, 300 to 1000 MW of PV-supplied power could be on line by 2000. Photovoltaic systems have low environmental impact and they are inexpensive to operate and maintain. Using solid-state technology, PV systems directly convert sunlight to electricity without high-temperature fluids or moving parts that could cause mechanical failure. This makes the technology very reliable. Thousands of people around the world have lights, water, and refrigerated medicines because of electricity provided by small- scale applications of photovoltaics. Now, photovoltaic technology is ready for incorporation into our utility power mix. Not only the United States, but Japan, Germany, Italy, and several other foreign countries are positioning themselves to capture a large share of the future multibillion dollar market from photovoltaics--profits are already visible. The race is on to see who will gather the lion's share of the economic and environmental benefits to be derived from the clean, high-technology photovoltaic market. 25 figs.

• Research Organization: Solar Energy Research Inst., Golden, CO (USA)
• Sponsoring Organization: DOE/CE
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-83CH10093
• OSTI ID: 7262387
• Report Number(s): DOE/CH/10093-58; ON: DE89009473
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
140300 -- Solar Energy-- Economic
Industrial
& Business Aspects
140501* -- Solar Energy Conversion-- Photovoltaic Conversion
CAPITAL
COMMERCIALIZATION
CONVERSION
DEMAND
DEMONSTRATION PROGRAMS
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION
DOCUMENT TYPES
ENERGY CONVERSION
ENERGY DEMAND
ENERGY SOURCES
ENERGY SYSTEMS
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
FAILURES
GLOBAL ASPECTS
INVESTMENT
MANAGEMENT
MARKETING
PHOTOVOLTAIC CONVERSION
POWER PLANTS
POWER SYSTEMS
PROGRAM MANAGEMENT
PROGRESS REPORT
RELIABILITY
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
SOLAR POWER PLANTS
SOLAR TRACKING
TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT
TEST FACILITIES