Introduction of photovoltaic systems in the near and intermediate future: An industrial assessment

The introduction of photovoltaic power (PV) generation systems within the next ten years is considered, using mainly crystalline silicon solar cells. Within that time period, PV will not compete with large conventional baseload plants, but rather will be used for decentralized, distributed systems. The current module and system technology has been shown to be reliable, and must now be converted into industrial production to achieve the necessary cost reduction. For large scale production no obstacles exist with respect to production equipment, materials, resources, energy pay-back, and environmental issues. However, besides improvements in terms of system efficiency, considerable efforts are necessary to develop the market both in industrialized as well as in developing countries to install the increased production volume necessary for cost reduction. In Europe, Japan, and the USA, the emphasis for large scale PV dissemination should be on saving resources and protecting the environment, while in the developing countries PV is often the most economic and environmentally sound solution to bring electricity and basic services to billions of people around the globe that are not connected to the grid