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Photovoltaics (PV) is a method of generating electrical power by converting solar radiation into direct current electricity using semiconductors that exhibit the photovoltaic effect. Photovoltaic power generation employs solar panels comprising a number of cells containing a photovoltaic material. Materials presently used for photovoltaics include monocrystalline silicon, polycrystalline silicon, amorphous silicon, cadmium telluride, and copper indium selenide/sulfide.[1] Due to the growing demand for renewable energy sources, the manufacturing of solar cells and photovoltaic arrays has advanced considerably in recent years.[2][3][4]
'''Photovoltaics''' (PV) is a method of generating electrical power by converting [[solar radiation]] into [[direct current]] [[electricity]] using [[semiconductor]]s that exhibit the photovoltaic effect. Photovoltaic power generation employs [[solar panel]]s comprising a number of [[solar cell|cells]] containing a photovoltaic material. Materials presently used for photovoltaics include [[monocrystalline silicon]], [[polycrystalline silicon]], [[amorphous silicon]], [[cadmium telluride]], and [[copper indium selenide]]/sulfide.<ref name=jac/> Due to the growing demand for [[renewable energy]] sources, the manufacturing of solar cells and [[photovoltaic array]]s has advanced considerably in recent years.<ref name="German PV market">[http://www.solarbuzz.com/FastFactsGermany.htm German PV market]</ref><ref name="renewableenergyaccess.com">[http://www.renewableenergyaccess.com/rea/news/story?id=47861 BP Solar to Expand Its Solar Cell Plants in Spain and India]</ref><ref name="technologyreview.com">[http://www.technologyreview.com/read_article.aspx?id=17025&ch=biztech Large-Scale, Cheap Solar Electricity]</ref>
As of 2010, solar photovoltaics generates electricity in more than 100 countries and, while yet comprising a tiny fraction of the 4.8 TW total global power-generating capacity from all sources, is the fastest growing power-generation technology in the world. Between 2004 and 2009, grid-connected PV capacity increased at an annual average rate of 60 percent, to some 21 GW.[5] Such installations may be ground-mounted (and sometimes integrated with farming and grazing)[6] or built into the roof or walls of a building, known as Building Integrated Photovoltaics or BIPV for short.[7] Off-grid PV accounts for an additional 3–4 GW.[5]
 
Driven by advances in technology and increases in manufacturing scale and sophistication, the cost of photovoltaics has declined steadily since the first solar cells were manufactured.[8] Net metering and financial incentives, such as preferential feed-in tariffs for solar-generated electricity, have supported solar PV installations in many countries.
As of 2010, solar photovoltaics generates electricity in more than 100 countries and, while yet comprising a tiny fraction of the 4.8&nbsp;[[Orders of magnitude (power)#terawatt (1012 watts)|TW]] total global power-generating capacity from all sources, is the fastest growing power-generation technology in the world. Between 2004 and 2009, [[Grid-connected PV electric system|grid-connected PV]] capacity increased at an annual average rate of 60 percent, to some 21&nbsp;[[Orders of magnitude (power)#gigawatt (109 watts)|GW]].<ref name=ren2010>[[REN21]]. [http://www.ren21.net/globalstatusreport/REN21_GSR_2010_full.pdf Renewables 2010 Global Status Report] p. 19.</ref> Such installations may be ground-mounted (and sometimes integrated with farming and grazing)<ref name="huliq.com">[http://www.huliq.com/18313/ge-invests-delivers-one-of-worlds-largest-solar-power-plants GE Invests, Delivers One of World's Largest Solar Power Plants]</ref> or built into the roof or walls of a building, known as [[Building-integrated photovoltaics|Building Integrated Photovoltaics]] or BIPV for short.<ref name="Building integrated photovoltaics">[http://www.buildingsolar.com/technology.asp Building integrated photovoltaics]</ref> [[Off-grid]] PV accounts for an additional 3–4&nbsp;GW.<ref name=ren2010/>
 
Driven by advances in technology and increases in manufacturing scale and sophistication, the cost of photovoltaics has declined steadily since the first solar cells were manufactured.<ref>Richard M. Swanson. Photovoltaics Power Up, ''Science'', Vol. 324, 15 May 2009, p. 891.</ref>  [[Net metering]] and financial incentives, such as preferential [[Feed-in Tariff|feed-in tariff]]s for solar-generated electricity, have supported solar PV installations in many countries.


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[[Category:CMAS801]] [[Category:Heat_exchangers]] [[Category:Portals]] [[Category:Engineering]]
[[Category:CMAS801]] [[Category:Portals]] [[Category:Engineering]]




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Revision as of 03:44, 29 January 2011


Photovoltaics (PV) is a method of generating electrical power by converting solar radiation into direct current electricity using semiconductors that exhibit the photovoltaic effect. Photovoltaic power generation employs solar panels comprising a number of cells containing a photovoltaic material. Materials presently used for photovoltaics include monocrystalline silicon, polycrystalline silicon, amorphous silicon, cadmium telluride, and copper indium selenide/sulfide.[1] Due to the growing demand for renewable energy sources, the manufacturing of solar cells and photovoltaic arrays has advanced considerably in recent years.[2][3][4]

As of 2010, solar photovoltaics generates electricity in more than 100 countries and, while yet comprising a tiny fraction of the 4.8 TW total global power-generating capacity from all sources, is the fastest growing power-generation technology in the world. Between 2004 and 2009, grid-connected PV capacity increased at an annual average rate of 60 percent, to some 21 GW.[5] Such installations may be ground-mounted (and sometimes integrated with farming and grazing)[6] or built into the roof or walls of a building, known as Building Integrated Photovoltaics or BIPV for short.[7] Off-grid PV accounts for an additional 3–4 GW.[5]

Driven by advances in technology and increases in manufacturing scale and sophistication, the cost of photovoltaics has declined steadily since the first solar cells were manufactured.[8] Net metering and financial incentives, such as preferential feed-in tariffs for solar-generated electricity, have supported solar PV installations in many countries.


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Footnotes

  1. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named jac
  2. German PV market
  3. BP Solar to Expand Its Solar Cell Plants in Spain and India
  4. Large-Scale, Cheap Solar Electricity
  5. 5.0 5.1 REN21. Renewables 2010 Global Status Report p. 19.
  6. GE Invests, Delivers One of World's Largest Solar Power Plants
  7. Building integrated photovoltaics
  8. Richard M. Swanson. Photovoltaics Power Up, Science, Vol. 324, 15 May 2009, p. 891.


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