Solar Photovoltaic Power Systems: An Electric Utility R & D Perspective
Edgar A. DeMeo 1 and
Roger W. Taylor 2
1 Solar Power Systems Program Manager at the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), Palo Alto, California 94303.
2 Project Manager, Photovoltaic Systems Development, at EPRI.
Solar photovoltaic technology is receiving increasing attention as a prospective source of bulk, electric utility power within the next 10 to 20 years. Successful development will require solar energy conversion efficiencies of about 15 percent for photovoltaic flat-plate modules, or about 25 percent for photovoltaic cells using highly concentrated sunlight. Three different cell technologies have a better than even chance of achieving these target efficiencies with costs and operating lifetimes that would allow significant use by electric utilities. The challenge for the next decade is to push photovoltaic technology to its physical limits while expanding markets and user confidence with currently available systems.
