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Solar
Solar overview
Photovoltaic-based electricity
generation is growing at 20-25 percent per year worldwide and shows no
signs of slowing. Most growth occurred outside the United States in countries
with strong off-grid markets and countries with generous subsidies for
on-grid applications. Historically, PV has been the technology of choice
for remote off-grid applications, 'however, in the last few years the
number of Megawatts used in on-grid applications has surpassed those for
off-grid systems
In 2000, a record 280 MW of
solar modules were sold worldwide, jumping to 360 MW in 2001 and roughly
425 MW in 2002. In 2001, a tight solar cell market meant manufacturers'
waiting periods for new solar cells were six to 20 weeks. This backlog
of orders also caused PV module prices to rise slightly in contrast the
expected price decline. In 2003, module prices returned to 2000 levels,
and an increase in production continues.
The costs for PV electricity are 20-40¢/kWh
in sunny regions and are decreasing at
a rate of 4 percent per year (this assumes
an average capital cost of $3,889/kW for
solar PV capacity installed in 2005).
PV systems do have high costs, but also
have high reliability, long lives, no
moving parts, and they produce electricity
even on cloudy days.
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