A review of solar photovoltaic technologies

• Published in: Renewable & sustainable energy reviews Vol. 15; no. 3; pp. 1625 - 1636
• Main Authors: Parida, Bhubaneswari, Iniyan, S., Goic, Ranko
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.04.2011; Elsevier
• Series: Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews
• Subjects: Absorption; Applied sciences; Demand; Energy; Equipments, installations and applications; Exact sciences and technology; Harnesses; Light absorbing materials; Natural energy; Photovoltaic cells; Photovoltaic conversion; Renewable energy; Sizing; Solar applications; Solar cells; Solar cells. Photoelectrochemical cells; Solar energy; Solar photovoltaic technologies; Solar photovoltaic technologies Light absorbing materials Solar applications; Solar power generation; Light absorbing materials; Solar applications; Solar photovoltaic technologies
• ISSN: 1364-0321; 1879-0690
• DOI: 10.1016/j.rser.2010.11.032

Global environmental concerns and the escalating demand for energy, coupled with steady progress in renewable energy technologies, are opening up new opportunities for utilization of renewable energy resources. Solar energy is the most abundant, inexhaustible and clean of all the renewable energy resources till date. The power from sun intercepted by the earth is about 1.8×1011MW, which is many times larger than the present rate of all the energy consumption. Photovoltaic technology is one of the finest ways to harness the solar power. This paper reviews the photovoltaic technology, its power generating capability, the different existing light absorbing materials used, its environmental aspect coupled with a variety of its applications. The different existing performance and reliability evaluation models, sizing and control, grid connection and distribution have also been discussed.